Dealing with Your Workplace Injury
Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Santa Ana
Sustaining an injury at work can be an overwhelming situation for employees, especially if this is a first-time experience and they are unsure how to proceed or what steps must be taken to ensure they are able to receive their workers’ compensation benefits. If you sustain a workplace injury, make sure one of the steps you take involves hiring a workers’ compensation attorney to ensure the process goes smoothly and you do not miss out on these vital benefits. At Ufkes & Bright, our Santa Ana workers’ compensation attorneys are dedicated to providing hands-on services for injured workers and are backed by more than 50 years of collective legal experience.
For exceptional and experienced representation, contact us today at (714) 909-2609 to request your free initial case evaluation with a knowledgeable attorney.
What Should I Do Next?
File an Accident Report
Any time you are injured on the job, it is critical that you formally report the injury as soon as possible to your employer. Unfortunately, oftentimes, workers do not immediately realize they are injured and, therefore, fail to report the incident. To avoid running into any potential difficulties in the future, report the accident right away to bring the issue to your employer’s attention.
Workers’ Compensation Laws Provide Coverage and Bar Lawsuits
The workers’ compensation system was designed to provide much needed coverage for injured workers while preventing them from suing their employers over workplace injuries. This means that fault and negligence generally do not factor into whether or not an employee is able to obtain these benefits. In fact, even if the employee’s own negligence caused the injury, in most cases, his or her injuries would still be covered. Of course, some exceptions exist. For example, if an employee was intoxicated or using illegal drugs when the accident occurred, the injuries would likely not be covered.
Seek Medical Treatment
Regardless if you feel fine, it is imperative that you see a doctor after an accident at work. In some cases, the injury might be obvious and might even warrant a trip to the emergency room, while in other cases, the injuries might be more subtle. You might be required to see a doctor of your employer’s choosing, but if you are unhappy with the outcome of your visit, you should consider seeing another doctor of your choice. Under workers’ compensation laws, you could be entitled to a second opinion. Even if a visit to your own doctor is not covered, it might be worth it to seek another opinion to avoid missing out on the benefits you could potentially lose.
Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
It is not uncommon for injured workers to run into some problems during the process of filing for workers’ compensation benefits. Oftentimes, employers or the insurance company will push back to prevent an injured employee from obtaining the benefits they rightfully deserve. To avoid running into these issues, make sure you hire experienced legal assistance as soon as possible.
Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Santa Ana
At Ufkes & Bright in Santa Ana, our workers’ compensation attorneys have been fighting on behalf of injured workers for over 50 years and are backed by a proven track record of successful results. If you recently sustained a workplace injury, protect your rights by hiring an attorney with the knowledge and insight that is necessary for achieving the results you deserve.
Get started on your case today and contact us at (714) 909-2609 to request your free initial case evaluation with one of our workers’ compensation attorneys.