Falling Ladder Workplace Injury Attorney

It is shocking how many jobs require employees to climb a ladder as part of their daily on-the-job activities. Many think of construction workers when they envision an injury due to a falling ladder. However, that is only a tiny segment of the workforce who are tasked with jobs requiring a ladder. Landscapers, decorators, warehouse workers, and even some workers in professional kitchens or in commercial food prep positions use a ladder to reach higher than they can when standing on the ground. In addition, there are countless people who are working in the area of those using a ladder who could become a victim of a falling ladder workplace injury, even if they were not the person on the ladder.

The point is that anyone near a ladder or using one should be aware of how to use the tool safely and without putting others at risk of injury. However, few jobs or companies take the time to actually train their workers on the safe use of ladders, scaffolding, or other devices used to reach higher than the average person can when standing on the ground. Sadly, the result of this oversight is often a falling ladder workplace injury for the person climbing the ladder and even those who are nearby when the ladder falls. A strike on the head or face by a falling ladder can cause significant and even life-altering injuries. Fortunately, everyone involved in falling ladder workplace injuries in the state of California will be able to use their worker’s comp coverage to help them overcome the expenses and hardships caused by their injuries.

If you have become the victim of a falling ladder workplace injury and your employer is not helping you open a claim, is threatening you with termination or other punishment if you open a worker’s compensation claim, or if you are unsure how to use your worker’s comp benefits, please reach out to Kenmore Law Group immediately, Our dedicated staff is available 24/7 to assist you in understanding how the worker’s comp system can help you and if you are eligible to use the benefits program. In addition, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with a seasoned falling ladder workplace injury attorney to discuss your case at length and determine if you have grounds for a falling ladder injury lawsuit. But please reach out to our staff quickly, as there is little time for you to open your claim to ensure you get the benefits you deserve to cover your medical care and lost income.

Common Falling Ladder Workplace Injuries
Even well-built and sturdy ladders can be hazardous if they are placed improperly or on uneven surfaces. The ladder can begin to tip or slide, causing the user to fall to the ground. In other cases, the reason for the ladder falling is someone else bumping it or even high wind pushing the ladder over. Finally, there are also many instances where the ladder was damaged, worn out, or overloaded, causing it to fail and fall. Regardless of the reason for the falling ladder, the resulting injuries to the user and those in the area near the falling ladder can be life-altering or even life-threatening due to these common falling ladder workplace injuries:

• Fractured, broken, or shattered bones
• Damage to the connective tissue of joints of a complete joint dislocation
• Neck, back, and spinal cord damage
• Severe lacerations or puncture wounds, which often involve damage to internal organs or internal bleeding
• Skull fractures, brain bleeds, severe concussions, or other traumatic brain injuries
• Facial damage to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or delicate skin of the face

After being involved in a falling ladder workplace injury incident, it is vital you seek a complete medical evaluation, even if you feel your injuries are minor. Serious harm can easily be masked by the adrenaline of the incident and delay critical treatment that could allow your injuries to heal more quickly and with less pain.

How Workers Comp Helps Employers And Employees
Workers’ compensation is an insurance benefit covering workers injured while on the job. The coverage is purchased by the employer and provided to all workers at no cost to them. Business owners with employees are legally obligated to purchase this coverage and provide it to workers without charging them for using it or limiting when they can use the program. Employers are also forbidden to punish workers who file a workers’ compensation claim.

In return for purchasing workers comp coverage for employees, business owners enjoy knowing that they cannot be sued by a worker who is hurt while on the job. Instead, the hurt workers are only permitted to receive the benefits included in workers’ compensation in most cases. They cannot sue their boss or company for added funds. Only in rare cases involving the employer’s gross negligence is a hurt worker permitted to sue for compensation beyond what workers comp provides. Your Kenmore Law Group falling ladder workplace injury attorney will help you better understand what gross negligence includes and if it is a factor in the workplace injuries you suffered during your free consultation.

What Are My Workers Compensation Benefits?
The California worker’s compensation program provides some of the most robust benefits in the country. When a worker is injured while at work, they have access to the following benefits to ensure they get the medical care they need and face minimal financial hardships if they miss work while recovering from their injuries:

• The medical benefits for workplace injuries cover up to $1M in medical bills, which include hospital expenses, doctors’ bills, the cost of essential medical devices, rehabilitation, and therapy to overcome the harm caused by an injury suffered while working at your regular job
• If the worker is unable to return to their job immediately, the program will provide up to 66% of their average weekly earnings
• In cases where the victim will never be able to return to work or only work in a limited capacity, the program pays permanent and partial disability payments to the worker
• If the victim can never return to their regular job but could work in another job or capacity, there are opportunities to receive vocational training to learn a new skill or trade to secure a different job

As a worker who suffered harm while doing your job, you should never be burdened with substantial medical expenses and the challenges of lost income. The California worker’s compensation program offers protection to ensure that you will get the medical care and assistance you need to return to being productive and earning a living to support yourself and your loved ones.

More Vital Information About Workers Comp And Using The Benefits
If you have been hurt at work, your priority should always be getting the medical care you need. Please know that most medical care providers will process the medical care bills directly to workers comp to prevent you from financial issues and impact to your credit. But a few guidelines must be followed to secure your benefits.

First, you should report the injury incident to your boss or the business owner as quickly as possible or ask a co-worker to report the incident. The report can be made after getting the necessary medical care if you are severely injured. Ideally, your employer will follow their recommended guidelines, report the injury incident to workers comp, and open a claim on your behalf. However, you can contact workers’ compensation to open your claim if they fail to report the incident or refuse to do so. Knowing that the claim must be opened within 30 days of the injuries is critical.

Once the claim is open, you typically have one year to complete the process to ensure you get the benefits owed. If you fail to open the claim within the 30-day limit or complete the claim in the one year allotted, you will not get the benefits offered by workers’ compensation. The only exceptions to the one-year time limit are:

• You are an employee of the federal government, in which case the federal worker’s comp program with a three-year time limit applies instead of the program administered by the state of California
• If your injuries are the result of cumulative trauma, such as repetitive motion or loud noise, you have one year from the first time you missed work due to the harm or the date a medical professional diagnosed the injuries
• If the injuries sustained include the victim being in a coma or other severe harm that requires lengthy care or they were deemed contagious and requires the victim to be in quarantine

The expert California workers’ compensation attorneys at Kenmore Law Group are here to ensure that victims of falling ladder workplace injuries and all injuries suffered while on the job get the care and benefits they are entitled to under the workers’ compensation program. Please reach out to our caring staff today to learn more.

No Upfront Legal Fees Or Added Stress
When you contact Kenmore Law Group to discuss your falling ladder workplace injuries, please know that our firm never requires any upfront payments. We only get paid for our work after your case is resolved, and you have the compensation that includes funds to cover your legal costs. Finally, you owe us nothing for our time if we fail to win your lawsuit. Please contact our staff today to learn more about your rights as a falling ladder workplace injury victim and how to secure your workers compensation benefits.