Gunsmith Worker’s Compensation Lawyer

Being a gunsmith in California is an ever-growing business. Each year the number of federal firearm license, or FFL, holders increases as the State of California requires each gunsmith to have a license to operate. Not every business that has one offers gunsmith services, but it is safe to say that some do. Many gunsmiths work for large retailers that provide the services as part of sales, while others work for a small business or even a side business that is run from home. California has more than 10,000 FFL holders, so the number of people offering services including gun repair, modification for optics, final assembly, or restoration as a gunsmith is bigger than most think. If you are a gunsmith employee and are hurt at work, please get in touch with Normandie Law Firm if you need a gunsmith worker’s compensation lawyer. There are some vital pieces of information you should know about before you file a claim in California.

Whether you work on your feet all day or at a workbench throughout your shift, the use of machining equipment and hand tools is going to increase the chances of a workplace injury are higher than many other jobs. If you get hurt at work, Normandie Law Firm wants you to know we are ready to help you with any legal needs you may have. No matter what those needs might be, we have professional staff ready to answer questions and support your tasks. Our initial goal is to help you accomplish anything you need assistance with. When you call Normandie Law Firm, we will help you respond to every concern and challenge. If this first call doesn’t fully resolve your questions, we will get you scheduled for a free initial consultation with a gunsmith worker’s comp lawyer as soon as possible.

During your first meeting with our team, we will be asking you about the details of the injury, the events that day, and the circumstances around the job that led up to your incident. We will review all of that information and then focus on how the worker’s compensation program in the State of California can address your current and future needs. Worker’s compensation will get your medical bills covered, and if you need to miss work, it will cover some of your lost income. One of those vital pieces of information we mentioned earlier that you should know about is the limited amount of time you have to get your claim filed with worker’s compensation.

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The Time Limit To File A Worker’s Compensation Claim
The time limit for getting a claim opened with the worker’s compensation program is 30 days, and that period begins the day of your injury. If your company doesn’t open your claim for you, you need to contact Normandie Law Firm immediately. If it helps in opening the claim, or if your employer prevents you from filing a claim with the worker’s comp system, our team is ready to deal with anything you need. We will help you get the claim process going because if you wait longer than 30 days, the claim will be denied. The 30 day time limit is consistently enforced when applicable. There is an exception to that time limit, and it is for workplace injuries caused by cumulative trauma.

What Is A Cumulative Trauma Injury?
Injury from cumulative trauma is one that happens as a result of damage caused by repetitive job activity over a long period of time. If you are diagnosed with an injury that is caused by cumulative trauma, you are still eligible for treatment under worker’s compensation. The time limit you have to file a claim is one year from the date of the first day of work you missed. You will need a diagnosis from a doctor to be able to file your claim. A common example of this type of injury is carpal tunnel.

Some Of The Most Common Injuries And Hazards In The Gunsmith Business
Many jobs have some injuries that can happen no matter what that job is. Other workplace injuries are unique to your job and the environment where you work every day. Being an employee in any job will also have risks that are not caused by the company business or the hazards normally associated with the business. The different injuries and hazards that we often see do include a very common slip or trip and fall, causing sprains and dislocations, but might also cause a head or neck issue. The most common injuries and hazards when working as a gunsmith are:

• Some minor sprains that damage the connective tissue or joints, or cause complete joint dislocations, depending on how badly a fall happens
• Back, and neck injuries, including muscle strains or pinched nerves, from uncommon body and head positions as you work on a firearms bench or table
• Penetrating injuries caused by a lack of regular maintenance or the failure of machine safety devices, material that is disintegrating, or mills and bits that break and send debris flying as they shatter
• Minor wounds on hands and fingers caused by working with small springs and materials

Other hazards are encountered and have nothing at all to do with your job or location.

• Environmental issues like fire, flooding, and building collapse or similar due to environmental challenges
• Being exposed to chemicals can cause irritation or burns
• Exposure to prolonged loud noises over long periods

If you have been injured as a gunsmith employee, Normandie Law Firm advises that you ask for a complete medical exam when you get treated for your injuries. The additional injuries you might have should be found immediately and treated so you can return to work as soon as possible. It is not uncommon for anyone injured to experience shock to some degree. You may not pay attention to other injuries or even notice them. We also tell all of our clients not to wait to ask for treatment if they have been injured on the job. Untreated injuries, even very small cuts, might lead to an infection, and that kind of illness will become very expensive and perhaps life-threatening.

What Types Of Injuries Will Be Covered Under Worker’s Compensation?
In broad terms, any injury that you get while at work and doing your job will be covered under the worker’s compensation insurance program in the State of California. There is no list of injuries that limit what will be covered by worker’s comp insurance.  If you are hurt while doing your job and the accident has nothing to do with your conduct, your injury will be covered by the California worker’s compensation insurance program. There are some limitations that deal with the conduct of the employee, however. If an employee is injured at a company function and it was a result of the employee’s playing a sport, then this is not going to be a work-related injury. If the employee is intoxicated at work, any accident or injury would also not be covered. Simply stated, if an employee’s physical or mental state is a primary factor in the cause of the accident, it is likely that worker’s compensation will not approve coverage for the resulting injury.

What Are The Benefits Provided By The Worker’s Compensation Program In California?
Each employee who is covered by worker’s compensation in the State of California is eligible for injury benefits that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• An amount of $1,000,000 for medical care coverage from the hospital and doctor’s office, the cost of required medical devices like crutches or a wheelchair, prescription medications, physical therapy, per incident
• If you cannot return to work until fully recovered from your workplace injuries, you will receive up to 66% of your regular weekly income
• If you expect long-term limitations or some disability due to your workplace injuries, worker’s compensation offers temporary long-term disability payments
• Any employee who cannot return to work will be eligible for vocational training paid for by the program, which will allow them to seek employment in a job role they are capable of performing after they are cleared by medical staff to return to work

Many medical care providers will bill the worker’s compensation program directly for care that is provided to an employee injured at work. You will want to make sure the claim is opened and gets approved so that this can take place. This service allows you to not pay for your medical care, and then have to submit claims and bills and await reimbursement. Please get in touch with our staff at Normandie Law Firm to learn more about the complete list of benefits offered under worker’s compensation and how best you can use them to get your bills paid and your lost income reimbursed.

Can I Sue My Employer For My Injuries In The State Of California?
Generally speaking, no employee is allowed to sue their employer when they are injured at work under normal circumstances. Worker’s compensation is an exclusive remedy for injured employees hurt at work. The team at Normandie Law Firm will explain this in detail for you, but there are exceptions to this rule. If there is an indication that the employer could be guilty of what is called gross negligence, then you may be able to file a lawsuit for personal injury in addition to the worker’s compensation claim and benefits.

An example of gross negligence is if the employer decides not to address a hazard that has been reported. If you believe this has happened and contributed to your accident and injuries, please tell your gunsmith worker’s compensation lawyer as soon as you can.

Will I have Upfront Expenses If I Hire Normandie Law Firm?
When you hire a gunsmith worker’s compensation lawyer from Normandie Law Firm, you will never be charged any upfront legal fees before we take your case. We will only bill you after the claim or case is completed successfully. If you do not win your worker’s comp claim or if we represent you in a lawsuit and do not win your suit in court, you will not be billed at all. So, if you feel you need to open a worker’s compensation claim or pursue a personal injury lawsuit, please make time today to reach out to Normandie Law Firm for anything you need. We are ready to help you get back to work and get the benefits you need.

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