Suffering an on-the-job injury is the worst-case scenario for many workers in California. Not only must these individuals deal with the pain and medical treatment required for the immediate and, potentially, long-term effects of the injury, but they also miss time at work – thereby missing out on earning their wages. That can lead to financial difficulties on top of health issues.
Fortunately, most workers in California are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if they suffer an on-the-job injury.
Simple in theory, often complicated in practice
Making a claim for workers’ compensation benefits isn’t supposed to be complicated, but sometimes it is. The system’s basic setup is fairly straightforward: when a worker suffers an on-the-job injury, the worker’s medical needs and a portion of wages are covered by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. In return, employers are, for the most part, shielded from legal liability for whatever incident led to the injury.
It is crucial for injured workers to report their on-the-job injuries as soon as possible to their employers. This will help to prevent any potential delays in getting workers’ compensation benefits.
In fact, if injured workers fail to report their injuries within a short timeframe, that could jeopardize the injured workers’ ability to receive workers’ compensation benefits at all.
It is important for injured workers to get the medical care they need right away. Employers may have preferred medical facilities that they send injured workers to. Injured workers should be sure to inform the healthcare professionals who treat them that the injury occurred at work.