Chula Vista Workers' Compensation Lawyer

Were you injured at work in Chula Vista, California? You may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim and/or personal injury lawsuit for damages. Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can help you evaluate your legal options and maximize the amount you recover.

Californians have been trusting us to win their cases since 2010. In that time, our Chula Vista workers’ compensation lawyers have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients. With a 99% success rate and over 43 years of combined experience, we’re confident we can get you results.

Contact us today at (619) 722-3032 to learn more about your legal rights. We provide a free initial consultation with no strings attached.

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Workers’ Comp Claim in Chula Vista, CA

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Workers’ Comp Claim in Chula Vista, CA

Suffering an injury while on the job can present unique challenges. Workers’ comp is almost always available to you as an employee in the State of California, but that might not be enough to cover your losses. In some cases, you can also pursue a personal injury lawsuit for substantially more money. However, you might need an attorney to guide you through the process.

Mission Personal Injury Lawyers is one of the most well-respected law firms in the area. Our Chula Vista personal injury attorneys have received honors from both local and national organizations in response to their exceptional work. 

When you hire our award-winning legal team, we can:

  • Internally investigate your accident and injuries
  • Explain state law as it applies to your case
  • Evaluate your best course of action
  • Calculate the full value of your claim
  • Hire experts to make your case stronger
  • Negotiate a settlement and file a lawsuit if necessary

Get in touch with us today in Chula Vista, CA, to start your claim. We’ll work hard to put maximum compensation into your pocket.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), private industry employers reported 419,300 workplace illnesses and injuries in 2022 alone. 

BLS breaks down this figure further, stating that 295,200 of those injuries/illnesses involved time away from work. In addition, the agency notes that injuries were much more common than illnesses, representing about 75% of the total. 

Note that this does not include public-sector employees, like those who work for the government. For those workers, there were 146,600 reported injuries/illnesses in 2022. 

Workers’ Compensation in California

California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation oversees a robust program. With only limited exceptions, most employers in the state are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. 

This is a “no-fault” system, which means you can generally collect benefits no matter whose fault the accident was. However, there are limited exceptions here as well – you can’t intentionally hurt yourself, for instance.

Types of Benefits

There are five kinds of benefits laid out in the California workers’ compensation program, which are:

  • Medical care and treatment, which apply in almost all cases
  • Temporary disability benefits, which apply if you have to miss work
  • Permanent disability benefits, which apply only if you won’t recover from your injuries completely
  • Supplemental job displacement benefits, which might apply if you need help training a new skill and cannot return to your old position
  • Death benefits, which are given to your surviving family members if you pass away from a workplace illness or injury

It isn’t always clear what benefits you are entitled to; contact our workers’ comp lawyers for assistance at every stage of the process.

Third-Party Claims

It’s possible that your workers’ compensation benefits won’t be enough to make up for the losses and injuries you have incurred. Even though you usually cannot file a lawsuit against your employer (there are exceptions here, too, however), you may be able to do so against a liable third party.

For example, if you were driving a car as part of your job duties and got into an accident, you may be able to file both a workers’ compensation claim as well as a personal injury lawsuit (or insurance claim) against the at-fault driver.

With a personal injury lawsuit, you can collect both economic and non-economic damages. In especially rare cases, punitive damages might even be awarded.

Economic damages represent your financial losses, such as your property damage, out-of-pocket expenses, medical expenses, and lost wages/diminished earning capacity.

Non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. Note that these damages are only available with a third-party claim, whereas you can recoup at least some of your economic damages with workers’ comp.

Our workers’ compensation lawyers in Chula Vista can ensure that you know what you should do next after an accident. Call today to schedule a free case review.

How Much Is My Chula Vista Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?

The unique facts and circumstances of your case will determine how much it is worth. That said, we can still provide some insight into the evaluation process. 

Some of the factors we will consider as we add up your case’s value include:

  • Whether you can file a personal injury lawsuit
  • Insurance policy terms and limits
  • Whether you will make a full medical recovery and return to your same position
  • The type and severity of your injuries

The value of your case might rise dramatically if you can file a third-party personal injury claim in addition to receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Ensure you don’t overlook that possibility and contact our attorneys for legal assistance.

With more than four decades of experience altogether, our workers’ comp lawyers are qualified to help you after suffering any of the following kinds of injuries:

  • Broken bones
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Concussions
  • Nerve damage
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Wrist injuries
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Back injuries
  • Internal bleeding
  • Knee injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Burn injuries
  • Crushing injuries
  • Electrocutions
  • Strains and sprains
  • Chest injuries
  • Amputations
  • Paralysis
  • Whiplash
  • Eye injuries

We can also help after any kind of workplace illness. Call us or message us online today to book your free consultation. 

What if I’m Being Blamed for My Work Accident in Chula Vista?

California has a pure comparative negligence law that will apply to personal injury claims. Under this law, you can recover compensation even if you share some of the blame, but it can be reduced. For instance, sharing 25% of the blame would reduce your damages by 25%. 

This law does not apply to workers’ compensation claims because it is considered a “no-fault” system. You can usually receive these benefits without taking into account whose fault the accident was.

Common Causes of Workplace Injuries in Chula Vista, California

Some industries in California are much more dangerous to work in than others. However, accidents can occur virtually anywhere, and it’s always possible for serious injuries to result. 

Common causes of these kinds of accidents in Chula Vista include:

  • Poor training procedures
  • Lifting heavy objects
  • Repetitive motions
  • Falling from heights
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Negligent hiring
  • Unsafe work conditions
  • Improper training systems
  • Unmaintained work areas
  • Dangerous work equipment
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Not adhering to OSHA regulations

If you were injured at work for any reason, reach out to us for help. We can assist you in determining your best course of action going forward.

How Much Time Do I Have To File a California Workers’ Compensation Claim?

You must notify your employer within 30 days of your injury or illness to receive workers’ comp benefits. The time limit to file a workers’ compensation claim is one year from the injury/illness date. If you are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit, that time limit is two years.

There are exceptions to each of these deadlines. For instance, if you didn’t discover your injury or illness until after the fact, you might have additional time. However, don’t count on that to be the case automatically; contact our lawyers as soon as you can so that you can protect your rights.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Chula Vista Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Mission Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you take legal action after suffering a workplace injury or illness. We can help you explore your legal options and follow through with your next best steps. Our primary objective is to get you as favorable an outcome as we can.

Keep in mind that our Chula Vista workers’ compensation attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. That means we only receive attorney’s fees if we successfully handle your case. Call today to set up your free consultation. Our lawyers are passionate about fighting for the rights of those injured in our local community.