Dole Foods is famous worldwide for the production of canned and fresh food items as well as produce production. The company offers over 300 food items produced in over 75 countries. This significant operation requires the hard work of more than 38,000 workers, with over 5,000 of them working out of one of these facilities in California:
- 7916 Bellevue Rd, Winton, CA 95388
- 32655 Camphora Gloria Rd, Soledad, CA 93960
- 315 Neponset Rd, Salinas, CA 93908
- 3059 Townsgate Rd Suite 400, Westlake Village, CA 91361
- 433 Industrial Dr, Livingston, CA 95334
- 2959 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Monterey, CA 93940
- 639 Sanborn Pl, Salinas, CA 93901
- 4966 W El Camino Real # 106, Los Altos, CA 94022
- 13558 W Jayne Ave, Huron, CA 93234
The jobs held by these workers range from office and clerical duties to work in farm fields harvesting and maintaining the plants. With such a wide range of responsibilities, many of which are very physical and labor intensive, it is no shock that many Dole Foods worker’s compensation claims are filed each year. But what shocks many people is that the average claim amount is roughly $20K. That sounds like a reasonable amount if you are considering a minor injury. However, if an employee sustained a severe injury while working at one of the farms or processing plants, a payout of only $20,000 is going to provide little relief from bills and other mounting expenses.
However, it is critical to understand that this is only a random average of the recent worker’s comp claims filed by Dole Foods employees. The number has no impact on the claim amount that will be provided to any employee of Dole Foods who is hurt on the job. To better understand the process of opening a worker’s comp claim and how the benefits are distributed, workplace injury victims are encouraged to contact Normandie Law Firm at their earliest opportunity. The office staff can be reached 24/7 to ensure you have the information and answers you need to overcome the hardships created by a Dole Foods on the job injury.
In addition to your initial phone conversation with a skilled Normandie Law Firm team member, we hope you will take advantage of our generous offer for a free consultation with a seasoned Normandie Law Firm Dole Foods worker’s comp attorney to discuss your claim in detail. Once they have all the facts, they will confirm your eligibility for worker’s comp benefits, how to secure them, and any other legal action you might pursue to seek added compensation for your losses and expenses. But we ask that you reach out to Normandie Law Firm as quickly as possible, as there are time limits for you to open a claim with worker’s comp or pursue other legal action.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
How Am I Covered By California Worker’s Compensation?
After suffering a workplace injury at a California Dole Foods facility, you are sure to have many concerns, ranging from the likelihood of getting fired to how you will cover your medical expenses and other bills if you are unable to work while your body heals. Fortunately, workers who sustain an injury while on the clock have the protection of the worker’s compensation program to rely on for help solving these stressful and upsetting issues. Sadly, many workers are unaware of the massive benefits provided by the program and that they are covered by it, even though they have not paid out of pocket for the coverage.
Many first time calls to Normandie Law Firm regarding an on the job injury begin with questions about how the victim can be covered by the program when they have not paid any premiums to worker’s compensation. These people are all very pleasantly surprised when they learn that all employers in the state are legally obligated to participate in the worker’s comp program and pay all the costs to cover their employees with this valuable protection.
The program was created to protect workers who get hurt while doing their job and the employers who were often sued by the hurt worker to recover the cost of their medical expenses and lost income. The program is a win for all involved because the worker gets exceptional benefits to help them overcome the challenges created by their workplace injuries. The employer is protected from lawsuits related to those on the job injuries. In most cases, the worker is only permitted to receive the benefits provided by the worker’s comp program and prohibited from filing a personal injury lawsuit against their employer.
What Benefits Are Provided By California Worker’s Compensation?
When you think about the cost of medical treatment, you are sure to feel overwhelmed and worried after suffering a workplace injury. Even covering the cost of your deductible and expenses that are not covered by insurance could pose significant financial hardships. Fortunately, the worker’s comp program is well aware of the high cost of medical care and has set the maximum payout for an injured worker’s medical bill coverage at a substantial $1M per injury incident. These funds will be used to cover the cost of all bills related to your medical care and treatment for the workplace injuries you suffered. In addition, most healthcare providers will bill worker’s comp directly, eliminating any work or co-pays from you to have the amounts paid in full.
If your injuries will prevent you from returning to work immediately, you could also have concerns about how you will pay your living expenses and other bills. Few people have enough in savings to bridge a lengthy gap in their income. To help with these costs, the worker’s comp program will pay you up to 66% of your regular weekly income to cover other expenses like rent and food. If the harm you sustained in the workplace injury incident resulted in severe injuries and you will be partially disabled or face permanent limitations in your physical capability and earning capacity, the program offers partial and permanent disability payments to replace your lost income on a more long-term basis. Finally, if you will never be capable of returning to work at Dole Foods due to physical limitations or disabilities, the program provides free vocational training to help you prepare for a new career once you have healed and are medically cleared to seek a new job.
What Does The Average Dole Foods Worker’s Compensation Payout Mean To You?
Knowing that most people who suffer injuries on the clock at Dole Foods get an average of about $20K in their worker’s comp payout should not be upsetting or exciting to you. That amount has nothing to do with the amount you will receive for your Dole Foods workers comp claim. It is just an evaluation of the recent claims and amounts paid based on the injuries sustained and expenses incurred by the victims. What all Dole Foods workplace injury victims should focus on is that the coverage provided by California worker’s comp is robust and will be provided based on your needs and expenses.
Even in cases such as a trip and fall or slip and fall that often result in multiple serious injuries and medical expenses of $250,000 or more, the plan can and will cover those medical care costs for you up to the $1,000,000 limit of the program. In addition, the money you get to replace your lost income will be based on your actual earnings, not the rate of pay of others or the average of all employees working for Dole Foods.
When Can I Sue Dole Foods?
There are minimal cases where an injured employee can file a lawsuit against their employer. Typically, the case must involve gross negligence or an apparent lack of consideration for worker safety. For example, gross negligence could be a factor in an injury case where the employer refused to correct a known safety hazard that placed employees at risk while working. If an employee suffered an injury due to that known hazard, they could have grounds for a lawsuit because the employer was grossly negligent by ignoring the safety issue. Please reach out to Normandie Law Firm today to discuss any injury incident you feel could be the result of gross negligence.
How Long Do I Have To Take Action?
If you are opening a worker’s compensation claim, the process must start within 30 days of your workplace injury incident. If the claim is not open within the 30 days the program provides, your claim will be automatically denied when submitted, and you will get no benefits. If gross negligence was a factor in your on the job injuries, you have two years from the date of the injury incident to file your claim with the court. This time limit is strictly enforced, and you will lose the right to seek compensation for your losses and expenses via a lawsuit after the two years have passed.
No Added Stress Or Costs At Normandie Law Firm
When you contact Normandie Law Firm, our team is ready to provide all the assistance you need without demanding upfront payment. Instead, the firm only gets paid after the case is resolved, and you have the necessary compensation to cover your legal costs. Finally, if the Normandie Law Firm Dole Foods attorneys fail to win your case and deliver the much-needed compensation, you owe our firm nothing. Please make time today to contact Normandie Law Firm to discuss these valuable options to secure the help you need to overcome the issues caused by your Dole Foods workplace injury incident.
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