Ontario Work Injury Lawyer

Ontario Work Injury Attorney

When you are hired by a company, you expect your employer to provide a safe environment. Additionally, you plan to be given the tools you require to succeed in your workplace through proper training — and many employers do both of these. Unfortunately, in this day and age, not every employer abides by the proper procedures, and that can result in being injured on the job. Consult with an Ontario work injury lawyer if you are dealing with a workplace injury.

To cover your bases and ensure you receive proper compensation, an attorney can help you protect yourself.

What Are Some of the Most Common Causes of Workplace Accidents?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of fatal work injuries that occurred in California in 2021 totaled 462. Also, in California, 142 fatal work injuries were due to a transportation incident, and 103 deaths were due to exposure to harmful substances or a dangerous environment. These accounted for more than 53% of all workplace deaths in California in 2021. Accidents happen, and they can occur because of many different factors at work, such as:

• Slips and falls. Damaged floors, broken stairs, or torn carpets can result in a slip-and-fall accident. Slips and falls can lead to many serious injuries like broken bones, dislocated joints, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue damage.
• Heavy lifting. Some jobs require their employees to do quite a bit of heavy lifting, such as warehouse workers or overnight stockers. A sprained or broken limb could result in lifelong chronic pain or a permanent disability.
• Hazardous materials. Workplaces handling dangerous materials such as chemicals or biological materials must store them properly. Dealing with hazardous materials is a common form of workplace injury. In some cases, workers are not provided with the proper equipment with which to handle these materials, resulting in vulnerability and exposure to dangerous materials.
• Repetitive stress. Some workplaces require a great deal of monotonous movement. Constant typing, hunching, or bending over can result in chronic muscle pain and other repetitive stress injuries. Frequent typing and mouse-handling can result in carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the hand, arm, and wrist. Some of the indicators of carpal tunnel syndrome are:
  • A numbness, tingling, or burning in the fingers
  • A shock-like sensation in the thumb or index finger
  • Pain or tingling that travels up to the forearm and toward the shoulder
  • Performing the most basic of tasks, such as buttoning your shirt, is painful and difficult
  • Constantly dropping things due to pain or numbness in the hands
• Workplace violence. Sometimes, people can become confrontational without a given reason, and it can even happen in the workplace. Taking preventative measures to ensure violence doesn’t occur is the ideal way to handle such a situation, but that cannot always be the case. Employers should provide employees with the proper training on how to handle crises, such as an active shooter or a bomb threat.
• Machinery. Many different jobs require the use of complex and possibly dangerous machinery such as cranes, forklifts, or conveyor belts. It does not take much for workplace machinery to end up defective, worn out, or just plain broken. When that happens, the equipment can pose a serious safety hazard. Employers should provide training on every piece of equipment employees will have to use to perform their duties.

What Can You Do if You Are Injured at Work?

If you suffer a workplace injury, the most important thing to do first is to not panic. Get your bearings, take immediate care of said injury, and follow some of these steps:

• Seek medical attention. You must seek immediate medical assistance if the injury you have sustained is life-threatening in any way. Even if your injury seems like something minor that you can handle on your own, it does not hurt to have a medical professional take a look at it just for peace of mind. Also, you are going to want to document your injury, as well as assess what your immediate care will require.
• Contact an attorney. Once you have taken care of your injury, reach out to an experienced work injury attorney as quickly as you can. A knowledgeable attorney can navigate unclear areas and be by your side throughout this potentially difficult and life-changing process.
• Notify your employer. As potentially painful and awkward as it may be, your employer must be notified of your situation. Your injury must be documented with your employer as well as with a medical professional. The more documentation you have, the more likely your claim will be approved. An attorney from Ontario can ensure you have that documentation.
• File paperwork. Once the proper paperwork has been taken care of, your attorney can submit your work injury claim with the Department of Industrial Relations. Additional paperwork will be sent to you within two business days from your claim date. Once you sign and return said paperwork, keep a record of it for a later time.

What Are Your Rights After an Injury?

Many injured employees are unaware that they have certain rights after suffering a workplace injury. This lack of awareness often leads to claims not being filed on time or at all, resulting in no claim and no compensation. It is vital to recognize your rights when dealing with the fallout of a workplace injury:

• The right to file a workers’ compensation claim with the proper insurance company
• The right to pursue medical treatment for said injury
• The right to return to work if the doctor deems you fit enough to continue your job
• The right to be represented by a work injury attorney throughout the process
• The right to disability compensation if you cannot return to work
• The right to file a work injury suit against the responsible party

Being unaware of any of these rights can be detrimental to your work injury claim, and you may lose the opportunity to be compensated for your injury. Hiring an experienced attorney can help you further understand these rights and ensure you do not miss out on your opportunity to make a workplace injury claim, seek out compensation, and obtain closure for a life-changing event.

FAQs

Q: Can You Sue for a Workplace Injury in Ontario?

A: California’s workers’ compensation laws are specifically designed to protect the workers seeking that compensation after a workplace injury. The law requires all California employers that hire more than one employee to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The law also allows injured employees to seek compensation without having to prove an employer’s negligence or fault.

Q: Can I Lose My Job Due To an Injury?

A: California labor laws prohibit employers from punishing an employee with wrongful termination due to a workplace injury. The law protects workers from dismissal due to workplace injury. There are cases where employers will try to fire an employee who was injured on the job and is seeking compensation or seeking to file a claim. It is illegal to punish an employee for getting injured at work or for seeking compensation for a workplace injury.

Q: When Do I Need a Workplace Injury Lawyer?

A: If you are having trouble gathering documentation for your claim or are being punished by your employer for seeking a claim in the first place, you should find a workplace injury lawyer.

However, in any case, an experienced workplace injury lawyer can help you face insurance companies, tackle wrongful termination, assist in finding competent medical professionals, and guide you through the process of seeking a workers’ compensation claim.

Q: Can You File a Claim for Pain and Suffering in Ontario?

A: California law allows people to seek damages for pain and suffering for many different claims, including auto accidents, slips and falls, and medical malpractice claims. However, workers’ compensation claims do not cover pain and suffering. Pain and suffering would be covered under a personal injury claim.

If you suffer a workplace injury, you may be able to pursue compensation for a personal injury claim. Consulting an experienced workplace injury attorney would be the ideal course of action in any case.

Contact the Work Injury Lawyer Who Is Ready to Fight for You

When dealing with a workplace injury, your life may be thrown into turmoil. You may be dealing with a great deal of unwanted stress that you were not prepared to incorporate into your life. Your mental health may be hurting, as well as your physical health, depending on the injury. Your financial situation may be suffering due to the injury, and your employment situation may be considered questionable. Healing is your priority, as is seeking proper compensation for your injury.

Our experienced Ontario work injury lawyers from Gonzalez Law Firm are here to help you ease your burden. We understand what you are going through, and we have helped countless others find the path that works for them. Nobody prepares for a workplace accident, but that does not mean you have to continue alone. Contact us today to start your healing process and get what you are owed as quickly as possible.