Have you suffered an injury while at work in Riverside? As most employers in California are required by state law to hold workers’ compensation insurance, you should be able to obtain compensation by filing a claim with your employer’s insurer. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you work out what to include with a claim and when it should be submitted. If your employer is for some reason not insured, you may be able to file a personal injury claim instead. Choosing a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Riverside There are around 200 attorneys in Riverside who offer legal help to those considering making a workers’ compensation claim. It is advisable to select a licensed attorney when you are looking for legal advice or help with a claim. Many workers’ compensation attorneys also work with personal injury claims if this is what you are planning to use to obtain compensation. Common Workplace Injuries in Riverside All workplaces have a certain element of risk, as do homes and public places. It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure you work in a safe environment, but there are accidents that happen from time to time that are completely unexpected. According to data obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,*the most common workplace injuries occur in the transportation and construction sectors. This is state wide data, so it may not necessarily reflect the reality in Riverside itself. Construction sites have a number of accident risks, including scaffolding failures, crane injuries, slip, trip and fall injuries, injuries from falling objects and equipment and machinery injuries. Workers’ compensation insurance is a no-fault insurance, so there is no need to prove who was to blame for the injury, as is the case with personal injury claims. The Workers’ Compensation Process in California Nearly every employer in California must take out workers’ compensation insurance, even if they only employ a single employee. If you are injured at work or fall sick from a workplace related illness, you must inform your employer promptly and fulfill any workplace requirements like file an accident report. By California law, the statute of limitations for workers’ comp. is one year from the injury or diagnosis of the illness. You would normally file a workers’ comp. claim with your employer’s own insurer. The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) oversees claims and the way workers’ compensation law is used in California. They will be the avenue used if your claim is denied. If you are in a minority of Riverside employees who is either not protected by workers’ comp. insurance or who finds that their employer is illegally uninsured, you may still be able to file a personal injury claim instead. This is not no-fault based, like workers’ comp. So you will need a stronger burden of proof that your employer behaved negligently and that this negligence caused your injury. A personal injury claim in Riverside should be filed with the Riverside Superior Court in Main St, Riverside. It’s open all non public holiday weekdays from 7.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Riverside Attorney There are certainly plenty of suitable attorneys who can help with either a workers’ comp. or a personal injury claim in Riverside but who do you select? Bearing in mind that you cannot leave it too late to decide, you are able to use our free claim evaluation form below to help you make the decision about choosing an attorney. Helpful Resources What Is The Workers’ Compensation Filing Process In California? Denied Benefits in California? Filing for Workers' Comp in California Workers’ Compensation California *http://www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/Injuries/2015/2015Table2.pdf
