Los Angeles Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Many California workers are employed in industries that carry a high risk for personal injury. This is one of many reasons employers are obligated to provide information, training and equipment to help keep workers as safe as possible on the job. It is also why they purchase workers' compensation insurance; if workplace injuries occur, an injured employee can file a claim to collect benefits to help pay medical bills or replace lost wages during recovery.

It is always especially tragic when a workplace accident results in a fatality. A recent incident occurred that ended this way. Rescue workers were initially dispatched to a state building after receiving an emergency call regarding a worker who reportedly had been electrocuted on the job.

Like many other people in the Santa Fe Springs area, you have a job in the retail grocery industry. Unfortunately, you sustained a wrist injury just after reporting for work today.

You suspect a fracture and hope to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. If your employer has an approved Medical Provider Network, you must first see a doctor listed in the MPN.

Often, California residents and those elsewhere simply accept the hazards of their jobs. After all, they need their employment, and if they are careful and abide by the safety guidelines, they will likely avoid any serious accidents and injuries. Of course, not all aspects of a job can be controlled, and some individuals may need workers' compensation after a work-related accident.

One worker in another state may be needing these financial benefits after being injured on the job. According to reports, the man was an electric line worker, and while he was working with a crew to repair a line along the interstate, a passing vehicle struck the line and caused the man to fall. It was not reported how far the man fell as a result of the incident.

In California and across the country, there were more than 5,000 fatalities as a result of on-the-job accidents in 2017. The risk of workplace injuries is higher with certain jobs than others. Of course, it is possible to suffer injury in any line of work, which is why employers should always put safety first and fulfill their obligation to provide proper training and safety equipment as needed.

A National Safety Council representative stated that fatal on-the-job accidents typically have one of three characteristics in common. First, injuries often occur on job sites where workers must climb to great heights to carry out their duties. Second, working on or near heavy machinery increases the risk of injury as well. Finally, workers who have to drive a lot during a typical work day are among those at greatest risk for on-the-job accidents.