There are many jobs that involve the danger of being attacked and bitten by a dog, especially for employees who work outside. For example, you’re working as a landscaper, and you’re planting shrubbery at a customer’s home. While your engaged in that work, a delivery driver arrives and goes to the front door of the home and rings the doorbell. The package is delivered, but the door wasn’t completely secured. A minute later while your back is turned, you’re attacked by a large dog that escaped the home, knocked you down and repeatedly bit you. Although the owner pulls the dog off of you, you’re a bloody mess with bites on your face, neck, throat, hands and arms. The homeowner calls 911, and you’re taken to the emergency room.
Can a Dog Attack and Dog Bites Trigger a Workers Compensation Action?
In this hypothetical situation, you were sent to that home by the owner of “Green Home Landscaping” to plant shrubbery, and that’s exactly what you were doing when the dog attacked you. Since you were working in the course and scope of your employment, you’re covered for your injuries under California’s workers’ compensation laws. Along with other possible benefits, California’s workers’ compensation laws provide you with the following three types of compensation:
- Your medical bills since the date of the attack.
- Any temporary total disability for the time that you are unable to work.
- Any permanent partial disability.
Scarring, Nerve Damage and Disfigurement
If you were referred to a plastic surgeon upon being discharged from the emergency room, your employer would also be responsible for his or her bill. If one or more surgeries are required, the employer would also be responsible for all bills in connection with them. In California, a doctor will assign you a disability rating. Any nerve damage and permanent scarring and disfigurement would be considered in a that rating.
After being seriously injured at work, don’t depend on your employer or its insurer to protect your rights. They’re only going to make sure that they’re well represented. If you don’t retain a quality workers’ compensation attorney, they’ll have you right where they want you. It’s likely that your employer’s insurer won’t even let you know that compensation for scarring and disfigurement is available. You can pursue compensation for scarring and disfigurement, but unless you’re represented by an aggressive and experienced attorney, objections will be made for compensating you a penny for that. You’ll want an effective Sacramento workers’ compensation attorney who your employer’s insurer respects. That attorney must know how to make California worker’ compensation laws work in your best interests.
Contact a Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Attorney, Alice A. Strömbom, focuses exclusively on Workers’ Compensation Law and the rights of injured workers. She is very familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to avoid providing the medical treatment and disability benefits injured workers deserve, and has a recognized track record in combating such issues.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation.
