San Jose Western Digital Worker’s Compensation Lawyer

Western Digital Corporation, a global technology and a Fortune 500 company, is known as an industry pioneer and leader in data storage solutions. They produce every type of storage device, from computer hard drives to massive cloud storage systems used by service providers like Microsoft and Amazon. Western Digital manufactures its products here in the United States and overseas in the Pacific Rim area. They have more than 51,000 employees across the company, with 8,000 of those here in the Americas. The company was initially founded in 1970 and headquartered in San Jose, California. If you have been hurt on the job working for Western Digital Corp and need an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer, please call Kenmore Law Group. There is some critical information you need to know about before filing a worker’s compensation claim here in the State of California.

When you work for a large technology focused company, the job opportunities and roles can be pretty diverse. No matter what that range looks like, they do have one thing in common. It doesn’t matter if you are a corporate employee involved in product development and sales or an engineer working in research or manufacturing; if you are injured at work, you will be covered by worker’s compensation insurance. If that happens and you need assistance or legal representation, please contact Kenmore Law Group, and we will provide you with an experienced San Jose Western Digital worker’s compensation lawyer. Kenmore Law Group is ready for your call and to answer the questions you have about the claim process, your rights and benefits, or any other questions that you have.

If you have questions or concerns about the injuries or the circumstances around the accident, please know that our legal team, with decades of experience, can offer you guidance when we answer them. Our goal at Kenmore Law Group is to furnish you with the information you need to know, allowing you to make better decisions about your next steps in the worker’s compensation process. Our staff can schedule an initial consultation at no charge to you with members of the legal team at Kenmore Law Group. Your San Jose Western Digital worker’s compensation lawyer will be prepared to meet and review your case and details as soon as you have the time in your schedule.

In our first meeting, we will work to gather the details covering your injury accident, beginning with the circumstances that led up to your incident, and moving to the history surrounding the hazard you encountered, documenting all the details and information about the injuries and the prognosis received from your healthcare providers. Your legal team at Kenmore Law Group will review with you how the worker’s compensation program in California can be used to meet your current as well as your future needs. We will also be reviewing the benefits that, in our experience, will have the most significant impact on that list of requirements. A critical piece of information we will share with you is the time limit you have to get your worker’s compensation claim filed.

What Is The Time Limit To File A Worker’s Compensation Claim?
The time limit for filing a typical worker’s compensation claim is 30 calendar days. The time limit starts on the date of your accident. Please reach out to the Kenmore Law Group if you are approaching this deadline. We will assign a San Jose Western Digital worker’s compensation lawyer to provide the assistance you need. If the time limit is exceeded your claim will likely be denied. There are exceptions to the 30 day time limit, and one of them deals with an injury diagnosed as caused by cumulative trauma.

What Is Cumulative Trauma Mean In A Work Injury?
Cumulative trauma is a term describing the cause of injuries occurring over time due to repeated and often frequent activity. It typically refers to an injury that develops from repetitive overuse or stress, but it may just be something as simple as typing, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome, as one example. If you suffer from this, you are still eligible for treatment under worker’s compensation. The time limit to file a claim for a diagnosed cumulative trauma injury is one year, and begins on the date of the first day of work missed because of the injury.

Are There Common Injuries And Hazards For Western Digital Employees?
Most professions have commonly occurring injuries, often based on the job duties and what the employee is doing to complete their daily assignments. Any recurring hazards an employee might encounter are an additional factor. While each role may have some unique hazards, many more are shared across a broader pool. There are also jobs that are going to have risks that do not deal with a job or role, but are everyday hazards encountered almost everywhere. The different injuries our clients report usually start with slip and falls, especially in manufacturing jobs. The common injuries and hazards are generally:

