Have you been injured at work? The attorneys at Smith & Baltaxe, LLP, can help you secure maximum workers’ compensation benefits, which can cover your medical expenses and other losses. Our San Francisco, CA, law firm is focused exclusively on workers' compensation cases. To schedule your free consultation, please contact us online or call 415-292-7800.
About California Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation is designed to offset the expenses of workers hurt in the course of performing job duties. This includes accidents occurring on the road or at off-site locations, and you can be covered regardless of whether an accident is determined to be your fault. Workers’ compensation also covers illness resulting from a work-related circumstance, such as exposure to toxins or psychological stress.
After reporting a claim to your employer, you are entitled to receive no-cost medical treatment. Even if a claim is ultimately denied, your employer is responsible for paying up to $10,000 of your medical costs. For an approved claim, you should receive all medical treatment needed to “cure or relieve” the effects of your injury at no cost to you. While you must initially see an insurer-approved doctor, it is possible to change physicians later.
Disability Payments
If you miss three or more days of work, you are eligible for temporary disability payments to replace some of your lost wages. In California, workers’ compensation coverage provides two-thirds of your average weekly wage, including overtime and income from a second job. There is a maximum available payout, which is adjusted annually.
You can receive temporary partial disability (TPD) if you are able to work part-time or temporary total disability (TTD) if you cannot work at all. If your injury is found to be permanent, you may qualify for additional benefits. In order to collect these benefits, your doctor must determine that you will be unable to return to your customary work or have a permanent impairment.
Smith & Baltaxe provides expert guidance and aggressive representation for clients every step of the way.
If you cannot return to your job even on a modified basis, you can qualify for supplemental job displacement benefits. This $6,000 voucher provides vocational training so you can pursue a new, less physically demanding career. You may also be eligible for an additional supplemental payment under the Return-to-Work Program.
Meanwhile, surviving dependents of a worker who suffers a fatal injury can file a death benefit claim.
Legal Assistance
Smith & Baltaxe provides expert guidance and aggressive representation for clients every step of the way. If we believe we can help, we charge no up-front retainer fees, deferring our compensation until you receive yours. Byron Smith and Bernhard Baltaxe have obtained significant benefits for severely injured workers and their loved ones. When third-party negligence is a contributing factor to a worker's injury, Smith & Baltaxe refer clients to trusted personal injury attorneys who can help secure further compensation.
Contact Us
Do not hesitate to contact our firm if you have been seriously injured in a work-related accident or suffered a job-related illness. Schedule your free consultation by calling 415-292-7800 or contacting us online.
