Workers’ Compensation / Third Party Liability

In California, employers are required by law to pay for medical expenses incurred by an employee due to work-related injuries or illnesses.  We handle workers’ compensation cases involving a wide range of injuries, from Spinal Injuries, Torn Rotator Cuff, Carpal Tunnel, Amputations, Brain Injuries, Hearing Loss, Nerve Damage, Cognitive Difficulties to Death Claims due to a work-related injury or illness.  Our firm is prepared to handle Denial of Claims and help you recover benefits for all types of injuries.  If you believe you have suffered a work related injury or illness, you may be entitled to receive various types of workers’ compensation benefits, such as:

• Medical Treatment:  If you suffer a work-related injury, your employer or its workers’ compensation insurance carrier is responsible for paying for your medical treatment, which can include doctor’s visits, hospitalizations, medical tests, physical therapy, medication, and any other treatment the doctor believes is reasonable and necessary to treat your condition.

• Temporary Disability Benefits:  If you are unable to return to work because of your injury or illness, you may be entitled to receive temporary disability payments.  These benefits are typically made every two weeks until you are able to go back to work, or until the injury has reached its highest point of improvement.  The amount of benefits you receive is typically based on two-thirds of your gross wages at the time of the injury, but there are minimum and maximum rates set by law that may apply to you.

• Permanent Disability Benefits:  If your work-related injury or illness results in a lasting disability that permanently impacts you or prevents you from reaching your full earning capacity, you may be entitled to permanent disability benefits.  Additionally, you may be entitled to recover federal Social Security Disability benefits, but these may be offset by the workers’ compensation benefits you receive.

• Death Benefits:  If an employee dies due to a work-related injury or illness, the employee’s dependents, including his or her spouse and children, may be entitled to recover monetary benefits which can help offset the loss of income or cover medical and funeral expenses.

In addition to recovering workers’ compensation benefits, your work-related injury or illness may also give rise to a civil suit, such as a personal injury or wrongful death claim, against a non-employer third party who is responsible for causing your injuries.  You may be able to recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages exceeding the amount you would recover under workers’ compensation from the third party.

Because work-related injuries can give rise to both workers’ compensation claims and civil claims against third parties, it is important to have legal counsel with a broad range of personal injury experience who can both identify and pursue all of your potential claims.

For additional information about personal injury and wrongful death claims, please see our Personal Injury/Catastrophic Injuries/Wrongful Death page.

Seek Experienced Representation

If you believe you have been injured in a workers’ compensation or third party liability matter, consult a lawyer immediately, as California has strict time limits on when such lawsuits can be filed.  For a free consultation, call the Law Offices of Valdez & Valdez today at (559) 486-4070.

Notice: Making a false or fraudulent workers’ compensation claim is a felony subject to five years in prison or a fine of up to $50,000.00 or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater or both imprisonment and fine.