Workers’ Compensation for Industrial Accidents

Industrial accidents can greatly impact the lives of workers and their family members. These types of accidents are usually unexpected and can cause severe injuries, as well as be financially and emotionally draining. Workers injured in an industrial accident while on the job can claim workers’ compensation to help pay for medical costs and a percentage of lost income.  

What is Workers’ Compensation?

All California businesses that have employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Under state law, people who have been injured while performing their job duties are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through their employer’s insurance company. 

You have a right to these benefits regardless of who was at fault for your industrial accident. There are several different types of benefits you may receive after a workplace injury.

  • Medical treatment to help you recover and return to work.
  • Temporary disability payments if an injury prevents you from doing your usual job while recovering.
  • Permanent disability benefits if a doctor diagnoses you with an injury you can’t recover from.
  • Supplemental job displacement vouchers, which help pay retraining costs if you return to work but can’t do your original job.
  • Death benefits for surviving family if the worker loses their life from a work-related injury or illness.

California is one of the few states that allows workers’ compensation claims for mental harm as well as physical. 

Types of Industrial Accident Injuries Covered Under Workers’ Comp

There are three types of injuries that the California workers’ compensation system recognizes:

Specific Injury

One which occurs as a consequence of a specific event or incident. A specific injury can happen anytime, anywhere, and in multiple ways.

Examples: falling off a ladder and breaking your leg; 

crushing injury due to equipment malfunction; 

hitting your head in a slip and fall, back injury from lifting a 

heavy item; fire or explosion injury, etc.

Cumulative Injury

A cumulative trauma (CT) is an injury that occurs over a period of time: it can be years; it can be months or less. They are also known as “repetitive” injuries. A CT injury is caused by a series of micro-traumas or repetitive motions. 

Examples: back pain from consistently lifting heavy items 

over a period of time (without a specific event); carpal tunnel 

syndrome from repetitive hand movements; constant 

exposure to chemicals or toxins causing illness, etc. 

If work activities contributed in any way to an injury over time, it is covered according to workers’ compensation law.

Psychiatric or Emotional

Workers suffering from emotional or mental problems because of an industrial accident can also consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. However, workers’ comp claims for psychological conditions such as anxiety or depression are commonly denied by employers and insurance companies. 

How Can a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Help with My Case?

The Workers’ Compensation system can be a maze of bureaucracy, paperwork, and deadlines. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer will help guide you through the necessary procedures to ensure that everything complies with applicable California workers’ compensation laws. They will also offer protection from insurers that frequently delay or deny valid claims and help you obtain the best possible outcome.

Call (916) 970-9100 or contact us online to speak to a Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Attorney today.