3 Mistakes Made when Injured on the job in California

Any injury, major or minor, can lead to a more serious issue down the line, are you covered if it does?  

If you’ve been injured on the job in California or any state, make sure to file a claim with your company.  No matter how minor an injury may seem at the moment, you want to make sure that any further medical issues that may arise are covered by insurance and not paid for out of pocket by you and your family. 

As much as you take precautions to ensure your safety at work, accidents can happen, and if they do make sure to avoid these 3 mistakes when a workplace injury occurs. 

Mistake Number 1: NOT Reporting Your Injury

If you are injured on the job and you do not report the injury within a reasonable amount of time (within 30 days of the accident) you might not be able to file a claim for that injury if it becomes more serious. 

In the state of California once an injury takes place you have so much time to inform your employer and start filling out the paperwork. 

If your injury sends you to the hospital for evaluation and medical attention, be sure to let the nurse or physician taking care of you that you were injured at work. This gives you a documented date and time of injury and the medical attention received. 

Once you are clear to return to work or are able to speak to your employer, tell them right away of your injury.

As stated in the above paragraph- not reporting can cause you to lose your ability to file a claim if needed. 

Rule of thumb- ALWAYS report your injury. 

Scrapes can become infected, falls can have lingering issues and any medical issue can become more severe a few days to weeks after the injury. 

Mistake Number 2: NOT Filing a Claim

No matter the injury, it is best to file a workers’ comp claim. Why? 

Because if you do not make a claim, and your injury progresses, you won’t have the chance to recoup any lost benefits or wages. 

It’s also important to note that there isn’t really a reason you shouldn’t file. 

In the state of California it is required by law that any business that has at least one employee must carry workers’ comp insurance. 

If you’ve been injured at work your employer has ONE business day to give you the paperwork, information and resources to file. 

You also have a limited amount of time to fill out the paperwork and return it so that your claim can be reviewed and accepted. 

If you feel like your employer is stopping you from filing or delaying the process or tells you it’s not necessary, call a workers’ compensation attorney NOW, do not make mistake number 3. 

Mistake Number 3: NOT Hiring a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

When you start the claim process it can seem confusing and difficult to navigate. This does not mean you should give up. If you feel that you’re becoming overwhelmed by the claims process, struggling to speak to the insurance companies or dealing with a difficult employer, contact a workers’ compensation attorney. 

Workers’ comp attorneys are experts in the industry and understand how to navigate through the claims process. You are not alone; Close to 3 million people a year experience a work related injury and attorneys can guide you through the process and act as your point person throughout. 

If you do not hire a job injury attorney, you could be missing out on benefits that are owed to you for lost wages and medical bills. 

Partner with the Professionals 

Here at Visionary Law Group, we understand the process, and what is involved to make sure you get the benefits you deserve. 

Our office is located in Long Beach and If you’re in the Southern California area and have suffered a workplace injury, give us a call today. We have helped collect over 6 million dollars in claims and have worked over 500 workers’ compensation claims cases in the past 4 years. 

We focus on your claim so you can heal and rehabilitate with peace of mind that you are not responsible for medical bills and are receiving partial income while out of work. Give us a call today to start receiving the benefits you deserve.