At Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld, our Santa Barbara workers’ compensation attorneys have protected California workers’ rights since 1956. This means we fully understand how the California workers’ compensation system reviews claims involving different industries and occupations.
Unfortunately, although workers’ compensation is designed to provide medical care, wage replacement, and other crucial benefits to injured workers, the system is constructed to operate as a bureaucracy — which means the obstacles the agency presents from the start work directly against injured workers’ best interests.
This is especially true for injured workers in the transportation, trucking, and delivery industries because their roles — and the cause of their injuries — can be subjective. This means the insurer will scrutinize their workers’ compensation claims, typically with an eye on minimizing its liability.
How Can Transportation Industry Employees Prove their Injuries are Work Related?
Employers of transportation, trucking, and delivery workers are typically required to carry workers’ compensation insurance in California. This is important because, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers in transportation occupations experienced 184,470 injuries and illnesses last year, accounting for 20% of all the cases that resulted in days away from work.
Despite the injury rates associated with these professions, workers’ compensation insurance representatives often delay, undervalue, or deny these claims, stating the drivers’ injuries cannot be unequivocally connected to their employment.
Some of the most common injuries suffered by transportation industry employees may include, but are not limited to:
- Overexertion and bodily reaction injuries.
- Falls, slips, and trips.
- Contact with object or equipment.
- Transportation accidents.
Transportation and delivery workers should promptly report any work-related injuries to their employer or supervisor and seek medical care immediately to help ensure a connection between work and the injury can be drawn without delay.
Workers in these professions must be aware of their rights, report injuries promptly, and seek legal guidance to ensure they receive the benefits they are entitled to under California’s workers’ compensation laws.
Workers’ compensation is crucial in providing financial support and medical care to transportation and delivery workers who sustain work-related injuries or illnesses. We can help ensure your claim is taken seriously by the insurance company so you can pursue the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to, just as any other injured employee would.
At Ghitterman, Ghitterman, and Feld, we have six physical offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura, and Visalia, and our top-tier technologies provide a virtual reach to serve clients throughout California. We offer free in-person, telephone, and virtual consultations to offer straightforward legal advice for your unique needs.
Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and options to pursue and obtain the workers’ compensation benefits you need to get your life back on track.