Common Questions And Answers About Workers’ Compensation

Answering questions from potential and existing clients is a large part of what we do at Verdieck Chambers. We make every effort to tailor our answers to people’s unique circumstances. Getting to the heart of a problem includes listening carefully and drawing on our years of experience. Below are some questions that we often receive and answer in personalized ways.

Will I get fired if I file for workers’ compensation in California?

We hope not! An employer is barred from treating an employee differently in any way in response to your workers’ compensation claim or getting injured on the job. There are laws within both the workers’ compensation and civil arenas that protect employees from this kind of retaliation, including wrongful termination. Despite these laws, employers do sometimes break them, and additional litigation may be required.

If you’ve been terminated following a work injury, our legal team will discuss the facts surrounding your termination to assess whether you may have additional legal recourse under the workers’ compensation umbrella, or whether you need to be directed to an employment attorney who can help you assess the viability of a civil claim.

Do I need a lawyer to file a workers’ compensation claim?

Absolutely not. In fact, we encourage injured workers to promptly file a claim as soon as the injury occurs. Some injuries, like those that happen over time from repetitive duties, can be a bit trickier to decide when or if to file a claim. Our general advice is still the same: if you believe you have suffered an injury of any kind and it is from your job, the very first step is filing a claim. While we are happy to help guide you through the application process, in general, an injured worker normally files a workers’ compensation claim before an attorney is involved.

How will I pay for a lawyer?

We only get paid if you recover a monetary settlement. That means that you do not pay us unless you get paid.

What types of injuries does workers’ compensation cover?

Our firm handles any kind of injury that happens at work within the course of your job duties. The most obvious injuries are specific events like a slip-and-fall resulting in a physical injury (for example, a broken leg or sore back). However, many injuries are not so obvious. For example, you may have been told you have carpal tunnel and have now connected your diagnosis to your 15 years of typing as an administrative assistant.

If your shoulder needs repair and you’re a professional painter or truck driver required to crank trailers up and down, your pain may be related to work. Our firm also deals with even further removed injuries like past exposure to carcinogenic toxins working as a mechanic or firefighter and the development of cancer.

Can you help me if my claim was denied?

Yes! Give us a call to discuss the facts of your case as soon as possible. Unrepresented injured workers have their claims denied all the time and don’t realize that they can disagree with the insurance carrier’s denial and possibly get their case accepted.

The process to disagree with a denial is time-sensitive, so we urge you to call to speak with an attorney right away.

Get An Attorney’s Answers To Your Questions About Workers’ Compensation In California

Schedule a free initial consultation by calling 619-695-1286 or by completing a brief online inquiry form. We will respond promptly.

​​​​​​​We provide bilingual legal services. Hablamos español.