It is important to notify your employer as soon as possible after you are injured in a California workers’ comp case because you have limited opportunities to file your claim. Workers’ comp is a system that enables employees to get medical coverage, compensation and benefits for illnesses and injuries but it is not always an easy process for the person opening the claim.
One of the earliest delays in most workers’ compensation cases comes from the employee themselves.
The employee has a legal responsibility to notify their employer immediately about the accident but also to complete the additional paperwork. No case can move forward in the California system until it has been filed. Claims administrators in California have 90 days after the date of the claim form to investigate a claim of a workplace illness or injury. Medical treatment, however, needs to be authorized within one working day and in the event that a temporary disability was caused because of this injury, disability payments have to be made within 14 days after knowledge of the injury.
There are several other delays that could impact the conclusion of your California workers’ compensation case. You will learn more when you hire an experienced San Francisco workers’ comp lawyer to help you.
A knowledgeable attorney can help you navigate all of these changes and ensure that your case stays on track. If a disability of injury is disputed this is one of the leading reasons why your claim could take longer than expected. Make sure that you retain an experienced San Francisco workers’ comp lawyer who is highly knowledgeable about all of these issues and helps you prepare a case as comprehensively as possible from the beginning.