People unfortunately get injured at work every day, sometimes severely. If you’re watching your medical expenses pile up while you’re missing work, it’s normal to be worried about your finances and what happens next. In these cases, you likely have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim, though it depends on the specifics of your case.
Talking to one of our lawyers will give you a better understanding of your options and what your next steps are. With the right legal assistance, you can get the help you deserve. Contact our Los Angeles injury attorneys from Grey Law to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose our Work Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles
Getting hurt at work leaves most people confused about their next steps and frustrated by insurance problems. At Grey Law, we go beyond just filling out forms. We’re here to make sure our clients get the help and respect they deserve from beginning to end. When you choose our Los Angeles work injury lawyer, you benefit from:
- Over 40 years of combined legal experience in workers’ compensation and injury claims
- We truly care about each client’s health, career, and recovery, always treating you like a person and not a case file
- We use a contingency fee arrangement; you don’t pay attorney fees unless we successfully recover monetary compensation for you
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to recover and fight for your rights at the same time. We take this weight off your shoulders. Call Grey Law today to schedule a free consultation with a Los Angeles work injury lawyer.
Meet Founder and Attorney David Grey
Over thirty years ago, David Grey left the computer industry as one of the youngest top-executives in cyber technology and founded Grey Law. After a series of notable and stunning successes in handling personal injury matters, David Grey instituted the computer industries’ systems approach to the practice of law.
David Grey received a Doctor of Law J.D. degree from Law School. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1975 and then founded Grey Law in 1986. Since then, he has accrued over 30 years of experience working on accident and personal injury cases in Los Angeles.
I was so pleased with the result. I would highly recommend his team. What was most impressive is when I called once and asked to personally speak to David Grey, he called me back and said he had nothing more important to do than talk to his clients.
Guy Thomas
How a Los Angeles Work Injury Attorney Can Help With Your Claim
Handling a job injury claim in Los Angeles isn’t always simple. Between complex paperwork, unhelpful adjusters, and tight deadlines, many injured workers find themselves overwhelmed and risking the loss of important benefits. An experienced work injury lawyer can make a huge difference in your case. Your attorney can help by:
- Gathering medical records, witness statements, incident reports, and any evidence that proves your injury is work-related
- Filing all required paperwork correctly and on time, reducing the chance that your claim is delayed or denied
- Appealing if your workers’ compensation benefits are unfairly denied or underpaid
A good lawyer levels the playing field and defends your rights while you focus on your recovery. They’ll handle all the difficult aspects of your case so you don’t have to.
Common Work Injuries in Los Angeles
Working in Los Angeles comes with its own set of risks – whether you’re on a construction site, behind a wheel making deliveries across the city, or on your feet all day in a restaurant or warehouse. Some of the most common injuries employers face include:
Back and Spine Injuries
From heavy lifting to long hours hunched over a desk, back injuries are among the most common and most painful workplace injuries in LA. They can range from muscle strains to herniated discs that require surgery and months of recovery.
Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents
Wet floors, uneven surfaces, cluttered walkways, and poor lighting – these hazards exist in virtually every workplace. A fall is often more dangerous than people realize, and can result in broken bones, head trauma, or joint damage that takes months or years to heal.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Not every injury happens in one dramatic moment. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and shoulder injuries often develop over time from doing the same motions day after day, and they’re just as serious as sudden accidents. These injuries are often compensable as well.
Construction Injuries
Los Angeles is constantly building, and construction workers face some of the most dangerous conditions of any industry. Falls from heights, equipment accidents, electrocution, and being struck by objects are all too common on active job sites.
Occupational Illnesses
Exposure to toxic chemicals or hazardous materials doesn’t always lead to symptoms right away, but many workers in manufacturing, agriculture, and even office environments develop serious illnesses tied directly to these workplace conditions.
Psychological and Emotional Injuries
California law recognizes that not all workplace injuries are physical. Severe workplace stress or trauma from a violent incident on the job can qualify as a work injury.
If you’ve been injured at work in any way, you should reach out to an attorney and make sure you’re getting the benefits and compensation you deserve.
Types of Work Injury Cases We Handle
Our team handles a wide range of work injury cases across Los Angeles, so no matter what happened or where, chances are we’ve seen something similar. Below is an overview of the situations we often handle:
- Construction accidents
- Slip and fall injuries
- Back and spinal injuries
- Neck injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Occupational illnesses
- Burns
- Chemical injuries
- Psychological injuries
- Transportation and delivery accidents
- Third-party liability claims
- Denied workers’ compensation claims
This isn’t an exhaustive list; if your situation isn’t listed, reach out and see if we can help you.
How A Job Injury Can Change Everything
A workplace accident in Los Angeles can disrupt far more than your physical health. Within days of an accident, many workers find themselves out of work, buried in paperwork, and unsure of how they’ll manage their finances while recovering.
Medical bills accumulate, paychecks stop, and the pressure of providing for yourself and your family doesn’t pause because you’re hurt. What should be a straightforward recovery often becomes an exhausting process of dealing with insurance companies, employers, and a system that isn’t always designed to work in your favor.
