Sustaining an upper body injury in the workplace can be devastating. You may lose the ability to work for a long time while dealing with the financial pressure of ongoing medical treatment. Workers’ compensation benefits should cover your treatment and recovery. However, benefits are not automatic.

To receive the money you are entitled to, consider working with a skilled Glendale upper body workplace injury lawyer. Our workplace injury attorneys have experience in local workers’ compensation cases and could help you navigate your case and secure benefits.

Common Causes of Upper Body Injuries at Work

An employee can sustain different types of body injuries at work. They can occur because of accidents or due to continuous repetitive actions. Some of the common causes include:

  • Repetitive Motion: Tasks that require continuous use of the same muscles (e.g., typing, lifting, assembly line work) can lead to strain injuries over time.
  • Falling Objects: Items falling from shelves or ladders can strike an employee and cause serious injuries to the head.
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls: Falling on a hard surface may lead to fractures, dislocated shoulders, or trauma to the upper spine.
  • Lifting Heavy Objects: Improper lifting techniques or lifting beyond one’s physical capacity can cause serious injuries to the upper back and shoulders.
  • Poor Ergonomics: Inadequate workstation setup, especially in desk jobs, may contribute to chronic upper back pain because the person spends long hours in awkward positions.

Regardless of the cause of such an injury, if it happened in the workplace, the employee has the right to workers’ compensation benefits. An experienced upper body workplace injury attorney in Glendale could evaluate your case and help you take the next steps.

Filing for Workers’ Compensation Benefits

After sustaining the injury, an employee has to follow a certain process in order to claim benefits.

Report the Injury

The injured worker should notify their employer as soon as the injury occurs. This triggers the workers’ compensation process. Failing to report the injury within a certain timeframe could prevent the worker from claiming benefits.

Seek Medical Attention

Emergency care comes first. The worker must follow professional medical advice to treat the injury. Not adhering to the treatment plan could result in reduced benefits. If the employee refuses treatment, they may not be compensated.

Consult an Attorney

Talking to a Glendale attorney who has experience claiming benefits in upper body workplace injury cases could speed up the process. It is the attorney’s job to protect the worker’s rights throughout the case. If the claim is denied, an attorney could help with an appeal.

File a Workers’ Compensation Claim

The employee must complete and submit a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form (DWC 1) to the employer. The employer must provide this form within one business day of the report.

Missing any of these steps could result in a claim denial, so hire an attorney as soon as possible to ensure you take all necessary action.

Consult a Skilled Glendale Upper Body Workplace Injury Attorney Today

A severe upper body injury can change your life. Financial compensation for your treatment and suffering can help you get through this tough period. To seek this compensation properly, consult an expert Glendale upper body workplace injury lawyer.

At Glauber Berenson Vego, we support employees throughout their workers’ compensation cases and use our experience to help them receive maximum benefits. Call us to schedule a consultation today.

Glendale Upper Body Workplace Injury Lawyer

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