Injuries are possible in any working environment, but obviously, there are some industries that carry more risk than others. In these industries, which include construction, logging, animal processing, and nursing, it is important for workers to understand their rights to compensation when harm transpires.
On Wednesday, a maintenance worker and three probation maintenance employees were injured when a large truck crashed into their company van on Interstate 60 near Diamond Bar. The tractor trailer apparently caused at least four vehicles to crash, and left the victims with injuries to their faces and necks. Luckily, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Those who sustain an injury at work, like these maintenance workers, need to take steps to ensure they receive financial assistance for injuries. In order for injuries to be covered, they must have arisen out of an in the course of employment. When that is the case, an injured person should immediately tell his or her supervisor about the problem, even if one does not intend to receive immediate medical care. The supervisor is then responsible for filing a timely report of the incident.
It is critical for those injured in the working environment not to wait to inform their supervisor of their injury. Doing so can jeopardize their ability to receive covered medical care.
In some cases, employers fail to carry workers’ compensation coverage when they are supposed to. When this happens, those injured during employment may report the employer to the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.
Receiving proper medical care after a work-related issue is critical for a worker’s ability to continue supporting himself or herself, and it is crucial to take the proper steps to ensure appropriate compensation. When this doesn’t occur, it can be helpful to work with an lawyer who knows about these benefits.
Source: 4 NBC, “Freeway Cleanup Crew Members Injured in Diamond Bar Crash,” Jonathan Lloyd & Rosa Ordaz, September 18, 2013.