Solar Burn Injury At Work Attorney
California and its residents remain focused on creating environmentally responsible solutions for power needs. The state is home to nearly 40,000,000 people, which is less than the population of Canada, Morocco, or Poland. All of these residents and the countless businesses operating in the state need electricity for daily life. Fortunately, the state has implemented cutting-edge technologies, such as solar power, that provide reliable and clean power. The panels for solar power systems can be seen on commercial buildings, single-family houses, apartment buildings, and freestanding pedestals in massive solar farms.
Working in the solar industry in the state is what many feel to be the perfect job. They are helping to provide much-needed clean power to the state and earn a reasonable living. Many working in the installation of solar panels and solar systems enjoy working outdoors, staying active, and moving from site to site to keep their work life enjoyable and rewarding. However, with all the perks of these careers, it is critical to understand that some significant safety hazards can be associated with these jobs. Even a slight imperfection in the surface of a panel called a hot spot, can cause severe burns to anyone in contact with the surface.
If you or a loved one has suffered a solar burn injury at work, please know that the dedicated staff at Kenmore Law Group is ready to assist you in sorting out the legal complexities of the incident. The skilled office staff at Kenmore Law Group can be reached 24/7 to assist you in understanding the benefits offered to you by worker’s compensation and any potential legal action you might pursue to secure added compensation to cover your losses and expenses caused by the solar burn injury you suffered at work. But please do not hesitate to contact Kenmore Law Group today as there is a time limit for you to take action to secure any of the help offered by worker’s comp and the legal system.
$465,000
Slip & Fall
$600,000
Assault and Battery
$525,000
Head Trauma
$900,000
Hand/Wrist and Back Injury
$599,000
Slip And Fall Accident
$600,000
Shoulder Injury
The Hazards Faced By Solar Panel Installers And Workers
Most people know little about solar power other than you need panels that are pointed at the sun to create this form of electricity. However, they do not consider the process of making the electricity or the challenges of touching a massive panel that has been sitting in the sun all day. One of the most painful and hazardous issues for solar panel installers or repair workers is the heat generated by the sun as they bake the panels. Just a tiny defect or damage to the surface of a solar panel can create a hot spot that will severely burn a worker who touches it. Sadly, these damaged areas can be less than the size of a dime yet cause severe solar burn injuries. Even when the panels are not damaged, they can cause contact burns simply from the heat absorbed by the sun.
Think about the temperature inside your car after a sunny day. Touching the window, steering wheel, or seat can be very painful. This is only a fraction of the heat gathered by solar panels that workers must manipulate to install and repair. Contact burns are common on hands, arms, and other body parts that are not properly protected with safety gear. If you have suffered a solar burn injury at work, please know that you have the right to seek benefits from worker’s compensation and possibly added compensation via legal action. The team at Kenmore Law Group is ready to assist you in understanding how to proceed with these courses of action to ensure you are not facing significant expenses and losses because of a workplace injury incident. Please reach out to our office staff immediately to learn more.
The Basics Of A Worker’s Comp Claim
If you are unfamiliar with the program, you should know that worker’s compensation benefits any worker in the state who is hurt while on the job. In addition, this service costs you nothing because all employers in the state are legally obligated to participate in the program and cover the cost of enrolling all workers. Finally, employers are not permitted to prevent an injured worker from opening a worker’s comp claim, nor can they punish anyone who files a legitimate workplace injury claim with the program. If you need assistance opening your worker’s compensation claim because your employer is not helpful, contact Kenmore Law Group for the information and help you need to secure your benefits.
What Benefits Are Provided By Worker’s Comp?
If you suffer a solar burn injury at work, you are eligible to seek benefits from the California worker’s comp program to help cover your medical expenses and lost income. The program creators found that these are the losses and costs that create the majority of long-term issues for workers who get hurt on the clock. The program benefits package includes:
- Coverage of all medical expenses related to the treatment and rehabilitation of your workplace injuries – you are not asked to pay any deductible or co-pay for this care
- You are able to receive up to 66% of your regular weekly income if the workplace injuries you suffered prevent you from working until you have fully healed
- Long-term disability payments can be provided if the result of your workplace injury is a partial or permanent disability and a diminished earning potential
- If you will never be capable of returning to your career working on solar panels, the program will provide free vocational training to help you prepare for a new job once you have made a complete recovery from your injuries
Can I Sue My Employer For My Solar Burn Injury At Work?
In most cases, a worker who is hurt while on the job is not permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. They must rely on the benefits provided by worker’s compensation. However, there is a single exception that applies in limited instances. If it can be determined that your workplace accident injuries were caused by gross negligence of your employer, then you could have grounds for a lawsuit.
Typically, in these workplace injury cases, gross negligence is defined as a complete disregard for the safety of staff or workers. For example, if there was a known safety hazard that your employer failed to correct or eliminate and it caused or contributed to your solar burn injury at work, you might have grounds for a lawsuit. Common uncorrected safety issues include damaged or unsafe equipment that employees were forced to continue using, damaged or unfit safety gear, or missing safety gear and equipment.
If you have grounds for a lawsuit against your employer, you must understand you have the right to use the worker’s comp program and file a lawsuit. However, you will not be permitted to receive compensation for each loss or expense more than once. For example, if worker’s comp pays you 66% of your lost income, you can only seek the unpaid portion of your lost income from your employer. Please get in touch with Kenmore Law Group today if you feel gross negligence could have been a factor in your workplace solar burn injuries. The team will help you understand how to secure the most complete compensation for the harm and losses you sustained because of a solar burn injury at work.
How Long Do I Have To Take Action?
Workplace injury victims need to know that they have only 30 days from the date of their injuries to open a claim with the worker’s comp program. If the claim is not opened in that time, the employee loses the right to seek any benefits for their workplace injuries. If you have grounds for a lawsuit against your employer, the time limit to file a claim with the court is two years from the date of the injury incident. This time limit is strictly enforced, and once it expires, you will lose the right to seek compensation for the losses and harm caused by that injury incident.
Victims should also understand that there are minimal exceptions that would provide more time to file a claim or lawsuit once these time limits have passed. Please reach out to Kenmore Law Group today to discuss the facts of your solar burn injury at work and the time remaining for you to take action to secure the assistance you need and deserve.
How Can I Afford To Hire Kenmore Law Group?
When you work with Kenmore Law Group, we never require any upfront payments or expenses from a new client. We understand that many victims face significant financial issues and cannot afford legal services that require upfront fees. So, our firm only gets paid after the case is resolved, and you have the compensation needed to cover your legal costs. This simple policy ensures that all injury victims get the medical care and help needed to overcome the hardships caused by a workplace injury.
Finally, if your Kenmore Law Group solar burn injury at work lawyer fails to win your case and deliver that much-needed compensation, you owe the firm nothing for its time and financial investment in preparing your case. Please make time at your earliest opportunity to contact the caring experts at Kenmore Law Group to learn more about your rights as a workplace injury victim. Our staff is ready to provide the answers you need to overcome hardships like lost income, mounting medical bills, and other living expenses. However, time is limited when using the resources open to you. If you wait too long, there will be no recourse to get the benefits and compensation that could have been life-changing.