Did you know that there are millions of workplace injuries and illnesses reported throughout the country each year?
Thousands of those cases take place in and around San Diego.
A workplace injury isn’t just an inconvenience; in some cases, it can be seriously detrimental to your well being and can take a financial toll on your entire family. Exorbitant medical bills, lengthy hospital stays, loss of function, and time out of work can all cut into your earnings and even jeopardize your position at work.
Worse, it may not even have been your fault at all.
What Causes Workplace Injuries in San Diego?
- Overexertion
- Slips and falls
- Vehicular accidents
- Malfunctioning machinery
- Repetitive motion strain
When you get injured or sick at work, it is important to realize that it happened while you were performing your duty on the behalf of your employer. Depending on the exact circumstances, you may be entitled to one or more benefits. You may be able to make a San Diego workers’ compensation claim or even a personal injury lawsuit. In some cases, you may even be able to make both.
How Does Workers’ Compensation Work in California?
According to the California Workers’ Compensation Act, San Diego businesses are liable to pay medical compensation and replace income for any employee injured on the job, even if the employee does not prove fault.
That said, you may still not get enough money through workers’ compensation to get by—and that is where a personal injury lawsuit may come into play. Sometimes this lawsuit may be against your employer, but in other situations, it could be against a third party. For example, if you were in a vehicular accident, the third party might be another driver or it could be the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Just to add to the complexity of the situation, the money you receive through the personal injury lawsuit payout could actually end up eating into your workers’ compensation, even though you may be eligible for both.
You can see how these are treacherous seas to navigate. If you make one misstep, you could find yourself losing money which is owed to you. And if that happens, you might find yourself unable to make ends meet. That isn’t a situation you want to find yourself in.
If you were injured or became sick on the job, you deserve to have your needs met. You and your family need to be taken care of.
Matthew A. Verduzco is an experienced San Diego work injuries lawyer who has helped numerous clients throughout San Diego County to get the compensation they deserve. You are already in a painful and debilitating situation, but you do not have to go at it alone. We can help you to figure out whether you are eligible for California Workers’ Compensation and whether you can file a personal injury claim. We will ensure that you receive the maximum compensation to help you pay for your medical bills and offset the losses in your income. Call us today at (619) 213-1558.