California Workers Comp Lawyer – Can I File A Workers Compensation Claim After I Leave My Job?

Workers’ compensation insurance covers employees in the State of California to protect them and their employer in the event of an on-the-job injury. All employers in the state must pay into the system, much like paying any other insurance policy. The system provides much-needed assistance to any employee injured while at work and protection to the employer in many cases. However, not all employees clearly understand the benefits offered under workers comp and how to enact or use the benefits after a workplace injury.

The expert California workers’ compensation lawyers at Kenmore Law Group are here 24/7 to help any injured employee understand their rights under the workers’ comp system. And how to evaluate a workplace injury to determine if their employee could be responsible for additional damages. Contact the Kenmore Law Group to schedule a free consultation with a California workers comp lawyer to understand better your rights and how to maximize your benefits under the workers’ compensation system. It is vital to realize that even if you have left your job, you can still file a workers’ compensation claim in many situations.

What Does Worker’s Comp Cover?
The State of California is vigilant about protecting the rights of workers and especially any workers who have been injured while performing their jobs. The law requires businesses to purchase workers’ comp insurance even if they have only a single employee. When an employee is injured at work, the employer must report the injury to the workers’ comp system as soon as they are notified of the injury or accident.

The system provides four kinds of compensation to any injured worker, including:

• Medical benefits to cover the cost of injury-related surgeries, prescriptions, hospital and doctor bills, and any medical devices required due to the workplace injury
• Temporary disability payments to cover lost wages if you are unable to work as a result of your injury at work
• Permanent partial disability payments if you are never capable of returning to your job after an injury on the job
• Vocational retraining if your injury leaves you unable to return to your specific job but does allow you to work in another field or job

Understanding Your Responsibilities For A Workers’ Comp Claim
In California, an injured employee must report any workplace injury or incident within 30 days of the date it occurred. And you must file your workers’ compensation claim within one year of the incident. Of course, when you are hurt and need medical care, it is essential to notify your employer of the injury as soon as possible and begin the workers’ comp claim to receive your benefits from the system. However, there are a few exceptions to the standard one-year Statute of Limitations. Some of the more common ones include:

• As a federal employee working in California, you have three years from the date of the incident to file a claim as your employer follows federal guidelines rather than those of the state.
• In the case of cumulative trauma, you have one year from the date that you first missed work due to the injury or the date that your medical professional informed you that the damage is work-related.
• The time limitation is also extended if the injury resulted in a coma, you suffered a severe injury that requires lengthy treatment, or you were required to quarantine due to a contagious illness.

The California workers’ comp experts will help you understand situations that could allow you more time to file your claim. In addition, we will work with you to ensure that you have full access to all the workers’ comp benefits that apply to you and your injuries.
What If I Already Left My Job Or Employer?
Any time a worker is injured at work, it is vital that a workers’ comp claim be submitted. Starting a claim is the best way to ensure the worker has access to essential medical care and the employer is protected under the rights associated with the workers’ compensation insurance benefits program. If you have left a job where you were injured before filing a claim, it is crucial to clarify how or why you left the employer.

If you quit your job, there is no issue with filing a claim against your previous employer. In most cases, the processing of the claim will move forward similarly to any claim. However, the process becomes more complex if you were fired or laid off before you file a workers’ compensation claim. The case will need to be thoroughly evaluated to ensure that there is no animosity or retaliation behind your actions or those of your employer.
Understanding Post-Termination Defense
If you were fired or laid off before filing a workers’ comp claim, your employer is likely to claim a post-termination defense. The allegation is that you are only making a claim because you were fired and trying to punish the employer or get paid damages that are not owed to you. Even if your injuries are legitimate and verified, the process can be much more complicated. Therefore, you are wise to see the assistance of the California workers’ comp lawyers at Kenmore Law Group to help you process the claim and ensure you receive the benefits you are owed.

The flip side of this situation is a dishonest employer who fires an employee after being notified of an injury on the job. In these cases, the employer typically lies about the notification of the incident, claiming they were not informed and the termination is due to another issue. Again. The best process for you to follow in either of these cases is the expert representation of a skilled workers’ comp lawyer from Kenmore Law Group.

Our staff is here 24/7 to provide the help and answers you need. So schedule your free consultation today to understand your rights surrounding a workers’ comp claim, even after you have left your job. Our experts have decades of combined experience protecting the rights of injured clients just like yourself. And we will work diligently to ensure that you receive all the benefits owed to you under the California workers’ comp system.

What Is A Workers Comp Claim Worth?
There is no way to offer a realistic estimate for the value of your workers’ comp claim until a California workers’ comp lawyer from Kenmore Law Group hears the details of your injury and situation. The money you receive will be based on your injuries, their severity, the amount of your medical bills, and compensation for lost wages and any temporary disability.
How Long Does A Workers’ Comp Claim Take To Process?
Again, each workers’ compensation case is different. The time needed to process the claim to its completion depends on many variables, much like the ones used to calculate your compensation. From the time it requires you to heal to the long-term treatment or disability, the case can move as rapidly as a few months or take years to culminate. Your Kenmore Law Group workers comp lawyer will be able to better answer this question in detail after evaluating your case and comparing it to similar cases handled in the past.
We Work For Your Best Interest
After a work-related injury, you are sure to be concerned about managing your finances with little or no income. And the thought of hiring and paying for legal representation can appear to be impossible to accommodate in your budget. However, the pros at Kenmore Law Group offer their services to clients with no out-of-pocket expenses. We do not get paid until we complete our work and get you the compensation you deserve. So please get in touch with our office as soon as possible for a free consultation and professional legal guidance related to your workplace injury.
Have Other Law Firms Turned You Away?
After an injury at work, it can feel overwhelming as you try to navigate the workers’ comp system on your own. And the feelings become even more depressing when law firms tell you that you have no grounds for a case or that they will not help you process your workers’ compensation claim. But please know that the team at Kenmore Law Group always offers a free second opinion evaluation of any workers’ comp case.

Contact our office today and let our team know you are struggling with a workers comp claim after leaving your job. We will evaluate the circumstances of your injury and the separation from your employer, then provide you with valuable advice on moving forward. Our years of experience and expertise in the California workers’ comp system will benefit you in many ways. Not only will you get the help you need with medical bills and other services, but you will also enjoy eliminating that added stress so that you can focus on healing. At the same time, the Kenmore Law Group workers comp lawyers will work tirelessly to handle your legal concerns.