Were You Injured on the Job in the Bakersfield Area?
Injured workers have California workers’ compensation to pay for some of their medical treatment and lost earnings, but it is never enough to cover the full amount of your financial damages. At Rodriguez & Associates, our Bakersfield workplace injury lawyers help workers injured on the job in central California recover the full and fair amount of compensation from those people and companies responsible for causing the accident. We have over 100 years of combined experience in investigating and handling these types of accidents to make sure that the wrongdoers don’t escape their responsibility to pay for what they wrongfully took from you; your health and your choices of how to live your life.
Contact us if you were injured in any type of workplace accident in Bakersfield, California, or nearby areas.
- Construction site accidents
- Oil field accidents
- Factory machinery accidents
- Burn injuries
- Industrial equipment accidents
- Farm and agricultural equipment accidents
- Crane accidents, forklift accidents
Common Causes of Workplace Injuries
Many different events can lead to workplace injuries and these accidents can occur on every job site, from construction projects to office buildings and while working on other people’s properties, such as private homes or apartment buildings. If you suffer an injury while at work or performing your work-related duties, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim to receive the funds you need to recover from these injuries.
The National Safety Council identifies three top causes of injuries that lead to workers’ compensation claims.
- Overexertion injuries account for approximately 33.54% of workplace injuries. Workers usually sustain overexertion injuries when they are lifting heavy objects, lowering heavy objects, or performing repetitive motions like typing or completing work on a factory line. The National Safety Council recommends that employees take breaks in between tasks and avoid any bending or twisting motions when lifting heavy objects to prevent these injuries.
- Contact with objects or equipment account for 26% of workplace injuries, and involve equipment or objects striking, crushing, compressing, or collapsing on an employee. These injuries can be quite serious or even fatal, depending on the circumstances of the accident. The Council recommends employees remain aware of moving or potentially dangerous objects, store heavy objects close to the ground to avoid falling and striking someone, and wearing proper safety equipment at all times.
- Slips, trips, and falls make up 25.8% of workplace injuries, and can lead to significant injuries — especially if the fall took place from a higher surface down onto a lower level. The Council recommends that employees avoid these injuries by keeping their work areas clean and free from trip hazards, and place all ladders on even surfaces.
Common Workplace Injuries in California
Many different types of injuries can happen on the job, as noted by the most common causes of these workplace accidents. Certain injuries occur at higher rates on job sites than others, according to the National Safety Council. The three most common injuries that injure employees and keep them away from their jobs include the following.
- Soreness or pain, often through repetitive motions like typing, sitting or standing for long periods of time, and as a result of other types of workplace injuries
- Cuts, lacerations, or puncture wounds, which can happen in all types of workplace accidents including slips and falls and collisions with equipment or objects
- Tears, strains, and sprains, common in overexertion injuries
You may experience injuries to your back and neck due to overexertion or heavy lifting, repetitive motion injuries from typing or completing similar tasks constantly throughout most of your work day, spinal cord injuries, or even traumatic brain injury from falling objects, slips and falls, and other injuries that cause you to come into contact with a hard surface or object.
All of these injuries can have a significant impact on your physical well-being, along with your financial standing and your ability to return to work after the accident. With a workers’ compensation claim, you can receive the compensation you need to recover from your injuries — including funds for any medical expenses related to your workplace injury.
California Workers’ Compensation Statute of Limitations
It is important to report your workplace injury as quickly and efficiently as possible after your accident — or you can lose your chance at collecting the compensation and benefits you need to recover. Under California state law, employees have one year from the date of their workplace-related injury or illness to file a workers’ compensation claim.
While it may be easy to pinpoint the exact date of your injury for an accident-related compensation claim, it may not be as straightforward for claims involving the onset of a workplace-related illness or a repetitive strain injury. In these situations, your statute of limitations clock begins on the first day you had to miss work to receive treatment for the condition and the doctor explained to you that your work led to the onset of the condition.
Contact a Central California Law Firm
Rodriguez & Associates is conveniently located in downtown Bakersfield, in the oldest free-standing brick building in our county. We are available for weekend and evening appointments, charge no fee for consultations and speak both English and Spanish. To contact us, please call 661-323-1400 or 800-585-9262 Toll Free.
