If you have been involved in a workplace accident in San Francisco and you suffered a work-related injury under the Workers' Compensation Act in California you have a right to claim certain benefits. Your employer is, by law, required to provide you with medical treatment and pay other workers' compensation benefits such as a percentage of your wages. You may not need to do anything yourself as many employers once they have read the accident report immediately file a workers’ compensation claim on your behalf. If you have been denied workers’ compensation, your workers’ compensation lawyer in San Francisco may help you to submit a personal injury claim. Choosing a Workers’ Comp. Attorney in San Francisco The most important thing to remember when choosing a workers’ compensation or personal injury lawyer in San Francisco is to hire one who is licensed and that has ongoing success in winning compensation claim. There are over 500 workers' compensation attorneys in the San Francisco area. Workplace Injuries in San Francisco Even the safest workplaces have accidents but there are some workplaces that are not as safe as others. In San Francisco, the most vulnerable industries are the production of goods and construction. Production of goods in San Francisco can be anything from chocolate to electrical products. In these manufacturing environments trips and falls over obstacles that shouldn’t have been there often take place as well as getting clothing caught in machinery because there are no proper safety rails in place. When it comes to construction sites which are plentiful throughout San Francisco there are many different types of accidents that take place* including products from crane cradles falling out and striking people in the way as well as falling off scaffolding due to the absence of safety equipment. If you are injured in any of these situations a workers’ compensation lawyer in San Francisco may be able to assist you to get the compensation you are entitled to which is typically workers’ compensation. If you are denied workers’ compensation you may still be eligible to file a personal injury claim which if won will cover your loss of earnings and medical treatment. Workers’ Compensation Process in San Francisco In San Francisco a workers’ comp. claim is usually automatic and is administered by the Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC), which provides administrative and legal services to assist in the resolving of disputes that may occur in connection with workers' compensation claims. California employers are by law required to hold workers' compensation insurance, even if only a single employee makes up their workforce. They are required to provide compensation for loss of earnings and medical treatment. An employee has 12 months from the date of the accident to file the claim. If you need to file a personal injury claim, you are given 2 years from the date of the accident to do so. Your personal injury lawyer in San Francisco will direct your claim to the Superior Court. If you are filing the suit on your own and the claim is worth $10,000 or less you can file it with the Small Claims Division. The Superior Court is open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Thursday. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Attorney Once you have decided which claim is appropriate for your needs you can access a San Francisco workers’ compensation lawyer by completing our free claim evaluation form below. Start your claim as soon as you can otherwise you will find the statute of limitations will prevent you getting the compensation you deserve. Additional Resources Was Your Claim Denied in California? Workers' Compensation Attorneys in California *dir.ca.gov/oprl/Injuries/2015/2015Table2.pdf
