SACRAMENTO WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ATTORNEYS WITH PROVEN RESULTS

An attorney is tasked with representing injured workers and aiding them in obtaining benefits when they file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. While insurance companies typically provide medical treatment or temporary disability payments, they often delay benefits to pressure you into returning to work too soon or settling your case for too little. An attorney will:

• Answer client questions, so they are informed about all of their rights
• Assist the client with filing or amending a claim for benefits
• Communicate with medical providers to obtain necessary reports
• Represent clients at hearings, trials, depositions, etc.
• Negotiate settlements, when possible or take to trial when necessary

The process of receiving your benefits can take time and effort. When you hire one of our attorneys, we will help you through every step of the process and reduce most of the difficulties.

If you are injured at work, your first step is to notify your employer of the incident. If it’s an emergency, you may seek treatment first. When you are getting treatment, you should inform the doctor treating you that your injury is work-related. Don’t forget to keep records of visits and copies of any documentation given during the process. 

You must report your injury to your employer as soon as you have been injured on the job to protect your workers’ compensation rights and avoid a delayed or denied claim. After reporting your injury, your employer is required by law to provide you with a DWC1 form. If you do not receive this form, one of our Sacramento workers’ compensation attorneys can provide it so you can file a claim for workers’ compensation. 

After filing a claim, your claim will be approved, delayed, or denied. A Sacramento workers’ compensation attorney will help you through the process should your claim not be approved. Depending on the outcome of your claim, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance will then decide what, if any, benefits you will receive. Our Sacramento workers’ compensation attorneys are incredibly experienced and will help you obtain the benefits you deserve. Those benefits could include medical care, temporary disability, permanent disability, supplemental disability, or death benefits.

Medical Provider Networks are doctors approved by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company to treat work-related injuries. Virtually all workers’ compensation insurance companies utilize the Medical Provider Network system. If they do so correctly and you are injured on the job, you must see a doctor in their network. Our attorneys have worked on thousands of cases and can help you decide when choosing a doctor in a Medical Provider Network.  

The doctor you choose should treat your injuries based on the Medical Treatment Guidelines for your injury. Suppose the insurance company approves your claim later. In that case, you may be able to receive up to $10,000 in treatment within approved Medical Treatment Guidelines while waiting for the claim decision.

One way to monitor the treatment you receive is for your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company to conduct a utilization review. This will determine if your doctor’s request for treatment is necessary. If your treatment is denied after your utilization review, you can request an Independent Medical Evaluation. Sacramento workers’ compensation lawyers have guided many clients through utilization reviews and Independent Medical Evaluations.

Our experienced legal staff have worked on various cases with multiple injuries. Suppose you were involved in a traumatic event and injured your back, shoulder, head, neck, knee, foot, ankle, or elbow. In that case, a lawyer will help you understand how to get benefits for your injuries. Our attorneys are also very knowledgeable about workplace injuries that occurred because of repetitive trauma or resulted in an occupational illness like chemical exposure, carpal tunnel syndrome, or hearing loss. We also aid families in wrongful death workers’ compensation cases.

There are countless ways people are injured on the job each year. Construction, industrial, and car or truck accidents are just a few ways workers are injured on the job. Our legal experts are very knowledgeable in all types of workers’ compensation cases. If you are a firefighter, police officer, or someone in a profession with high injury rates, our attorneys have the experience you need to win your case.

No, most workers’ compensation cases do not go to trial. Too many unrespected employees will accept the lowball number offered and settle. We can usually get the insurance company to voluntarily agree to pay what we think is necessary to resolve the case. However, if we cannot, we will go to trial and attempt to convince the judge that our demand is the correct amount.

After a work-related injury, a doctor will evaluate your injuries and determine if you should return to work without restrictions, return to work with some restrictions, or if you should be ultimately off of work.

As a general rule, you cannot sue your employer for pain and suffering. Pain and suffering are typically reserved for personal injury lawsuits and not permitted in workers’ compensation cases. There are, however, a few limited situations in which you can sue your employer outside of the system.

Absolutely.  If you witnessed or experienced your employer violating any health or safety codes, then you can report your employer for OSHA violations. While you cannot sue your employer for OSHA violations, you may be able to file a petition for serious and willful misconduct if you were injured because of the violations. Pursuing a serious and willful misconduct petition is very technical, so it is best to have a workers’ compensation attorney assist you.

You cannot collect state disability and workers’ compensation benefits simultaneously. However, you can file for state disability insurance while waiting to receive your workers’ compensation benefits or if your benefits stop.

A consultation with an attorney is free; consequently, our legal staff recommends you at least consult with an attorney before settling a claim.