If my Office Chair Collapses, Do I have a Worker’s Compensation Case?

Yes, if your office chair tips over, falls apart or fails in some other way, you have a case for workers’ compensation.

Many people think that you can only request workers’ comp if your employer puts you in danger, either through negligence or misconduct. With a premises liability case, for example, you would have to prove that a property owner’s failure to maintain their premises caused you to be injured. However, you can receive compensation even if your employee was not negligent in their duty of care to you.

In essence, a workplace injury claim is based strictly on the fact that you were injured at work. Thus, if a chair you were sitting on at your job collapses and you are injured as a result, you are entitled to workers’ comp benefits. You may also have the right to file a third party lawsuit against an individual or entity other than your employer. For example, was the chair defective due to a design or mechanical flaw that was caused by the manufacturer? In that case, you have the foundation for a product liability claim, which will provide you with additional funds on top of the benefits from a workplace injury claim.

For more information on the payments you can receive from a broken chair accident at work case, call us today.

A workers’ compensation claim will provide you with a variety of benefits that are based on your injuries and long-term heath complications. These include:

• Cost of medical treatments, including an independent medical review if you and your employer disagree on the severity of your injuries.
• Temporary disability payments – replacement for lost wages while you are in recovery.
• Permanent disability benefits – payments for being disabled to the extent that they the claimant cannot resume their work duties in any capacity.
• Supplemental job displacement benefits – payments to help pay for job retraining and education, so that the claimant can find a new line of work.
• Death benefits – Paid to your family members in the event you pass away from injuries you sustained at your job.

One of our attorneys can help you figure out the payments that apply to your situation. That way, you can be sure that you are receiving the amount you deserve by law as someone that was injured at your job.

You have 1 year to submit a claim for workers’ compensation to your employer’s insurance provider. However, you must first report your accident to your supervisor, which must be done within the first 30 days of your accident. If you fail to do so, you cannot claim benefits under the state’s workers’ compensation system.

Frankly, you should speak to your employer immediately if you were injured at a worksite or while you were performing a work-related duty. After all, you want to obtain medical care right away, and this has to be done through your employer’s medical provider. Additionally, your employer can initiate the claims process right away so that you can be paid as fast as possible.

If you have any questions about the claims process or concerns that your rights are being violated, contact the workplace injury lawyers of DTLA Law Group.

A California workplace injury lawsuit is worth anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000,000 on average. Payments can be higher based on the degree of injury and resulting health issues (disability, for example). You may also have grounds to sue a third party, like the chair manufacturer, if there was a defect with the product. Such a lawsuit can add to the total amount you receive from an office chair collapse incident. That’s why it’s important to explore all the available legal options, which we can help you with during a free case evaluation.

Workers’ comp claims with minimal complications can settle in 30 to 90 days. But serious injuries, disagreements with the insurance company, and other issues can result in a work accident injury claim taking 2 or more years. These cases typically involve court hearings, which means you have to factor in the court’s schedule, the time it takes to prepare for the hearing, and how long it takes to receive a ruling. Most claims involving accidents at work are settled privately with the employer, but even then, it can sometimes take 12 months or longer to negotiate a fair compensation amount.

As an injured worker, you expect the workers’ comp process to be easy and straightforward. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, and that’s when you need guidance from a workplace accident injury attorney. Our law firm has been fighting for the rights of California workers for several decades, and we are ready to fight for you and the benefits you’re entitled to.

Our payment is included in your settlement award, so we never charge upfront for any of our services. That means you pay nothing for the entire duration of your case. And if we fail to secure payment from a successful worker’s comp claim, you owe us $0 under the Zero Fee Guarantee.

Call us today and learn how we can assist you if you got hurt from a failing or collapsing chair at your workplace.