California Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury and Social Security Disability Attorney
At the Sieder Law Corporation, our focus is on the representation of injured workers and others who have been seriously injured due to the negligence or wrongful conduct of others in Los Angeles and statewide throughout California. Our goal is to see that you get the maximum benefits or compensation available. To that end, we take a three-pronged approach toward maximizing your recovery: California Workers’ Compensation benefits, Social Security Disability benefits, and civil litigation. Whether only one approach applies to your particular case or all three, we take the time and effort to thoroughly investigate your case and provide the help you need. Below is a brief overview of the ways we can help you when you are injured.
California Workers’ Compensation
In most cases, the exclusive remedy for an on-the-job injury is to apply for benefits from the California Workers’ Compensation system. Except in a few limited situations, you are not allowed to sue your employer for your injuries, even if a co-worker or supervisor negligently caused your injuries. Workers’ compensation benefits will pay for your medical expenses and also pay a portion of your wages while you are disabled and cannot work.
Obtaining workers’ compensation benefits is supposed to be easier and more certain than going to court, since you don’t have to prove another party’s negligence or defend your own actions against an insurance company’s allegations that you yourself were negligent. In reality, however, obtaining workers’ comp benefits is not so simple. There are many procedural steps and requirements you must meet, including filing a notice of your claim very soon after the injury. You must also be able to document your injury, and your employer may make you submit to an additional medical exam in addition to whatever documents were provided by your own doctor. Finally, you must be able to prove that your injury was work-related. Meanwhile, your employer and their insurance carrier are there at every step to challenge your claim or deny your benefits.
At Sieder Law Corporation, we can help you from the very start to make sure no important deadlines are missed, and that your claim is filed correctly from the outset. If your claim for benefits is denied or does not compensate you properly, we provide strong and effective representation to pursue your claim further, including requesting a hearing before a workers’ compensation judge or review by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. We won’t give up until we have exhausted every available means to get your worker’s comp benefits to you.
Personal Injury/Civil Litigation
Contrary to popular belief, Worker’s Compensation is not always the only remedy for somebody injured on the job. For instance, if the employer was uninsured or guilty of serious and willful misconduct, then the employer may be subject to litigation and directly liable for all of your legal damages. In addition, many times an accident is caused by some third party unrelated to the employer. For instance, if you are hurt in a car or truck accident while running errands or making deliveries, if you are injured on a job site because of a dangerous condition there, or if your injuries are caused by a defective product that was defective when it left the manufacturer, you may have civil claims against the third party responsible for your injuries, regardless of whether you are filing for workers’ compensation or not.
Our skill and experience in personal injury civil litigation extends beyond helping injured workers in third party liability cases. If you were seriously injured in any type of accident where another party is responsible because of their negligence, recklessness or even intentional misconduct, we can help you recover compensation for all of your legal damages, including present and future medical expenses, present and future lost wages, pain and suffering, and lost or diminished quality of life. If you have suffered a serious injury at the hands of another in any situation, including the ones listed below, call our office for a no-cost, confidential consultation:
- Car, truck and motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Boating accidents
- Slip and fall/Premises liability
- Defective products/Products liability
- Medical malpractice
- Assaults/Negligent security
Social Security Disability
Regardless of whether or not an injury was work-related, if you cannot work any longer because of a disability, you may be entitled to benefits from the Social Security Administration. Whether you qualify for SSD/SSDI depends on a number of factors, such as when you last worked and how many work credits you have accumulated in the system, as well as whether your disability meets the strict definitions set out in the Social Security rules.
Getting disability benefits from Social Security is not an easy process. Most applications are initially denied, and a great many people simply give up trying to collect their money. There are, however, many options still available for recovering benefits after a denial, such as a request for reconsideration with a hearing judge or a review from the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. At Sieder Law Corporation, we know the rules and have decades of experience helping people get their disability benefits even after they have been denied by Social Security.
Get Help Today with Your California Workers’ Compensation or other Injury Claim
If you have been injured on the job or suffered a serious injury in Los Angeles or throughout California, call on the Sieder Law Corporation for assistance. Our firm is experienced in complicated, complex cases and frequently goes to court when necessary to best represent the interests of our clients. We take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that if we don’t obtain a recovery for you, we don’t charge any legal fees. For a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with an experienced California workers’ compensation attorney who knows how to represent injured workers for the best results, call the Sieder Law Corporation at 818-222-1700.
