Anyone classified as an employee in California may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits if they get hurt on the job or develop an illness related to their occupation. Injuries can and do happen in any industry and can happen any given day on the job.
Some times of year and certain occupations are more likely to show up in workers’ comp claims, however. For example, construction workers face a dangerous work environment every single day and accidents still occur even with more awareness and safety gear than ever before. Employees who may end up hurt need to educate themselves about their rights and know what to do if a workplace accident happens.
More occupational injuries happen during the summer than any other time of the year, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The most common summer injuries include strains, sprains, tears, surface wounds, such as abrasions or scrapes, and open wounds. Sprains and tears make up 40% of occupational injuries. Overall, work-related injury costs total more than $161 billion a year. This encompasses things such as medical expenses, lost wages, lost productivity, employer costs, vehicle damages, and more.
If you get hurt on the job this summer, it is extremely important to recognize your rights and to notify your employer of the injury as soon as possible. This positions you to file a workers’ compensation claim as quickly as you can to begin receiving benefits so you can focus on your recovery.
Filing for workers’ compensation or responding to a denied claim can be complicated. Finding a workers’ comp lawyer in San Francisco should be your top priority when deciding how to move forward. The support of an experienced and qualified workers’ comp lawyer can assist you with every aspect of your personal injury claim.