What should you do this week?
If you are acting for a spouse, parent, or adult child who just suffered a serious work injury, your first job is to protect the claim while the person recovers. This week, find the claim number if one exists, locate the DWC-1 claim form the employer should have provided (Labor Code section 5401), and start a folder with every medical report, hospital discharge paperwork, and wage statement you can find. Call the claims adjuster to confirm the claim is open. Then set up free consultations with two or three workers' compensation firms before you sign anything. You do not need to decide today, but you do need to stop the clock from running against you.
Severe injuries, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, amputation, severe burns, often involve disputes over lifetime medical care, permanent disability ratings, and whether the injury qualifies for a life pension or total permanent disability. These cases move differently than a sprained wrist claim, so the lawyer's experience with catastrophic injury cases matters more than general advertising.
This article is general information about California workers' compensation, not legal advice about your situation. Every case is different.
Yazdchi Law, P.C. — Eman Yazdchi, responsible attorney. Office: Palmdale, California. Attorney advertising.