Long Beach Workers Compensation Attorneys | Pratt Law Corporation, A Professional Law Corporation

Insurance companies have lawyers working for them – why not have lawyers working for you? It’s time to level the playing field.

What About Permanent Disability?

If your injury or illness results in a permanent impairment that reduces your ability to compete in the labor market, you may be entitled to permanent disability benefits. Your doctor can only determine the extent of permanent disability after your condition becomes “permanent and stationary” or has reached maximum improvement, and further change is not likely. The impairment is then converted into a percentage that has a corresponding dollar figure set forth in the California Labor Code.

Once this amount is ascertained, you have different settlement options that a specialist lawyer at Pratt Law Corporation, will discuss with you. For example, you can receive monthly payments for a fixed amount of time depending on the value of the impairment along with lifetime future medical. Or you can choose to receive one lump sum of money, buy out your future medical care, and close your case. It’s critical to choose a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer to explain your settlement options in detail.

Workers’ Comp Options

Different options make sense for individuals in different situations, depending on financing and the need for medical coverage. Someone who has a spouse or dependent children covered by employer-provided health care that is in jeopardy, or someone who has extensive medical needs themself, may prioritize health coverage. In contrast, other people may prioritize a monetary payout for other needs and circumstances. Regardless of your goals or how an employer has wronged you, a specialized compensation attorney can help you make a plan. The process can be difficult to navigate, and having a professional by your side. can improve your chances of success.

What Can Pratt Law Corporation Help You Win Through Workers’ Comp?

Pratt Law Corporation has built a reputation specializing in workers compensation law in Southern California and throughout the Golden Coast. That means our skilled comp attorneys will have the necessary specialization and know-how to clearly explain claim options, discuss your potential case, and drastically increase your chance of being awarded workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ comp may include benefits you are not aware of as well, including:

Temporary disability payments of up to $5,077 a month (depending on your date of injury and wages)
Medical treatment payment of your medical and hospitalization bills
Mileage to and from your medical appointments
Vocational rehabilitation/training/schooling if you can no longer do the same work
Permanent disability payments future medical care for the rest of your life

Though every case is different, we have a track record of winning what you deserve. These types of benefits can be life-changing, especially after an all-too-often tragic disability, workplace injury, or personal injury.

Don’t Wait. Hire an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today.

Insurance companies have lawyers working for them – why not have lawyers working for you? It’s time to level the playing field. Unfortunately, we have many clients who come to us when the insurance company has already done so much damage to minimize their recovery. It is imperative to get to the right doctors who look out for YOUR interests (and not the employer or insurance company’s interest). It is also important that you are examined by a neutral doctor who will fairly and impartially address your injuries.

If you have been treating with a “company doctor,” you have likely experienced that unsettling feeling that your health is not a priority. Or that you are being rushed to get back to work or to full duty if you are working modified duties. Though it can seem like your employer is offering you a service after a work injury or accident, the provision of a company doctor can be a ploy to control your rights, protect the company’s finances by reducing the chance you will seek a settlement, and monitoring the pace at which you can return to work. None of that puts you first as a patient and human being. You should know that you are entitled to change your treating physician—and we can help you make that change. We can locate a doctor and set up an appointment for you. There is nothing you’ll need to do other than focus on your health and well-being.

Let Our Team of Workers Compensation Attorneys Make Your Life Easier.

If you have suffered a work injury, the last thing you need is the added stress of endless and confusing paperwork and bureaucracy coming from companies and their insurance agencies, which see your case as a potential settlement instead of what it is—a work injury or disability that has directly impacted someone’s life and livelihood. When you hire our firm, one of our goals is to relieve your stress of dealing with doctors, paperwork, insurance adjusters, etc. When you hire our firm, you get to focus on getting better. Leave the dirty work to us. We have been handling workers’ compensation cases for over 45 years and know precisely how to get you the medical treatment, benefits, and compensation you’re entitled to under the law.

The workers’ compensation laws are steadily changing, especially since the “reforms” that took place in 2004. These new laws make it more difficult for injured workers to obtain medical treatment specifically and workers’ compensation benefits generally. Our lawyers stay current on the ever-changing workers’ compensation laws, which means drastically improving your chances of maximum workers’ compensation benefits. We charge no fees until we get compensation for you, and we accept clients on a contingent fee basis, so there is never any money due upfront for our legal services.

We understand that the potential expense of hiring comp lawyers in cases of disability or an accident can be a discouraging factor that keeps honest, hardworking individuals from pursuing legitimate claims for the compensation they deserve. That’s why we don’t get paid unless you do. We want you to receive the settlement you need. So don’t wait; call our workers’ compensation experts today and put our experience in your corner.

Workers’ Comp Lawyers Serving Long Beach, California

When you get injured at work, you shouldn’t have to face the process of recovery on your own. You need the help of qualified, specialized compensation lawyers. For over 20 years, the workers’ compensation attorneys at Pratt Law Corporation, have been assisting injured victims across the state of California by winning compensation to help cover their medical expenses. If you’ve been injured on the job, call our firm today. We can remove the tremendous stress of finding the best workers’ compensation attorney Long Beach has to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Benefits Could I Be Entitled To Receive?

