One of the first lessons you learn when working in construction is to watch where you step. The next is always to be aware of your surroundings, as there can be hazardous work areas like trenches nearby or equipment that is moving or being operated close to you. With everything you need to look for to the left, right, in front of, and behind you, it is easy to forget to look up. But sadly, that is where some of the most serious construction site hazards lurk. Heavy and oversized things are often moved by machines like cranes and carried high over the heads of all the workers on the site. Most of the time, there are no incidents, but sometimes, a worker is injured by falling lumber or other construction materials.
When these hazards take their toll, the injured worker and everyone who saw the accident are filled with fear. Each is imagining how being injured by falling lumber on a construction site could alter the rest of their life. Even worse, the victim is likely in serious pain but will soon be filled with worry and concern about how they will cover costly medical bills and make ends meet when they are unable to work and earn a paycheck. Fortunately, the California worker’s compensation program was created to provide a resolution for just these harrowing incidents.
If you or a loved one recently suffered an injury due to falling lumber at a construction site, please know that the worker’s comp program could provide the funds and assistance needed to overcome this massive adversity. Typically, when the incident is reported to a supervisor, the employer will open a worker’s comp claim to ensure their employee gets the help they need and deserve. However, if that is not the case for you, know that the skilled legal staff at Normandie Law Firm is here to help. Our experts can be reached 24/7 to help you understand the benefits that will be provided by worker’s compensation and how you can open a claim to ensure you get the benefits you need to cover your medical bills and other losses caused by this unfortunate event.
In addition, we hope you will take advantage of our firm’s generous offer for a free consultation with a falling lumber injury attorney to discuss the facts of your case. While you might only be eligible to seek the benefits of worker’s compensation, in some cases, you could have grounds for further legal action to get more compensation to assist you in your financial recovery. However, you must reach out to the Normandie Law Firm team as soon as possible to ensure you understand the time limit to pursue any of these resources.
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Who Does Worker’s Compensation Cover?
The California worker’s comp program covers all workers who are hurt on the job in the state. Many employees are unaware of this insurance coverage because employers are legally obligated to provide it, and they pay the entire cost. Since the worker is not paying for the coverage, they are unaware it exists. Hopefully, it is a pleasant and helpful piece of information to receive if they are ever hurt on the job and need to seek medical care for their injuries.
Workers should also know that even though employers pay for the worker’s comp coverage, they are not permitted to deny any hurt worker access to the plan or benefits from the program. In addition, they are not allowed to threaten a worker with being fired or demoted if they file a claim with worker’s comp for a legitimate workplace injury. If you have experienced any of these issues related to opening a claim with worker’s compensation, please reach out to Normandie Law Firm today for help getting the benefits you deserve.
What Do My California Worker’s Compensation Benefits Include:
First, workers in California should know and appreciate that they are covered by one of the country’s most robust worker’s comp programs. If you are hurt while on the job, you are eligible for medical care coverage that will reach up to $1M per injury incident. These funds can be used to pay for a hospital stay, surgical expenses, the cost of doctor’s care, diagnostic and testing procedures, prescribed medication and essential medical devices, therapy or rehabilitation services, and many other expenses associated with your medical care of workplace injuries.
If you are severely injured and will be unable to work until you are fully healed, it is vital to know that the program will provide up to 66% of your regular weekly income to help cover your routine living expenses. While the medical coverage payments are typically paid directly to the care provider, the lost wages benefit is paid to you to be used as you would your regular paycheck. In addition, if your falling lumber injuries result in partial or permanent disability, you can receive long-term compensation for your diminished or lost earning capability.
Finally, if you will never fully heal or will have permanent physical limitations that will not permit you to return to your previous position, worker’s comp offers free vocational training to prepare you for a new career once you are medically cleared to work again. The purpose of the benefits provided by this program is to lessen the financial impact of a workplace injury and offer support while you heal and prepare to return to the workforce and be self-sufficient.
Can I Sue My Employer For Being Injured By Falling Lumber While At Work?
In most cases, an injured worker is not permitted to sue their employer for a typical workplace injury accident. Worker’s compensation was created to provide the needed help in these instances and protect employers from the many lawsuits filed by injured workers and the expenses they create. Unless there are very specific and limited circumstances surrounding your falling lumber workplace injuries, you will only receive the benefits provided by workers comp with no legal right to pursue a lawsuit against your employer.
In very limited cases involving gross negligence, an injured employee can sue their employer. Gross negligence by an employer is typically when there is a clear disregard for employee safety or workplace hazards that are not addressed in a timely manner. For example, if a piece of equipment was damaged and became unsafe for the workers to use but management refused to have it fixed, an injured worker could claim gross negligence and file a claim against their employer. To determine if gross negligence could have had a role in your workplace falling lumber injury incident, please reach out to the staff at Normandie Law Firm today.
Who Else Might Be Responsible For My Construction Site Falling Lumber Injuries?
Working on a construction site, you know that there are countless companies collaborating on most projects and working closely with one another. So, it is very possible that the lumber that fell on you and caused your injuries was the property and responsibility of another company or even the property owner. If that is the case and the person or entity responsible for the lumber acted negligently, you could have grounds for a falling lumber personal injury lawsuit to hold that person or entity accountable for the harm they caused. The staff at Normandie Law Firm can be reached 24/7 to help you sort out the details of your falling lumber injury incident to determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit.
How Long Do I Have To Take Action After My Falling Lumber Injury Incident?
Workplace injury victims are given 30 days from the date of their injury incident to open a claim with worker’s compensation. If the claim is not opened until after that time, it will be denied, and you will not receive any of the benefits offered by this program. It is also recommended that you contact worker’s compensation directly to conform that your claim has been opened and you are going to receive the benefits you deserve for the on the job injuries you sustained.
If you have grounds to pursue a personal injury lawsuit related to your falling lumber injuries, please understand you have two years from the date of the injury incident to file a claim with the court. If the case is not prepared and filed with the court in that time, you will lose the right to seek compensation for your losses and expenses due to that injury incident.
No Added Financial Stress Thanks To Normandie Law Firm
When you work with the Normandie Law Firm team, you never need to worry about how to pay any upfront fees or expenses. Our firm has a simple and client-friendly payment policy. We only get paid for our work preparing, filing, and litigating your case once the matter is resolved, and you have the compensation needed to cover your legal costs. This simple pledge ensures that all injury victims can get the legal services and help needed to secure any compensation that is owed to them for the harm they sustained.
Finally, if the expert staff at Normandie Law Firm fails to win your case and deliver that much-needed compensation, you owe our firm nothing. This is not a gimmick, and there is no annoying fine print. You have our word that we will work diligently and never give up on your lawsuit until we can deliver the funds you need to overcome the hardships and expenses caused by your workplace injury from falling lumber.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Workplace Falling Lumber Injuries
Falling Lumber Lawsuit Attorney
