The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to the health and well-being of so many people in this country. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost so far. In this state, essential workers have been on the frontlines of the pandemic. Now, however, as the economy begins to open up, more and more people will begin returning to work. What will happen if a worker contracts COVID-19 during the course of their work duties? What if their employer’s negligence raises the risk of infection? At the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach, our Los Angeles workers compensation attorneys are here to help.
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that makes it easier for certain employees to receive workers compensation if they contract the coronavirus. His order allows for those who worked outside of their homes from March 19 through July 5, 2020, to have a presumption that the virus arose “out of and in the course of the employment.”
This order alters how these cases typically work. Generally, workers compensation is not available for those who contract an illness that is spreading widely through the general public (i.e. influenza).
There has been extensive media coverage of the risks that workers face as they resume their work duties. As the economy gradually reopens, many workers are going to face a tough choice – return to a potentially hazardous work environment or lose their ability to collect unemployment benefits. The reality is that most workers will have to go back to work soon.
At the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach, we are going to be here to help workers who contract COVID-19 if their employer does not take steps to keep them safe. This includes an employer’s failure to implement guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for disinfecting and cleaning, failure to provide personal protective equipment, as well as a failure to conduct temperature checks on workers when they report for duty,
The simple fact in all workplaces is that employers have a duty to ensure that their workers have a safe working environment. Failure to do so in the middle of an unprecedented epidemic is irresponsible, and employers should be held liable.
If you or someone you love has contracted COVID-19 while working in Los Angeles or Encino, please seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Our workers deserve protection, particularly now that the stay-at-home orders are lifting and the economy begins to open back up. At the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach, our Los Angeles workers compensation lawyers are ready to get to work on your case. We have extensive knowledge of this state’s workers comp laws, and we will thoroughly investigate your case. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 818-609-7005.
