Doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other health care professionals treat patients for a wide variety of injuries and illnesses. But sometimes, they are the ones who are in need of treatment due to a workplace injury. The team at Wyman & Hegwer has represented numerous health care professionals who have sustained serious work-related injuries. With our help, health care professionals can obtain the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve.
If you have been injured while working in the health care industry, it’s important to understand your rights. Here’s what you need to know to protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits:
- What Types of Injuries Are Common in the San Francisco Health Care Industry?
- How Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits For Health Care Injuries Calculated?
- How to Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits For Health Care Injuries?
What Types of Injuries Are Common in the San Francisco Health Care Industry?
The health care industry is made up of many different types of workers such as doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, surgeons, and home health aides. The jobs may differ, but each of these professionals faces the same hazards in their work environment. Some of these hazards include:
- Workplace violence
- Slip and falls
- Exposure to viruses, bacteria, chemicals, and other hazardous substances
- Overexertion
- Needle punctures
- Transportation accidents
- Patient handling activities such as repositioning patients
Health care professionals are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for any work-related injuries. Some of the most common injuries and illnesses in the health care industry include:
- Soft tissue sprains and strains
- Broken or fractured bones
- Cuts or lacerations
- Skin disorders
- Respiratory conditions
If you have suffered an injury while working in the health care industry, contact Wyman & Hegwer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
How Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits For Health Care Injuries Calculated?
The method that is used to calculate workers’ compensation benefits in California is complex. Temporary disability benefits are awarded to compensate victims for lost wages. But these benefits will not cover 100% of the income you have lost. In California, temporary disability benefits are equal to two-thirds of the victim’s average weekly wage. However, the temporary disability payment cannot be greater than the state’s average weekly wage, which changes from year-to-year.
Injured workers may also receive permanent total or permanent partial disability benefits. Permanent total disability payments are equal to temporary disability payments—two-thirds of your average weekly wage with a maximum of the state’s average weekly wage. If you are awarded permanent partial disability benefits, the amount you receive will depend on the severity of your disabilities.
Besides these benefits, injured workers are also entitled to medical care benefits. These benefits should cover the cost of all medical treatments that are required to cure or minimize the effects of your work-related injuries. For this reason, the amount that you are awarded will vary greatly depending on your treatment plan and the severity of your injuries.
How to Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits For Health Care Injuries
The first step in the workers’ compensation claim process is notifying your employer. Health care workers must notify their employers within 30 days of sustaining a work-related injury. You will also need to submit paperwork to your employer, who will pass it along to their insurance company for processing.
Your employer’s insurer will not have your best interests in mind. The insurance company may attempt to lower the value of your case, question the severity of your injuries, or deny your claim altogether. There’s no doubt that negotiating with the insurance company is the hardest part of the workers’ compensation claim process. Fortunately, you don’t need to face it alone. Robert Wyman and Daniel Hegwer are experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in San Francisco who will aggressively negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you are fully compensated. Don’t make the mistake of settling for less than you deserve—let Robert Wyman and Daniel Hegwer lead the fight for benefits on your behalf.
Schedule A No-Cost Consultation With Our Health Care Injury Attorneys in San Francisco
If you have suffered a work-related injury while working in the health care industry, contact Wyman & Hegwer as soon as possible. Robert Wyman and Daniel Hegwer can assist you with every step in the workers’ compensation claims process. They will protect your rights throughout the entire process to ensure you are fully compensated for your health care injuries. Schedule a free consultation with our team of health care injury lawyers by calling (415) 448-5107 or submitting your information via the form on this website.