If you have suffered a workplace injury or developed an illness because of your job, you should be able to claim workers’ compensation to help pay for medical expenses as well as compensate for any lost earnings. The vast majority of workers in California are covered by workers’ comp. which is insurance carried by their employer. In a small number of cases an injured or sick employee who works in an uninsured workplace may have to file a personal injury claim instead. Choosing a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Anaheim You are spoiled for choice if you live and work in Anaheim and are seeking a workers’ compensation lawyer. There are over 700 lawyers who offer workers’ comp. assistance in and around Anaheim. The only problem is choosing one single lawyer who is able to help you file your claim or assist if there is an appeal needed. Just make sure that the lawyer you eventually choose is licensed to offer legal services in California and has strong legal experience in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. Why Workers Get Injured in Anaheim Workplace injuries in Anaheim and California in general are very varied. They tend to reflect the ratio of employee numbers in the region, but there are still many some occupations which are riskier than others. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics*, data for fatal injuries in the state reveal that the transportation sector is a little more dangerous than any other. Transportation injuries may involve anything from truck crashes to back and neck strain through heavy lifting to slips and falls while working in a depot. Bus drivers and other public transit workers face the everyday possibility of a crash in and around the city of Anaheim. Crashes can be caused by the negligent driving of other drivers or due to a defect in the bus or the use of a defective part in the vehicle. The Workers’ Compensation Process in Anaheim Workers’ compensation claims in Anaheim are processed according to California law on workers’ compensation. Typically, nearly every worker should be covered by their employer’s insurance cover anywhere in California. If you are in one of the very few exceptions, you may have to file a personal injury claim instead of a workers’ comp. claim, but you must be sure that your employer’s negligence was to blame for your injury. Workers’ comp. claims are by their very nature no-fault, so there is no need to prove negligence. A workplace injury or illness in California must be reported to your employer as soon as possible, and a claim must be filed with your employer’s insurer within a year of the injury. The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) is in charge of overseeing workers’ compensation law and must be contacted in case of the need for an appeal. A personal injury claim is not likely after a workplace injury or illness, but if it does become the only avenue to claim compensation, you are advised to contact either a workers’ comp. or a personal injury attorney. In Anaheim, a personal injury claim is filed with the Orange County Superior Court in Anaheim, which is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., every weekday except public holidays. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Attorney Given the huge number of attorneys in Anaheim who offer workers’ compensation claim assistance, it can be a daunting experience trying to decide on a suitable attorney to help with your claim. It is always preferable to get a claim started as soon as you can after recovery from a workplace injury as the state imposes a strict statute of limitations on claims. Apart from the 1 year for workers’ comp. claims there is also a limit of 2 years for any personal injury claims throughout California. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation Attorneys in California Workers' Compensation in California *Source: bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/tgs/2016/iiffw06.htm
