California Worker’s Compensation And Dog Bite At Work Lawyer

Any work-related injury is upsetting. There are concerns about your lost wages, how you will pay your household bills and living expenses, and even if you might lose your job because of the incident. However, when the injury you suffer at work is a dog bite, the added worries and trauma can weigh heavy on your mind. Of course, the concern of infection or complications from the dog bite injury is at the front of your mind.

While being injured at work really has no good side, you are fortunate to work in California and have coverage from one of the country’s best worker’s compensation programs. And it is free to all employees in the state. In addition, you have the right to use the benefits any time you are hurt at work, and your employer is not permitted to stop you from using the benefits or fire you for making a claim.

In addition, you have access to an exceptional legal resource in the team at Kenmore Law Group. There are staff members available 24/7 to provide fast answers to any immediate questions you might have. In addition, the firm offers free consultations to discuss the details of your dog bite personal injury case, how worker’s comp might apply, and make a recommendation for moving forward with a worker’s comp claim, a lawsuit against the dog owner, or both to secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries, suffering, and losses.

A Word Of Warning About Dog Bites
Dog bites should always be taken very seriously. Of course, you will seek immediate medical care when significant damage is caused by the bite, such as a large laceration. But even when the wound appears minor or just a tiny puncture wound, it is essential to seek a medical evaluation. This added precaution is because a dog’s mouth and saliva are filled with bacteria and germs that will make a human sick or cause a severe infection. If left untreated, the condition can require surgery and extensive medical care while also being very painful.

Some common infections caused by a dog bite include staph, strep, cellulitis, blood and bone infections, and rabies. While rabies is rare in most dogs kept as pets, it can appear if they are not current on their vaccinations. Therefore, it is always better to take every precaution and seek medical care to evaluate and properly disinfect and clean any dog bite wounds. The team at Kenmore Law Group is available 24/7 and will be here to take your call after your medical care is completed.

Worker’s Comp In California
All employers in the state must participate in the worker’s comp program to provide care and peace of mind to any workers injured on the job. The program also protects employers from additional lawsuits filed by injured employees in most cases. In addition, the program ensures that all workers who use the program are protected from retaliation by their employers. So, you should never worry that you will be fired for opening a legitimate claim for an injury that occurred while you were working.

Worker’s Comp Benefits
The California worker’s comp program provides several benefits. The primary benefit that most workers use when injured is the medical expense payment. The program covers all the bills related to diagnosing, treating, or caring for your work-related injuries. It also pays for essential medical devices and prescription medication. So you can get the medical treatment you need for your dog bite injury without worrying about how you will pay the bills. In addition, if you cannot work while recovering from the dog bite injuries, you could be eligible for partial payment of your lost wages. There are also benefits for injuries so severe that you will never be able to return to your current job or any job.

Making The Simple Worker’s Comp Claim
Most workers will opt to fill with worker’s comp almost immediately after an on the job injury. Their employer often completes the process, allowing the medical care providers to submit bills directly to workers comp. This eliminates the stress of medical bills arriving at your house in a few weeks. In cases where the injuries prevent the victim from returning to work immediately, they also file for lost wages. However, worker’s comp only pays part of the lost wages. So it is time to begin working with the Kenmore Law Group staff to recover the rest of the compensation owed for your dog bite injuries and losses.

Making A Second Claim
In California, strict liability related to dog bites means that the dog owner is typically responsible for any damage caused by their dog. So the owner of the dog that bit you is liable for any expenses or losses that were not covered by worker’s compensation. The list of items you might include n your lawsuit against the dog owner contains the following:

• Lost wages not covered by worker’s compensation
• Your legal fees for representation and filing the lawsuit
• The value of any lost personal items, such as a damaged cell phone, watch, clothing, or other items damaged during the dog bite incident

The other amount that can be added to a personal injury lawsuit is compensation for your pain and suffering due to the injuries. Again, the staff at Kenmore Law Group will help you understand how that number is derived and how to apply it to your case.

How Long Do I Have To Make My Claims?
The worker’s comp claim must be opened within 30 days of the incident. If you wait longer, you will typically lose your injury benefits. However, it is always best to open the claim as soon as possible to ensure the most expedient processing of your claim and any payments to service providers.

Your personal injury lawsuit is much different from the worker’s comp claim. In this case, you have two years from the date of the dog bite to file a lawsuit with the court system against the dog owner. But, if you wait longer, you will likely lose the ability to sue for any losses or damages. The team at Kenmore Law Group will help you determine the best time to file your claim with the court.

We cannot promise how long it will take to move the case through the court system. But we pledge to work diligently to keep the process moving forward to get the money you need to pay bills and living expenses while you were recovering. Our staff understands that in addition to the stress of your injuries, there are often added financial hardships created when you suffer a workplace injury and cannot work.

What Is A Dog Bite Claim Worth?
The value of your benefits from worker’s comp is relatively easy to calculate. The majority of the help is that the insurance will pay all your current medical bills and any future expenses related to the care or rehabilitation of your dog bite injuries. In addition, the program will pay part of your lost wages, calculated at your current pay rate.

The lawsuit against the dog owner will include a few more items and variables. The first expense most victims have is the remainder of their lost wages that were not paid by worker’s comp. In addition, they include any damaged or destroyed personal items. And the amount of their legal fees for the lawsuit and representation by Kenmore Law Group is added to the claim. The final amount is the pain and suffering compensation, which is the more fluid amount.

Why Hire Kenmore Law Group?
When you are looking for a personal injury dog bite lawyer, there are many choices out there. So you might wonder what sets Kenmore Law Group apart from the crowd. Our clients will tell you that it is the dedication to our clients and desire to see justice served that they most appreciate. We want to see our clients move past their personal injury lawsuits with a stable financial future. They should not be facing significant debt because of someone else’s negligence. The owner of the dog that bit you should take financial responsibility for all the damage.

In an effort to lessen the financial challenges of our valued clients, we ask for no upfront payment or out of pocket fees. Instead, we wait to get paid until after our client is paid. We know that the settlement or verdict will include the funds needed to cover our services. And we are confident in our ability to get each client the settlement or verdict they deserve. So we will wait until your needs have been met to get our payment. And if, for any reason, we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.

Our goal is always to meet our client’s needs first. So don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Kenmore Law Group today to learn more about your rights as a dog bite at work injury victim. And how our staff will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.