Hawthorne Workers Compensation Lawyer

Hawthorne, CA Workers Comp Attorney

If you have been injured while working in Hawthorne, your employer is likely required to have workers’ compensation insurance that can provide valuable benefits to aid your recovery. California law requires almost all employers of all industries to have this coverage, but securing benefits after a workplace injury may be more challenging than you initially expected. An experienced Hawthorne, CA, workers’ compensation lawyer is your ideal asset in this situation.

Helping Injured Workers Recover in Hawthorne, CA

The Law Offices of Anthony Choe offers comprehensive legal counsel for workers’ compensation claims in both English and Spanish to clients in the Hawthorne area. Not only is our team capable of providing legal representation to a broader range of clients than many other attorneys in the area, but Anthony Choe is also a former workers’ compensation defense attorney.

After formerly representing insurance companies against injured employees, Anthony Choe decided to leverage his extensive experience on behalf of the workers injured on the job in the Hawthorne area, and our team has a keen understanding of the inner workings of the largest workers’ compensation insurance carriers. We know how they handle claims and the tactics they often use to avoid paying out fair settlements to injured workers.

We can provide a level of legal counsel for your impending workers’ compensation claim that few attorneys in the state can match. When you choose our firm to represent you after a workplace injury, you can expect close attention to detail, responsive communication with the members of our team, complete answers to your most important legal questions, and unwavering focus on helping you maximize your benefits in the shortest possible amount of time.

How Does Workers’ Compensation Help Injured Workers in Hawthorne?

Workers’ compensation insurance helps injured workers in Hawthorne by providing financial benefits to workers who sustain injuries on the job. Most employees can claim these benefits in the state, and virtually every employer in every industry must have workers’ compensation insurance, even for one employee. When you are hurt while on the job, you need to report the injury to your employer immediately and begin the claim filing process as soon as you can.

Some of the most commonly reported workplace injuries in Hawthorne include slip and fall injuries, traumatic brain injuries, injuries from vehicle accidents, acquired illnesses and repetitive stress injuries, and mental health difficulties caused by working conditions. As long as an illness or injury manifested while performing your job duties, you likely qualify to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

Your employer is legally required to facilitate your claim and may not interfere with it. They should provide the materials you need to submit to the insurance carrier. If any disputes arise with your employer or you believe they have mishandled your claim, it is vital to speak with a Hawthorne, CA, workers’ compensation lawyer immediately.

Once you submit your claim to the insurance company, they will review the claim and determine what benefits you can receive. Generally, a successful workers’ compensation claim yields two types of benefits — medical expense coverage and disability benefits when the worker cannot work while they recover. The benefits you can receive from your successful claim depend on several variables.

Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in Hawthorne

California enforces a one-year statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims, meaning you must file your claim within one year of the date you were injured. This sounds like more than enough time, but you must report the injury to your employer no later than 30 days from the day the incident occurred. It is always preferable to file your claim as soon as you can, as the longer you wait, the more likely the insurance company is to doubt the legitimacy of your claim.

You must undergo a medical examination as part of the claim filing process. You can see any doctor immediately following your injury if you need emergency treatment, but a workers’ compensation doctor will need to evaluate you and assign you a disability rating before you can receive disability benefits. A disability rating is a numerical value between one and 100 that indicates the level of functional capacity you retain after your injury.

The higher your disability rating, the more you can receive in benefits, and you will be able to continue receiving benefits for longer. If a claimant is entirely unable to work during their recovery due to the severity of their injury, they can receive weekly workers’ compensation benefits equal to about two-thirds of their average weekly wage every week for up to 104 weeks or until they are medically fit to return to work.

Alternatively, they can qualify for permanent benefits if the injury permanently incapacitates them. Your attorney can explain what to expect if this applies to your situation. If you were injured and can still work but cannot earn as much as you did previously, you may qualify for partial disability benefits that can help offset the difference in your income. These benefits can continue until you can resume work at your previous earning capacity.

Fighting for Further Compensation

If a specific party is directly responsible for your workplace injury, or your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance as required by law, these issues could form grounds to pursue a personal injury claim. For example, if a third party outside of your work caused your injury, you could pursue a third-party personal injury claim that allows you to claim compensation for damages workers’ compensation won’t cover, like pain and suffering.

The team at the Law Offices of Anthony Choe has extensive experience handling the most complex workers’ compensation cases for clients throughout the Hawthorne area and surrounding communities. We know that no two clients are exactly alike, and everyone faces unique challenges when they pursue workers’ compensation benefits following their workplace injuries.

We are ready to provide the guidance and support you need after a serious injury at work. Contact us today and schedule your free initial consultation with a trustworthy Hawthorne, CA, workers’ compensation lawyer.