Redding Workers’ Compensation Law Blog

Are Undocumented Workers Eligible For Workers’ Compensation? Undocumented immigrants are a substantial and important part of California’s workforce. However, undocumented workers are just as likely to suffer a serious work accident as their colleagues. Regardless of what you may have heard, undocumented workers are eligible for workers’ compensation. If you suffered a work injury and your immigration status is a concern, let Leep, Tescher, Helfman and Zanze help. Attorney Ben Helfman represents workers throughout Shasta County and the surrounding counties in California regardless of legal status. You likely have unique concerns about your career, your family and your home. You do have legal options, and an experienced lawyer can explain them to you. Know Your Rights – Even Without Documentation...

12 Reasons To Get A Lawyer On Your Side Do you really need an attorney to help you pursue workers’ compensation benefits? At Leep, Tescher, Helfman and Zanze in Redding, California, attorney Ben Helfman and his legal team certainly believe so. Here are 12 situations in which engaging the help of a lawyer can prove invaluable: Your employer tells you your injury isn’t covered by workers’ compensation. The insurance company denies your claim. Your current job made a pre-existing injury worse. You are currently receiving Social Security Disability benefits. You plan to use Medicare in the near future. You were laid off or fired immediately after your injury or accident. You don’t think you are getting all of the workers’ compensation...

If Your Claim Was Denied, Don’t Give Up If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, you’re not alone. More importantly, a denial doesn’t necessarily mean that your claim is invalid. The insurance companies have one goal: to keep as much money as possible. For this reason, they sometimes deny valid claims in the hopes that the injured individuals will simply give up. Don’t let them get away with it. Instead, consult a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer at Leep, Tescher, Helfman and Zanze for understanding counsel and vigorous representation. Attorney Ben Helfman is experienced in handling workers’ compensation issues in Redding, across Shasta County and throughout the surrounding areas of California. Additionally, he is a board-certified specialist, which means you can...

What To Look For In A Workers’ Comp Attorney So you were injured on the job and you know you need a workers’ compensation lawyer to help you get the benefits you deserve. But how do you select the right attorney? What should you look for when making such an important choice? At Leep, Tescher, Helfman and Zanze in Redding, California, the legal team believes that most injured workers are best served by choosing someone who is: Certified as a specialist in workers’ compensation – To achieve this certification, a lawyer must pass a rigorous examination, demonstrate a high level of experience, complete at least 45 hours of continuing education and be rated favorably by his or her peers. Attorney Ben Helfman...

The logging industry plays a vital role in the economy by providing firewood and lumber for buildings and other applications. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the industry, workers are at risk of suffering injuries. These hard workers face numerous hazards on a daily basis. Understanding them can help reduce the risk of an accident, but the onus to prevent injuries ultimately falls on employers, not the workers themselves. Cuts And Lacerations In the logging industry, cuts and lacerations are common injuries from using sharp tools and machinery, such as chainsaws and axes. The risk is particularly high during tree felling and limb removal, where workers are in close contact with sharp edges. Proper safety gear, including cut-resistant clothing and gloves and...

Most injured workers count on workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical care costs and provide other benefits. But, getting these benefits isn’t always easy. A critical step in getting the benefits that one is due is selecting a qualified medical examiner (QME) in conjunction with one’s California workers’ compensation case. The choice directly influences the case outcome because the QME’s evaluation is crucial in determining the nature and extent of a worker’s injury. Understanding how to navigate this selection process is essential for a favorable outcome. In a workers’ compensation case, a QME is a licensed physician certified by the Division of Workers’ Compensation Medical Unit. They aim provide an objective medical opinion, vital in resolving disputes about workers’ compensation benefits. This...

The workers’ compensation system is designed to provide essential financial support, along with other kinds of assistance, to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. The supplemental job displacement benefit (SJDB) is one of the lesser-known forms of assistance injured workers can receive. When a complete recovery from an on-the-job injury or illness isn’t possible, SJDBs can provide new hope – and a chance to learn new skills – for workers who want to return to work, even if they can no longer go back to their old professions. The Key Features Of Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits The supplemental job displacement benefit is a unique provision within California’s workers’ comp system, in line with this state’s commitment to look after its workers’...

Despite the fact that workers’ comp can provide medical and financial lifelines for injured workers, few people want to be off work any longer than necessary. However, part of the workers’ compensation process is determining whether you need temporary or permanent work restrictions once you return. What Are Work Restrictions? Work restrictions are medical guidelines established by the doctor in charge of your care that are designed to modify or limit your work-related activities. Work restrictions are important to: Employee safety: The primary goal of work restrictions is to prevent you, the injured worker, from engaging in activities that could cause you additional harm. Faster recoveries: By tailoring your job duties to accommodate your condition, work restrictions help speed your...

There are two pressing financial factors that tend to affect those who have recently been hurt on the job in California. The first is the cost of medical care, which can be significant if an individual’s injury or medical condition is particularly severe. The second is the possibility of lost wages because someone cannot do their job as normal due to their medical condition. The California workers’ compensation program helps to reduce that financial stress on employees by providing them with benefits. Workers can typically receive full medical coverage for necessary treatment and disability benefits until they can return to work. However, many injured workers find themselves disagreeing with their employers about whether they are ready to go back to...

Being injured on the job is never an easy experience for you. Depending on the severity of your injury, your life could be dramatically impacted by your injury, and it may take you years of therapy and medical treatment in order to recover. When you are injured, you rely on the workers’ compensation system in order to get the help you need. Called the Great Compromise, workers’ compensation provides you with the right to receive medical care from your employer if you are injured while at work during the performance of your work duties. However, what happens when the system is not working the way that it is intended, and you are struggling to get the help you need? For...