Redding Workers’ Compensation Law Blog

If you are injured at work and make a claim to obtain workers’ compensation, there is a chance that you will need to see a medical professional for a qualified medical evaluation. This evaluation can be requested when your claim is denied or delayed and you’d like a medical evaluation to determine if the claim should be payable. Additionally, you can ask for the evaluation by a qualified medical evaluator, or QME, if you disagree with your current treating physician’s thoughts on your condition or if you want to find out if you are permanently disabled and may need future medical treatment. In California, you are able to see a  list of QMEs to choose from, so you can select someone...

You do a lot of manual labor, which means that you’re frequently exposed to working conditions and jobs that put you at risk of various injuries – and, one day, your luck runs out. You get hurt. Your boss, however, tells you that you’ll just have to go home and rest until you heal because you aren’t entitled to any benefits under workers’ compensation since you’re “just a seasonal or temporary” worker. On top of that, you’re an immigrant without documentation. Don’t Listen To Your Employer’s Attempts To Hide The Truth Immigrants are an important part of California’s labor force. The law recognizes that by making discrimination against injured workers illegal – regardless of whether they have legal documents or not. In...

Some workers’ compensation claims are straightforward. It is obvious how the employee got hurt and what benefits they require. Other times, claims can cause lengthy disputes between workers and their employers. When there are disagreements about the right treatments, the restrictions on a worker’s job performance or even if their injury is the result of their work, the worker and their employer may require the help of a qualified medical evaluator (QME) to resolve the disagreement. Can you go to your primary care physician and ask them to act as a QME for your claim? Doctors Must Apply To Become QMEs Workers who need medical care after suffering an injury at work can sometimes seek care from their own physicians....

When you are hurt at work, you might be inclined to believe you will automatically receive the financial restitution you need to recover from your injuries and pay for the other damages. After all, workers’ compensation claims are meant for just that, taking care of injured workers. However, it helps to understand that multiple factors come into play when determining the compensation you will receive following your workplace injury. Some of these factors include the extent of your injury as well as the nature of treatment you will need. Here are two questions that can help you negotiate a better settlement for your workers’ compensation. Are Your Injuries Permanent Or Temporary? Workers’ compensation settlements can be awarded in lump sums or...

When you’re hurt on the job, the one thing you hope will be true is that your employer will take responsibility and you will get your claim approved for workers’ compensation. Unfortunately, that is not always how things work, and it’s possible that your claim could be denied. There are many reasons why your claim might be denied ranging from not including enough information to missing important deadlines. Here are the five most common reasons and what to do next. 1. You Didn’t File In Time. The first reason that you might have a claim denied is if you didn’t file the claim soon enough. To avoid this, let your employer know as soon as you can after your injury....

When people think about workplace injuries, they often consider catastrophic events, like someone falling off of a 10-foot ladder to the concrete floor below. But things don’t have to be this traumatic for you to suffer serious complications. For instance, despite the popularity of standing desks and the need for many workers to be on their feet, it’s been found that standing can take a serious physical toll on your body. This isn’t to say that sitting is necessarily better, as it has been linked to obesity and plenty of other health issues, but it’s important to know that simply being at work all day may be causing your body to wear down. What Problems Can It Cause? There many...

Most people associate job-related wrist, hand and arm pain with carpal tunnel syndrome, especially if their work involves repetitive movements. While carpal tunnel is a legitimate workplace injury, it is not the only form of continuous trauma that affects the arm and hand. When you believe your pain is carpal tunnel syndrome, you may choose to treat it yourself, at least for a while, with Tylenol or ibuprofen. Unfortunately, if your condition is not carpal tunnel, you risk it worsening to the point that it impacts your work and lifestyle. Wrist Tendonitis Many people confuse tendonitis of the wrist with carpal tunnel syndrome. The symptoms of these conditions are similar, but they are two different continuous trauma injuries. Pain on the bottom...

After you got hurt on the job, you thought that you’d be able to make a claim and get the financial support that you needed. You were surprised when your workers’ compensation claim was denied, leaving you with no support at all. After a claim is denied, it’s important for you to know that you can appeal that decision. There are a number of reasons that a claim might be denied, but you have a right to appeal the denial of your claim by requesting a hearing with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. What Happens When You Appeal A Denied Workers’ Compensation Claim? If you appeal a denied claim, you will have your case heard by a workers’ compensation administrative law...

If you are applying for California workers’ compensation benefits, you could face opposition from the claims administrator about the severity or cause of your workplace injury. They might even question whether the illness or injury was employment-related at all. These, and more, questions could give rise to the need for a qualified medical evaluator (QME) on your case. Below is some important information to understand about the role of a QME in workers’ comp cases. Are QMEs On Your Side? At best, they will be neutral. These medical professionals, certified by the Division of Workers’ Compensation Medical Unit, perform legal and medical evaluations of claimants. They become involved when your doctor’s assessment of your condition gets called into question, and they may include:...

Every workplace has its share of hazards. But do you know the hazards that are specific to your workplace? Understanding potential hazards in your workplace can help you take appropriate steps to mitigate or eliminate them and prevent costly injuries and property damages down the road. Compensation resulting from workplace-related injuries costs organizations millions of dollars each year. This underpins the importance of putting structures in place to eliminate workplace injuries. With that said, here are three common reasons why workplace accidents, and injuries, happen. Overexertion And Fatigue Physically demanding tasks become hazardous when they are performed for a long time. Employees who do not take breaks from physically demanding jobs like lifting, pulling, bending, kneeling and pushing are likely to sustain...