Workers compensation is insurance which covers the wages and medical expenses to employees who are injured in the course of employment. Workers comp also funds any and all rehabilitation that is necessary as well as retraining the injured worker in the event he cannot return to the workplace and perform the same tasks. This definition is quite basic, many people who are injured on the job will turn to a workers compensation attorney in El Monte to ensure their rights are not abused and they do not suffer from early termination of their benefits.
The downside to workers comp is the fact that the injured employee trades off his or her right to sue their employer for negligence. The entire intent of the statutes that govern workers compensation is to obviate the need for litigation in return for assured cover, regardless of how limited it may be.
There are laws in effect that go beyond those that govern traditional workers compensation, these laws protect unique classes of workers, workers are often exposed to injury or illness not normally found in a typical industrial environment. One such law is the Jones Act which covers seamen working aboard a US flagged vessel that were injured due to negligence. Other unique laws are in place to cover railroad workers, longshoreman and dock workers and a “Black Lung” law that compensates miners that suffer from pneumoconiosis.
As well as unique laws covering seamen, railroaders, dock workers and sufferers of black lung disease there is debate as to whether employees who suffer from asbestos related diseases should also get special consideration. As of now, if the issue is asbestos related it is best to consult with a seasoned workers compensation attorney in El Monte.
Most workers who suffer job related injuries recover quickly and rarely have any long term or disabling effects. For most people the only thing they know about workers comp is that should they be injured they make application for benefits and they are granted. It is not insignificant injuries that are problematic; it is when the injury is serious that the system becomes difficult. When there is a serious injury it is not unknown for the insurance carrier to balk and refuse to pay. When this happens the injured party has no other recourse than to engage the services of a workers compensation attorney in El Monte.
The attorney is typically needed when the worker is denied his benefits. At other times the worker is told to return to work long before they are able to and as a result they are denied long term disability even though it is apparent that the injury is disabling.
If you have reason to believe that your rights have been violated and you are not receiving the benefits you are afforded by law, you need a workers compensation attorney in El Monte. Visit our website for more information.