I Got Hurt on the Job: Can You Help?

Safety in the workplace is a high priority, but despite that, people get sick or hurt on the job. If that should happen to you, it’s important you understand your rights under the workers’ compensation laws in the state of California.

Arbi Ayvazian, DO, and our team at Rapid Response Urgent Care in Granada Hills, California, serve as medical providers for people seeking workers’ compensation. We document your illness or injury according to state laws, and we provide an estimate of the time you’ll miss from your job. If you get hurt on the job, here’s how we can help.

What is workers’ compensation?

Workers’ compensation is an insurance benefit employers carry designed to compensate workers who are injured or fall ill on the job. It entitles you to medical care to treat the illness or injury, as well as cover lost wages for the time you’re unable to work as a result.

If you’re a federal employee, the program is administered through the US Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). If you work for the state or a private company, the program is administered under state law.

In the state of California, the Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC), part of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), administers workers' compensation claims, as well as provides administrative and judicial services to help resolve disputes arising in connection with claims for workers' compensation benefits.

What should I do if I get hurt?

If you get injured on the job and it’s life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If it’s not life-threatening, inform your supervisor that you’ve been hurt and that you need medical attention.

Then, come into Rapid Response Urgent Care so we can document the injury and get the paperwork started.

We start by getting a full account of the injury and how it happened, then we perform a complete physical exam. We may also get bloodwork and X-rays from our on-site labs, or we may refer you to another facility for further testing. If you require a specialist for treatment, we document that, too, and we provide you with a referral.

In addition, we fill out Form 5021, the Doctor’s First Report of Occupational Injury or Illness, which the state and insurance company require to document your medical status and start the claims process for compensation. We fill out subsequent paperwork if you need to come back for additional appointments.

Your workplace and/or the insurance carrier will notify you if you need to submit any additional documentation.

If you’re injured on the job, don’t wait to get medical attention. Rapid Response Urgent Care can diagnose and treat your problem and help you get started on the paperwork. Walk in, call us at 818-923-5216, or book an appointment online today.