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Workers’ compensation and psychiatric injuries
Workers' compensation is often used to pay for medical treatment for injuries that occurred in the workplace. While these injuries could have occurred in an accident with workplace machinery or in a car crash, they could also have occurred in extremely stressful or traumatic environments where no physical harm was caused. When a person is affected mentally by their working environment, this is known as a psychiatric injury. In California, it is possible to file for workers' compensation as a result of psychiatric injuries. This is because mental illnesses can be equally as pervasive and limiting as any other type of injury. They also require extensive medical treatment and time off work in order to recover. What are the challenges of filing for workers' compensation as a result of a psychiatric injury? Proving that mental health problems were actually caused by the working environment can be the biggest challenge in these [...]
Standing up for your rights as a whistleblower
If you have recently made a complaint at work or you have reported your company for illegal or unsafe activities, you may be a whistleblower. As such, you have a higher risk of negative actions being taken against you by your employer or even your co-workers because you have likely acted against their wishes. This is why there are laws in place to legally protect whistleblowers across the United States. If you have been affected by whistleblower retaliation in California, it is important that you take action to protect yourself and hold your employer accountable for their illegal treatment of you. What are California's whistleblower laws? California laws are particularly protective of whistleblowers because they cover both public and private employees. In 2014, the California Whistleblower Protection Act was amended to include additional laws. These laws expanded the scope of protection to include protections for workers that made complaints internally in the [...]
Officer killed when driver runs into him at traffic stop
A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer died recently when he was struck while on a traffic stop in Lake Elsinore. The officer, a sergeant, was a 27-year-veteran of the CHP who previously had patrolled the Santa Ana and Baldwin Park areas. The fatal incident occurred when the sergeant stopped the driver of a Chrysler on the shoulder of southbound Interstate 15. A gray Toyota Corolla ran into the sergeant, the motorcycle and the Chrysler, according to the CHP. He was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar and died from major injuries. The driver of the Toyota, a 36-year-old man, was arrested on multiple charges, including driving under the influence, the CHP said. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office could add charges. The Toyota driver suffered only minor injuries, and the four occupants sitting in the Chrysler weren't hurt. Gov. Gavin Newson released a statement of condolences to the sergeant's [...]
The rehabilitation rights of injured workers
Being injured at work can have long-term effects on your ability to earn an income. If your injury has caused a disability, you may no longer be able to work in the job you had prior to the incident. As a result, you will need to go through the process of building new work skills to help you change your career path. Job training can cost a great deal of money, and this is why rehabilitation is one of your rights under workers' compensation law. It is important that you make sure to assert your vocational rehabilitation rights in addition to claiming workers' compensation funds. Rehabilitation rights of workers in California Injured workers in California are eligible for a nontransferable voucher for the purpose of education-related retraining or skill-building. This voucher is only valid when being used in conjunction with a state-approved school or training program. Are all injured workers [...]
Compromised playground safety can lead to injuries
We all know that children have a decreased sense of danger in comparison to adults. They are still learning about the world, are naturally curious and want to be active. Public playgrounds can be a great opportunity to allow your children to learn, socialize and play. However, playgrounds can come with certain dangers. Playgrounds are subject to regulations and inspections from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). However, there has been a recent troubling incident in California where a child was fatally injured on a playground. It is important, therefore, that you exercise reasonable caution to ensure your child's safety and that you report any unsafe situation. How can public playground accidents be prevented? There are many ways to ensure the safety of public playgrounds. It is first vital that all play equipment is installed correctly. This means making sure that all playground equipment has a minimum of 12 inches of wood [...]
What should I do after I’m fired from my job?
Sometimes your employer has every right to terminate your employment relationship. Other times, the termination is unlawful. It could be grounds for a wrongful termination claim in which you can pursue compensation or other remedies. To protect your right to file a claim, consider taking the following steps after you lose a job: Leave politely: There's no reason to throw a fit or do anything "untoward" when leaving your workplace. Be kind an respectful and leave in a peaceful way. Save all evidence and information that could potentially support a claim for wrongful termination if you believe that your rights were violated. Collect the compensation you're owed: Your employer needs to give you your final paycheck within a specific period. Find out what that time period is, and ensure that your employer follows the law. Is there a severance agreement stating that you're owed a severance package? Make sure you understand what your [...]
