Being hurt on the job generates many different questions and the importance of following protocol. For example, you need to get medical treatment immediately as well as to inform your supervisor about the accident.
Many work injuries happen because of an accident on the job, such as a fall or electrocution. However, some injuries happen over time and may not be discovered immediately. This is referred to as cumulative trauma, which is a work injury that can develop over a long period of time, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or other related use injuries. If you lift heavy objects on a daily basis and then suddenly begin to experience back pain after weeks or months of doing this, this could be a cumulative injury.
You need to report your California workers’ comp claim within one year from the date of the injury. This is known as the statute of limitations and failing to comply with the statute of limitations could make it impossible for you to recover benefits in the California workers’ comp case. For cumulative trauma, however, the statute of limitations starts ticking when an employee discovers an injury or should have known that it was caused by work.
If you have questions about this process, it is recommended that you speak with a California workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible, as well as your physician. This might be the only way for you to recover the compensation needed to treat your injury so that you can remain focused on your medical care. If you have already submitted a workers’ comp claim and it has been delayed, denied or minimized, consulting with a workers’ compensation attorney can help to protect your rights.