If you can’t work because of your injuries, you are entitled to temporary disability checks. This will replace wages you have lost and may continue to lose. If a doctor has indicated you cannot return to work, meaning you are temporarily totally disabled, you are entitled to receive temporary disability (TD) benefits. TD benefits are based on how much you earn. You are entitled to 2/3 of your average weekly earnings; therefore, the livability of your benefits may vary based on your salary and the margins within which you (and potentially your family) live on a monthly basis, in terms of bills and expenses. In some situations, there are additional benefits or aspects of a settlement that might be pursued. TD benefits are a baseline that can and should be pursued promptly after suffering an injury, accident, or other disability.

When Will Temporary Disability Benefits Begin?

If your injury is covered by workers’ compensation, your first temporary disability payment is due within 14 days after your employer learns that:

You have a job-related injury or illness and
Your treating doctor says that you cannot perform your usual job

Your employer is required to adhere to this policy under California law, as well as under federal regulations. Though this is typically a straightforward process once approved for disability benefits, failure to adhere on the part of the company and/or employer can be addressed as part of your case.

Will I Get Paid Disability for Each Day of Work I Miss?

Not necessarily. You do not get paid for the first three days off work unless your disability lasts 14 days or more.

How Much Money Will I Receive?

The amount you will receive for temporary disability depends on your average weekly earnings. This calculation is based on your wages from the year prior to the accident. If you are salaried and essentially receive the same amount every week, that will be your average weekly wage.

However, if your earnings have fluctuated, or if you have held multiple jobs or had various promotions, calculating average weekly earnings may be slightly more challenging. Of course, there are also financial differences between permanent disability benefits versus compensation for an injury with a set recovery time—i.e., temporary disability. Additionally, both of these scenarios differ from temporary unemployment. Our team manages a multitude of employment and workers’ comp-related issues and can assess your case and whether (as well as how) we can help you. At Pratt Law Corporation, we take great care to make certain your average weekly wage is accurately calculated to maximize your benefits.

Is There an Employment Attorney Near Me?

Pratt Law Corporation has a team of four attorneys specializing in workers’ comp and personal injury. We can help you manage your workers’ comp claim. We have over 45 years of experience practicing law in Southern California and beyond. We are located centrally in Long Beach at 444 W. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 1000, Long Beach, CA 90802, but are proud to serve the surrounding areas.

Is It Worth Getting a Workers’ Comp Attorney?

We are the first to admit that not everyone needs a workers’ comp attorney. Sometimes a disability or injury occurs, and the process moves forward without complication. However, if you have found yourself on this webpage, you likely have not had a smooth experience with your disability, temporary disability, workplace injury, or personal injury. If that is the case, it is likely worth it to explore getting a workers’ comp attorney. This is because small companies and major corporations may stop at nothing to protect themselves, often at the expense of injured or wronged employees. If they have aggressive, quality legal assistance, you should, too. Let us fight for you.

Can I Sue My Employer for Denying Workers’ Comp?

Yes, you can sometimes pursue a settlement when an employer denies workers’ comp. Typically, employers have insurance and policies in place to prevent an employee from suing for workplace injuries. However, they have to provide workers’ comp. If they fail to do so, the employee may have a case against the employer. Also, a suit can be filed in circumstances where the employer neglects to carry workers’ comp insurance or is especially negligent or intentionally endangers the employee, which is likely not covered under their own insurance policy. Whether you do or do not have a legitimate workers’ comp case can be confusing and unique to the situation. Our team can help you make sense of it all with a consultation.

Can I Sue Workers’ Comp for Pain and Suffering?

You must pursue a suit that encompasses damages related to pain and suffering outside of a workers’ comp case. In cases of intentional tort, reckless conduct, and more, a traditional lawsuit can be pursued instead of, outside of, or in addition to workers’ comp. There are many benefits to filing for workers’ comp, including the likelihood of receiving immediate and adequate payments to maintain financial stability during a hardship. However, there are cases where a traditional lawsuit, including various types of damages makes sense to pursue.

Long Beach Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

If you are looking for a workers’ comp attorney, you need a team specializing in this challenging and often confusing area of California law. Not only does the team at Pratt Law Corporation have over 45 years of experience (and much more combined), but we also have the unique advantage of practicing exclusively in workers’ comp, workplace, and personal injury cases. The attorneys know how to fight for you because they care, and they have seen cases like yours before. The Pratt Law Corporation law firm practices aggressively and assertively in the courtroom but compassionately and straightforwardly with each of the clients we serve. Both are done in the service of our deserving, hardworking clients.

If you believe you may have a workers’ comp or personal injury case, contact us for a consultation today. Pratt Law Corporation is ready to fight for you.

Workers' Compensation Attorneys in Long Beach, California