San Bernardino maintains a heavy manufacturing presence with hundreds of factories located in the region. While factory jobs are a major part of the local economy, these jobs often carry risks of injury, including injuries caused by malfunctioning machinery, exposure to hazardous substances, fires and explosions, slip and fall accidents, and much more. If you have been injured in a workplace accident, a San Bernardino factory worker’s injury lawyer could help you understand the benefits you are entitled to through California’s workers’ compensation laws.
Contact our dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys today for a free consultation.
The Benefits Available After a Factory Accident
State law requires most employers, including San Bernardino manufacturing companies, to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This type of insurance coverage provides certain benefits to workers if they become injured in a workplace accident, regardless of who was at fault for the accident (in most cases). A San Bernardino factory worker’s injury lawyer can help injured employees understand these benefits, which include:
Medical Treatment
Medical treatment of the work-related injury, including the costs of the doctor’s services, prescription medication, surgeries, hospitalization, physical therapy, and more.
Wage Replacement
Wage replacement for a portion of the injured factory workers’ average weekly wages in the period immediately before the injury took place. These benefits may be temporary or permanent, and they may involve a replacement of wages during the period when the person is unable to work while recovering from their injury or the difference between what they were earning before the injury and what they are able to earn after if they are placed on a limited schedule or required to take a lower-paying position to accommodate work restrictions.
Death Benefits
When a person dies as a result of a workplace accident, death benefits may be available, including coverage of costs related to the funeral, burial, or cremation of the deceased. Their eligible dependents may also receive payments based on what their wages were before the fatal workplace accident occurred.
How a Lawyer Can Help You Get the Benefits You Need
The state’s compensation laws exist to provide medical care and wage replacement for those injured in work-related accidents. Although the claims process is intended to be straightforward, many applications face denial for various reasons. A San Bernardino factory worker’s injury attorney helps navigate these challenges by offering legal guidance, organizing supporting documentation, negotiating with the employer’s insurer, and representing the worker during appeals when necessary.
An appeal becomes necessary when an employer or their insurer disputes a claim, often arguing that the injury was not work-related, resulted from drug or alcohol impairment, stemmed from horseplay, or was not reported within the required 30-day timeframe. An appeal may also address disputes over the amount of medical or wage replacement benefits offered. The injured worker must file the appeal with the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board within 20 days of the denial. The board reviews the case evidence and issues a decision.
Speak With a San Bernardino Lawyer About Your Factory Worker’s Injury
When a factory worker is injured in San Bernardino, the last thing they want to focus their energy on is fighting for the benefits they need. Our legal team understands what workers’ comp insurers are required to provide for injured factory workers and the process involved in obtaining these benefits, despite the many challenges that may arise. Contact us to speak with a San Bernardino factory worker’s injury lawyer about your case.
(909) 885-1620