Sometimes, workplace injuries can change your life forever, resulting in permanent disabilities that prevent you from returning to your job. Thankfully, California protects those whose employers cannot offer another role. It is called vocational rehabilitation, and it can help protect your career and find new job opportunities.
For those seeking vocational rehabilitation in Van Nuys workers’ compensation claims, the workers’ compensation attorneys at Glauber Berenson Vego are experts who can help you get the most out of this program.
When someone needs vocational rehabilitation, it is because their injuries permanently prevent them from doing the job they did before.
Vocational rehabilitation in workers’ compensation claims gives injured workers in Van Nuys funding to seek training to develop new skills for employment through a Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (or “SJDB”) voucher.
The most common injuries that lead to vocational rehabilitation include the following:
While these injuries can occur suddenly, such as in a car accident, they are more often caused by repetitive movements or prolonged physical activity.
A workers’ compensation attorney could prove your injuries make it impossible for you to return to work by presenting various evidence.
Medical evidence usually starts with medical reports outlining your doctor’s diagnosis and opinion on whether your disability is permanent and stationary (P&S) or at maximum medical improvement (MMI). These terms indicate that your disability stabilized and will not improve in the future.
Once the doctor gives that assessment, they will assign a permanent disability rating – a percentage that reflects lasting impairments, work limitations, and overall medical condition. Your physician can also provide the results from functional impairment tests that indicate chronic pain, an inability to perform work-related tasks, or limitations on your range of motion.
If your provider issued a work restriction forbidding you from returning to your job duties or tasks, your Van Nuys lawyer may also submit that to secure vocational rehabilitation in a workers’ compensation claim.
Individuals in Van Nuys must show that their employer cannot offer them appropriate modified or alternative work to qualify for vocational rehabilitation in workers’ compensation claims.
The simplest way to prove this is with a written statement from your employer. However, alternative options are available. For example, if your employer fails to respond to your requests within 60 days, your workers compensation attorney could argue they failed to comply with the law, which satisfies the requirement.
Lawyers may also submit documents comparing your job description to the medical evidence regarding your ability. Finally, they could have vocational experts testify to explain that no suitable positions within the company exist.
You are eligible for vocational rehabilitation once your lawyer can prove the following three elements:
You should receive the SJDB voucher within 20 days. Once you qualify, you can request additional support from California’s Return-to-Work Supplement Program.
Pursuing vocational rehabilitation in Van Nuys workers’ compensation claims can complicate your case. Trying to handle the paperwork and evidence yourself leaves plenty of room for errors that can lead to delays or denials.
When you hire a workers’ compensation lawyer from Glauber Berenson Vego, you are getting the best of the best. We could ensure that you submit a strong application and help you seek the maximum benefits available to you.
Call us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you start your new career after your workplace injury.