• Sprains that damage the connective tissue of joints or complete dislocations related to falls
• Broken or fractured bones, including skull fractures, can also be due to falls
• Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries from lifting and moving product
• Head injuries, such as concussions and bruising, can occur due to working in a busy environment
• The hazards you might find, and they may or may not be related to your job and role, are:
• Malfunctioning equipment in common use, leading to shocks or burns
• Environmental issues like fire or flooding
• Chemical irritants to the skin or eyes from cleaning products or manufacturing processes
• Exposure to prolonged loud noises at a damaging level

Will My Workplace Injuries Be Covered By Worker’s Compensation?
If you are hurt while doing your job, then you will likely be covered under the worker’s compensation program in California. There are some exceptions to this, but it is rarely injury related, and has more to do with the role of the employee in the injury. When an employee, through their own action, is the cause of the accident, those injuries may not be covered. For example, suppose an employee attempts self-harm or is found to be reckless in the operation of a vehicle. In that case, it is possible that worker’s compensation will not cover the injuries you received.

If you have been injured at work, the Kenmore Law Group suggests that you ask for a complete medical exam. The injuries may need to be diagnosed immediately and treated so as not to linger. It is common for someone who gets injured to experience shock and fail to notice minor injuries until days later. It can be challenging to connect injuries to an accident where there were no original injuries reported. Please do not wait to seek treatment if you have been hurt at work.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance Program Benefits
Below is a brief list of the key benefits that are provided by the worker’s compensation insurance program in the State of California if you are injured while at work. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

• A total of 1 million dollars per single incident for employee medical care and hospitalization, specialists’ doctor’s services like surgery, prescriptions, and over the counter medications for treatment or pain, physical therapy, and the rental of medical devices like a set of crutches, a cane, or a wheelchair
• If an employee is unable to return to work until fully recovered from their injuries, they will receive up to 66% of their regular weekly income in the short term
• If an employee is experiencing long-term disability due to the extent of the injuries, the program provides long-term disability payments
• If an employee is unable to perform the same job they had before the accident, they can receive vocational training designed to give them a different career or skill once they are cleared to return to work

The majority of care providers will work with the worker’s compensation program to bill them directly for the health and care services. If your care providers offer this ability, then Kenmore Law Group recommends that you consider this and discuss the option with your San Jose Western Digital worker’s compensation lawyer. Please reach out to the team at Kenmore Law Group, and we can furnish more information about the worker’s comp benefits available to you and how you can get access to them.

I Want To Sue My Company For My Accident
In general, you are unable to sue your company for being injured at work under normal circumstances. Worker’s compensation is referred to as an exclusive remedy for workplace injuries. What that means is there is no required proof of cause or liability in order for the employee to be covered. The company’s liability for contributing to or causing your injuries can be discussed with your San Jose Western Digital worker’s compensation lawyer. The facts of the incident may provide an opportunity to file a lawsuit if your employer is found to have committed gross negligence.

California law defines gross negligence as willful misconduct or a reckless disregard for the safety of others. A basic example of this is when an employer chooses not to address a reported workplace hazard, and the hazard leads to an incident where an employee is hurt. If there is a chance this has happened, please let your San Jose Western Digital worker’s compensation lawyer know. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed if gross negligence is suspected, but it needs to be proven before the court will award damages. One detail to be aware of is that you cannot sue for damages already covered by worker’s compensation. Examples would be medical bills or payments received for disability. You can only sue for damages that are not covered. If you suffered an injury and have questions about lawsuits and liability, we will help you find the answers to those questions and more. Contact the Kenmore Law Group about any other questions or concerns you have while going through the worker’s compensation process.

Kenmore Law Group And Upfront Costs For Our Clients
When you hire a San Jose Western Digital worker’s compensation lawyer, we want you to know that we do not charge any upfront legal fees before we take your case or provide support for your claim. We only bill you once the claim or case is resolved, and more importantly, in your favor. If we do not win your lawsuit, you will not be billed for our services. If you need representation in a worker’s compensation claim, please get in touch with the legal team at Kenmore Law Group.