Understanding The Time Limits For Pursuing A California Workers’ Compensation Claim
Important deadlines apply to almost all stages of workers’ compensation claims. If you were injured or got sick because of your job, you have a limited amount of time to seek benefits. If you wait too long, you could miss out on the money you need to live comfortably and make ends meet.
At Workers' Compensation Lawyer, Inc., a California law firm based in the Inland Empire, we understand the many time limits and procedural hurdles involved in getting the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve. Here, you will work with a pair of experienced workers’ comp attorneys.
Helping injured workers is all we do. We’re passionate about helping people like you secure the financial resources you need when you’re struggling with a work-related injury or illness.
What Are The Major Deadlines For Workers’ Compensation Claims?
One of the most important things to do after a work-related accident or injury is to report the incident to your employer. You generally have 30 days after becoming aware of your accident or injury to do so. This step lays the groundwork for pursuing a workers’ comp claim.
The next step – filing the claim itself – is subject to a different deadline, which depends on the type of injury or illness you’ve suffered:
- Discrete incidents: In clear-cut cases where a specific incident caused your injury – for example, a fall, a lifting injury, a fire or a workplace shooting – you generally have one year from the date of the incident to file a workers’ comp claim.
- Cumulative trauma: What if your illness or injury developed gradually as a result of working conditions? These cumulative trauma cases may involve long-term exposure to toxic substances, repetitive stress injuries or aggravation of a preexisting condition. With these claims, a one-year deadline also applies, but the clock doesn’t start ticking until you knew (or should have known) that your injury or condition was connected to your job.
Determining the applicable deadline isn’t always straightforward, especially in cumulative trauma cases. Talk to the experienced lawyers at Workers' Compensation Lawyer, Inc., to discuss which time limits apply to filing your workers’ compensation case.
We Can Help You Navigate All Of The Deadlines That Apply To Your Claim
In addition to the one-year time limit discussed above, multiple deadlines come into play through all stages of your workers’ compensation claim. Our lawyers can ensure that you don’t miss critical deadlines – or miss out on the benefits you deserve. With experience handling hundreds of claims in the course of more than 15 years, we know how to fight for injured workers.
To learn more about filing a claim, call 800-496-0563 or reach out online for a free consultation. You won’t have to pay any attorney fees upfront. We only request 15% of your recovery at the end of your case.