The ripple effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have taken many forms. For instance, in California, many who were exposed to the virus as a result of their work have filed workers’ compensation claims accordingly.
A new report from the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau reveals what likely comes as little surprise: more than half of Covid-19 workers’ compensation claims in California are related to the healthcare sector.
Naturally, healthcare workers have a greater likelihood of contracting the Covid-19 virus due to work-related incidents and conditions than workers in many other industries. Healthcare workers are often directly involved in the treatment of those with the Covid-19 virus. Even if they take the necessary precautions, guarding against infection can be challenging.
Securing the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve might also be difficult. Unfortunately, if past trends are any indication, workers’ compensation insurance carriers aren’t typically motivated to pay claimants what they’re asking for.
This is due to the simple fact that workers’ compensation insurance carriers operate as profit-driven businesses. Their priority is to optimize financial gains and minimize financial losses.
Thus, when claimants seek workers’ compensation benefits, often, insurers first respond to claims by attempting to find reasons to deny them. One justification an insurer might use to reject a claim involves arguing that a claimant has failed to provide sufficient evidence indicating their injury or health condition directly resulted from experiences that occurred while they were on the job.
It may be particularly easy for insurance companies to default to this tactic when claimants seek compensation after contracting Covid-19 or other such viruses. After all, it’s technically possible to contract such a virus virtually anywhere. This can render it difficult for a claimant to provide convincing evidence showing they became ill as a result of their employment.
No ethical lawyer can promise you’ll win your case when you hire them. Nor can they promise you will settle for a specific amount of money.
That said, the above points highlight the value of enlisting the help of a California workers’ compensation attorney when filing a claim. Because a law firm has access to more resources than an individual claimant might, a lawyer can investigate a claim and gather evidence showing that an injury or illness was the result of workplace conditions.
Hiring an attorney also gives a claimant more time to spend getting the rest they need after being hurt or becoming ill due to their work. Instead of devoting their time and energy to filing claims and corresponding with insurance adjusters, they can prioritize recuperation.
At the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach, our Los Angeles workers’ compensation lawyers are dedicated to helping injured and ill workers in California recover the full amount of compensation for which they may be eligible when they file claims. If you believe you have grounds to seek workers’ compensation benefits, and you appreciate the value of seeking legal representation, contact us online or call us at 818-609-7005 to learn more about what we can do for you.
