Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Workers Comp
When you’ve been hurt on the job, a workers comp lawyer Santa Monica CA employees trust may help protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Many personal injury victims recover damages following a workplace injury, and you may be able to as well.
If you’ve been injured at work, you may have questions about your rights and what workers comp covers. Here is some general information that may be helpful:
What is Workers Comp?
Workers comp, or “workers compensation,” is a type of insurance that employers are required to carry on behalf of their employees. Because coverage might vary by state and for federal employees, it may be useful to consult a Santa Monica CA workers comp lawyer to review your specific set of circumstances.
Workers comp is designed to provide lost wages and medical benefits to workers who are injured on the job, even if the accident was due to their own negligence. In exchange for accepting a workers comp settlement, the worker agrees not to pursue a lawsuit against his or her employer.
The law does not require an injured employee to accept a workers comp settlement offer. Instead, they may choose to hire a workers comp lawyer Santa Monica CA offers and either:
- Try to negotiate a higher settlement, or
- Refuse to accept the settlement and instead sue their employer and whoever else is liable for their injury
After I settle my workers comp claim, can I get additional benefits later on?
In most situations, the answer to this question depends on the status of your claim when the settlement was finalized. Leaving it open to account for future medical care needs will likely increase the odds that you’re eligible for additional benefits.
When a workers comp claim is closed, it is usually very difficult to reopen. A workers comp lawyer Santa Monica CA workers turn to for help might explain that the law allows a claim to be reopened after a minimum time period. Even if you are able to reopen your claim, you still may need to:
- Revisit the workers compensation court with additional documentation
- Receive additional medical evaluations
- Prove your personal injury has worsened over time (If successful, you may qualify for further medical treatment and compensation).
If you have changed employers and your condition has worsened in your current job, you may be able to open a new claim against your current employer.
If you have completely settled your original claim, you probably won’t be eligible for additional benefits. Before settling a claim, you may wish to hire a workers comp lawyer Santa Monica CA employees turn to in similar circumstances. Your attorney may be able to help you determine your best course of action, which may include settling or seeking other options for recovering your costs, including a lawsuit in lieu of workers comp.
Contact Us Today
A workers comp lawyer in Santa Monica CA can help fight on your behalf after a workplace accident to recover the compensation you deserve from your employer. Call a respected law firm today to schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a workers comp lawyer Santa Monica CA employees have relied on for years.