Making a Work-Related Accident Report

Work-Related Accident Claims in Los Angeles

Were you injured carrying out responsibilities at work? If yes, your company should compensate you after getting hurt on the job. Depending on the nature of your accident, a workers’ compensation claim might be your best chance to recover for damages. In this article, we explain why reporting the incident matters. We review how you can protect your rights if you decide to move forward through the claims process.

Work Injury Accident Reports – Don’t Wait to File!

At the moment, tending to your injuries comes first. When you receive emergency care, the doctors will provide you with a detailed report of how you are doing. If the injuries gradually worsen over time, like a spinal or head injury, report it as soon as you experience symptoms. If you fail to inform your employer about pains and aches within 30 days, you can lose your right to collect compensation benefits that you are entitled to. Make sure to include the following in the accident report:

• Details of the injury
• How and when the accident took place
• Who was involved (manager, employees, etc.)
• Medical treatments following the incident

As the claims process begins, make sure to give a copy of the form to your employment accident lawyer in LA. If your employer does not provide you with the claim board, you can get one from California’s workers’ compensation board. Our experienced legal team can assist you in locating the forms online, as well as filling them out to ensure you have the best chance at winning this case.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Under workers’ compensation insurance, there are five benefits you are entitled to:

• Medical Care: This is paid for by your employer. It can help you recover from an injury or illness from an accident that happens on the job.
• Temporary disability benefits: Payments for lost wages because your injury prevented you from going to work.
• Permanent disability benefits: Payments if the injury you sustained left you with permanent, long-term damages.
• Supplemental job displacement benefits: In California, vouchers help injured persons pay for retraining or skill enhancement if they don’t fully recover or go back to work.
• Death Benefits: There are payments offered to your dependents if your family goes through an unexpected death.

Following Your Claim Matters

After you submit your workers’ compensation claim, keep track of all the records in case a problem arises, like:

Forms You Filled Out and Documents You Received – Filing a claim can be a time-consuming process, but it is worth it in the end. You will receive many to fill out. We advise you to keep an organized record of everything you fill out, submit, and receive (including envelopes with postmarks)

Notes on How The Injury Impacted Your Work – If your injuries or illnesses have caused you to call out from work or limited your ability to get the job done, keep a record. List everyone involved in your claim, including the discussions you had. Leave it to your injury attorney in LA to help determine who is liable.

Medical Reports – A claims administrator can get you a copy of your medical reports.

Pay Stubs, Paychecks, Time Sheets – Provide copies of your pay stubs, paychecks, and timesheets. Make sure to include timestamped evidence before and after the incident to show how your income got impacted.

Receipts for Out-Of-Pocket Costs – Save receipts of all out-of-pocket expenses from medications to doctor-related travel. The company should reimburse you for such costs.

What Happens After Filling Out A Claim

After you submit a claim to your employer, he/she will fill out the “employer” section of the form and send it to a workers’ compensation claims administrator and state board office. An administrator facilitates most of the communication between the employer and the insurance company. In larger companies, an administrator might work directly for the employer.

An administrator will contact you with an answer on whether your claim was accepted. You can expect to hear about the number of benefits you will receive as well.

What If the Company Doesn’t Have Insurance?

The company you work for should carry workers’ compensation insurance. If not, you can report your uninsured employer to the office of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. If you retained a Los Angeles personal injury attorney, make sure they know as well. Not having workers’ compensation coverage for injured employees is a criminal offense.

According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, the offense can result in a $10,000 fine, imprisonment for up to a year, or both. But what does this mean for your work-related injury? Your employer is still responsible for paying for your medical bills. Workers’ compensation benefits are the best way to handle accidents on the job, as it is direct and straightforward. Your injury attorney in LA can work with you to take action against your employer in addition to submitting a claim (keeping in mind that it might be through the state’s Uninsured Employers’ Benefit Trust Fund (UEBTF)

Third-Party Injury Claims

Not all injuries get covered through workers’ compensation insurance. But that does not mean that you are not entitled to recover damages from your injury. You can submit a claim whether it was an occupational hazard on the premises, because of a co-worker, or your employer failed to follow protocols. It is best to have a workplace accident lawyer assess your case to determine how much your claim is worth.

About Grey Law

“When it comes to getting you more, I won’t settle for less.” – David Grey

When you or a loved one gets injured due to negligence, carelessness, or wrongful acts of another person, David Grey is ready to help. Seeking compensation or negotiating with insurance companies can be stressful, especially while recovering. Let us do that for you. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers are well-versed in several practice areas:

• Traffic Accidents
• Premises Accidents
• Personal Injuries
• Product Liability
• Nursing Home Abuse

Why do you need a lawyer for accident compensation? With thousands of lawyers in California, we understand it can be difficult to choose the right legal representation. We have 35+ years of experience and secured millions for our clients. From the time you retain our firm, we build your case. For a free case evaluation and consultation, reach out to us at (323) 857-9500 or email info@greylaw.com.