Understanding your rights from the start can make a significant difference in how your case and your life moves forward.
How You Get Paid After an Injury On The Job
If you are injured while performing your job duties, workers’ compensation is typically the first and most immediate source of financial recovery available to you. It is a form of insurance that nearly every employer is required to carry, and it operates on a no-fault basis.
What Does No-Fault Mean?
No-fault means it does not matter whether your employer, a coworker, or even you were at fault for the accident, you are still entitled to benefits. You do not need to prove that anyone was negligent or did anything wrong. As long as the injury occurred in the course and scope of your employment, you are generally eligible to file a claim.
What Benefits Can You Receive?
Workers’ compensation benefits can cover a range of losses, including:
- Medical expenses for things like doctor visits, surgeries, medications, and ongoing treatment.
- Lost wages, which is a portion of your income while you are unable to work
- Rehabilitation costs for physical therapy and vocational rehabilitation
- Permanent disability benefits if your injury results in a long-term or lasting impairment
While employees get these benefits without having to prove fault, they give up their right to sue their employer in exchange. While workers’ compensation provides a crucial safety net, the benefits are often limited and may not fully compensate you for all of your losses, particularly pain and suffering.
Injured at Work?
Our Work Injury Attorneys in LA Can Help You.
Third-Party Liability Claims
In some workplace injuries, someone other than your employer or a coworker may share responsibility for what happened to you. When that is the case, you may have the right to pursue a third-party liability claim in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits.
What Is a Third-Party Claim?
A third-party claim is when you file a personal injury lawsuit against an individual, company, or entity other than your employer whose negligence caused you to get injured at work. Unlike workers’ compensation, a third-party claim does require you to prove that the other party was at fault.
Who Could Be a Liable Third Party?
Common examples of potentially liable third parties include:
- Equipment or machinery manufacturers if a defective product caused or contributed to your injury
- Property owners if unsafe conditions at a worksite led to your accident
- Independent contractors or subcontractors particularly on construction sites where multiple companies are working
- Other drivers if a motor vehicle accident occurred while you were on the job
The potential compensation in a third-party claim is significantly broader than workers’ compensation. You may be able to recover:
- Full medical bills
- Full lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages
Can You Collect Both Workers’ Compensation and a Third-Party Settlement?
Yes. Filing a third-party claim does not prevent you from also collecting workers’ compensation benefits. However, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer may be entitled to reimbursement from any third-party settlement or verdict you receive.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate both claims and ensure you maximize your total recovery.
What To Do After a Workplace Injury
The steps you take in the hours and days following a workplace injury can have a direct impact on the strength of your legal claim and the benefits you’re entitled to receive. Many workers unknowingly make mistakes early on that complicate their cases later. Here’s what you should do right away:
Report Your Injury to Your Employer Immediately
No matter how minor the injury may seem at the moment, notify your employer as soon as possible. California law requires you to report a workplace injury within 30 days, but waiting can give insurance companies reason to question whether the injury actually happened at work. A formal, documented report creates a clear record that protects you from the start.
Seek Medical Care Right Away
Your health comes first, but getting prompt medical attention also serves an important legal purpose. A medical record created close to the time of your injury establishes a direct connection between your condition and the workplace incident. Delaying treatment, even briefly, can give insurers grounds to argue that your injury wasn’t serious or wasn’t work-related.
Request a DWC-1 Claim Form From Your Employer
The DWC-1 is the official California workers’ compensation claim form, and your employer is legally required to provide it to you within one working day of learning about your injury. Completing and submitting this form formally opens your workers’ compensation case. Without it, the process of receiving medical benefits and wage replacement cannot begin.
Document Everything You Can
Start keeping a detailed record of everything related to your injury – photos of the scene, names of anyone who witnessed the accident, medical visits, symptoms, and any communication with your employer or their insurance company. Details that seem minor right now can become critical evidence later. The more thorough your documentation, the stronger your position if your claim is disputed.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement Without Legal Advice
Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly after your injury, often before you’ve had a chance to fully understand what happened or how serious your condition is. While they may seem helpful, their goal is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line, not your health. A recorded statement made without legal guidance can be used to minimize or deny your claim, so speak with an attorney before agreeing to any recorded conversation.
Many people assume they only need a lawyer if something goes wrong with their claim. While simple situations and small injuries can be handled alone, if you’re suffering from serious injuries or are getting pushback from anyone involved in the process, it’s a good idea to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. They generally offer free consultations, so it won’t cost you anything except a little bit of your time.
Fighting for the rights of injured workers for over 40 years.
Contact The Attorneys At Grey Law Today
Contact Our Los Angeles Work Injury Lawyer Today
You shouldn’t be left alone to fight for fair treatment after a workplace injury. With Grey Law by your side, you’ll have a qualified team of attorneys who listens, gets back to you quickly, and truly cares about your recovery. If you were injured at work and need help holding your employer or the insurance company accountable, contact our Los Angeles work injury lawyer today. We offer free consultations and are here to support you.