When employees start their workday, they usually expect to be able to leave for the day in the same health in which they arrived. However, many employees start their workday and end up in an emergency room for injuries from a work-related accident. All workplaces have a risk of accident; of course, some risks are more significant than others. In some workplaces, accidents can include fires and explosions. In other workplaces, employees can be injured by heavy equipment or electrical issues. Slips, trips, and falls can also cause harm to employees.
Employers must provide employees with a safe workspace; when accidents occur, employees have the right to pursue legal action. Employees who are aware of their rights in the workplace often seek legal assistance as soon as possible. However, about 9% of all Americans do not report the accidents and injuries they suffer in the workplace. This, in part, is due to a lack of information and accessibility to legal assistance. In San Diego, who is the community that is most affected by this inaccessibility to legal services?
San Diego has a population of about 1.39 million people. A sizeable portion—more than 425,000 people—are Hispanic. The population of San Diego consists of more than 20% native Spanish speakers. Overall, more than 40% of the population speaks a language other than English. Based on these statistics, it is not surprising that Spanish is the most prominent language spoken in the city besides English. When the Spanish speaking community suffers from accidents in the workplace, what do they do? Most law firms do not assist in Spanish.
Normandie Law Firm recognizes that Spanish speakers do not have much access to legal assistance. Our law firm is changing this unfortunate truth one case at a time. We provide Spanish speaking attorneys with experience in workplace accidents to help you sue for your injuries. Victims of workplace accidents need legal assistance from lawyers that speak Spanish. Our attorneys are experienced in workplace accidents and will not stop fighting for you until you receive the compensation you deserve.
The following information is broad and is not purposed to substitute a consultation with an experienced attorney. Contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible to schedule your consultation and get information specific to your case from an expert Spanish speaking attorney.
Employer Liability
Before you begin blaming yourself for your accident and your injuries, consider your situation. Did you have an accident because of a hazardous situation in the workplace? Did someone have the duty to address and remove that hazard before it caused harm? All employers have the responsibility to maintain a safe workplace. All employers are regulated by both on the federal and state levels. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency in charge of enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH ACT). Have you ever heard of the OSH ACT? The OSH Act sets standards and regulations and conducts routine inspections to ensure that employers are providing their employees with a safe workplace. In the state level, the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) enforces a program that requires employers to take extra measures to promote employee safety. The DIR’s program Cal/OSHA reflects the same principles covered by OSHA and the OSHA Act. Cal/OSHA requires employers to have injury prevention programs available to their employees. These programs focus on training and instructing employees on being safe in the workplace.
When an accident occurs in the workplace, it is likely due to a violation of any of the regulations mentioned above. Employers are required to follow regulations to protect their employees from potentially hazardous conditions that can lead to accidents and injuries. Employers can be found liable for any injuries resulting from a workplace accident. Injured employees have the right to file a lawsuit. If this is the first time learning about OSHA, the OSHA ACT, the DIR, and Cal/OSHA, you need to talk to a San Diego workplace accident attorney that speaks Spanish. The attorney will be able to give you further details on each agency and how their regulations apply to your specific situation.
Common Injuries
Workplace accidents will differ depending on the hazardous conditions and where you work. Therefore, work injuries will vary from case to case. Slips, trips, falls, falling objects, and collisions can all result in injuries ranging from mild to severe. Even though the types of accidents appear to be different, the kind of injuries from an accident to another can be similar. Below are some of the most common injuries that arise from workplace accidents:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones, fractures, and sprains
- Bruises, cuts, and lacerations
Serious injuries might require extensive medical attention. In some instances, medical care is permanently needed. As a result, a victim might be unable to continue working. This can be problematic because necessary medical treatment leads to rising medical bills. If you were injured in a workplace accident, you might be eligible to receive compensation for the medical expenses acquired during your accident.
Compensation
If you are injured in your workplace, you might have a few options in pursuing compensation. If your employer offers workers’ compensation insurance, you can report your injury and receive workers’ compensation benefits. If your employer provides workers’ compensation insurance to employees, you will not be able to file a lawsuit against your employer. If your employer does not offer workers’ compensation insurance, you have the right to sue the employer directly. Many workplace accidents are a direct result of someone’s negligence; if negligence led to your injuries, you might be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. The amount of compensation a victim is eligible for will depend on the seriousness of the injuries and the effect of the injuries on his or her ability to continue working. If you suffer injuries, you will need to meet with a Spanish speaking lawyer in San Diego for more information on the compensation available for your specific case.
The Spanish Attorneys at Normandie Law Firm Can Help You
Normandie Law Firm is a Spanish law firm dedicated to helping the Spanish speaking community get the legal representation necessary to fight for their compensation. Workplace injuries often leave victims out of work for some time; medical bills pile up, and victims cannot pay them. Many members of the Spanish speaking community do not file lawsuits because of the language barrier they encounter when they contact law firms around the area. The Spanish speaking community needs San Diego attorneys that speak Spanish. If you are looking for a Spanish lawyer, who can sue for your injuries, contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible.
Besides providing San Diego with excellent Spanish legal assistance, Normandie Law Firm is doing more to ensure client satisfaction. Our law firm provides clients with completely free consultations and second opinions. All you have to do is call to schedule an appointment; someone who speaks Spanish will be there to answer the phone. A San Diego attorney speaking Spanish will be available to talk in both consultations and second opinions. During your free consultation, you can expect a Spanish speaking work accident lawyer in San Diego to answer all of your questions and address all of your concerns. The expert attorney will evaluate your case and give you all the information necessary to start you on the path towards a lawsuit. If you already have an attorney, you might benefit from a second opinion. Do you feel like you need additional information? Does your current attorney speak Spanish? Your answers to these questions should tell you whether you need a second opinion. If you are looking for additional information because you still have questions or concerns, your current attorney might have rushed through your consultation and even your whole case. It is common to come across lawyers that rush through cases to increase the number of cases they go through. Rushing through cases can lead to attorneys overlooking or neglecting vital information to the case. Additionally, if your attorney does not speak Spanish, communication will be a definite issue. Your present attorney might use an interpreter during consultations. Although you might get most of the information correctly, introducing a third party into what should be one-on-one communication creates the risk of important details becoming lost in translation. Do not take any risks when it comes to your case and getting all the facts you need. You need a lawyer who will prioritize your case and who can speak Spanish. Contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible.
Our law firm understands the physical, mental, and emotional distress caused by workplace accidents and injuries. If someone was injured in a workplace accident, it is likely that he or she is unable to work. We acknowledge the financial stress you might be experiencing; therefore, Normandie Law Firm provides all clients with a Zero-Fee guarantee. You will never have to worry about having to pay any upfront fees. Also, our law firm is strictly based on contingency. You will not have to pay anything until our work injury accident lawyers that speak Spanish win your case. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation or free second opinion.
