Santa Barbara County Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

When you are injured on the job as an employee, you are likely eligible to secure benefits through workers’ compensation.  These benefits cover your necessary medical needs, and they could cover a portion of your income while you rest and heal.  Working with a Santa Barbara County workers’ compensation lawyer can make this unfortunately complicated process easier.  They can pursue the benefits you are owed with less stress and uncertainty.

Contact a Dedicated Santa Barbara County Workers’ Compensation Attorney

You need a legal team with experience in the workers’ compensation system.  You also need one that understands the complexities that impact Californian employees.  The attorneys at Larson, Larson & Dauer have spent more than 40 years representing injured employees.  You may be filing a claim, dealing with a disputed claim, or facing other issues when getting your workers’ compensation benefits.  Our team could help you.

At our firm, we focus on diligent and personalized care for each case we work on.  We manage our case workload to be sure we can provide the necessary attention to each case, and we only take the cases we believe we can do justice to.  Our attorneys are proud to support our communities, helping injured individuals and their families manage the frustrating workers’ compensation system.

Common Workplace Injuries in Santa Barbara County

Injuries in the workplace can occur in any industry, from offshore work to the healthcare sector.  Some industries have higher rates of injury compared to other areas of employment, while a few are more likely to cause fatal and catastrophic injuries.

Across all state industries in 2024, there were approximately 454,100 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses.  Of these, 281,700 resulted in days away from work, a job transfer, or a restriction of job duties, which was a rate of 2.1 per 100 full-time employees.

Some common injuries throughout key industries in Santa Barbara County included:

• Fractures
• Sprains and strains
• Other soft tissue injuries
• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Internal organ damage and functional loss
• Spinal cord damage
• Paralysis
• Crushing injuries
• Amputation

Workers’ comp cases might arise from a sudden incident or accident on the job.  They can also be filed to address repetitive motion stress injuries.  Long-term exposure to hazardous substances or even certain illnesses on the job can also lead to workers’ compensation claims.

Hazardous Worksites

Workplace injuries and illnesses can happen, no matter your area of employment, but they are especially common in some of the following locations:

• Offshore and longshore worksites.  Maritime, offshore, longshore, and harbor work can be incredibly dangerous.  Employees work with hazardous materials and chemicals, operate heavy machinery, and traverse through dangerous work sites.  These include the Hogan Oil Platform and the Dos Cuadras Offshore Oil Platform B off Santa Barbara.
• Construction sites.  In California, there were 27,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the construction industry throughout 2024.  These worksites use large vehicles, heavy machinery, and hazardous chemicals.  They also involve potentially unstable property and structures.
• Warehouses.  There were 13,900 workplace injuries and illnesses in the warehousing and storage industry across the state.
• Manufacturing and industrial worksites.  These worksites have many hazards, which can lead to workplace injuries caused by repetitive motion injuries, machinery malfunctions, fires, toxic exposure, and even explosions.
• Healthcare facilities.  The healthcare and social assistance sector saw approximately 69,500 workplace injuries and illnesses in California.  Many employees in the healthcare sector work long hours, making them even more susceptible to illness and hazards at work.
• Entertainment and leisure workplaces.  There were about 50,000 injuries and illnesses in leisure and hospitality workplaces during 2024.

Filing a workers’ compensation claim can let you rest and take the time you need, without sacrificing all the financial support you need.  A dedicated attorney can manage this legal process.

Locations We Serve in Santa Barbara County

At Larson, Larson & Dauer, we serve many communities in Santa Barbara County, including:

• Santa Barbara
• Santa Maria
• Lompoc
• Goleta
• Buellton
• Solvang
• Carpinteria
• Guadalupe

Our team offers bilingual legal services in English and Spanish.  If you’ve been hurt in the workplace and are trying to navigate a claim, our team can seek the fair benefits you deserve.

FAQs

Q: What Doesn’t Qualify for Workers’ Comp?

A: An injury or condition doesn’t qualify for workers’ compensation if it did not occur while you were working or because of your job duties.  This includes injuries that happened because of activities outside of work.  You may also not qualify for compensation if you are not an employee but an independent contractor.  Some employees may also not work for a covered employer, meaning that the employer is not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

Q: Who Can Deny a Workers’ Comp Claim in California?

A: The claims administrator can deny a workers’ comp claim in California, but this decision can be appealed.  The claim administrator may deny a claim because the:

• Injury was not work-related
• Employee failed to report the injury
• Employee did not file the claim within the set deadlines

Appealing the denial takes the case to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, where a judge assesses the case to determine if you should receive benefits.

Q: What Is the Hardest Injury to Prove for Workers’ Compensation?

A: The hardest injury to prove for workers’ compensation is generally one:

• With less objective medical documentation
• That is hard to connect with your job duties

Many types of repetitive motion injuries are hard to prove for workers’ compensation, as claims administrators will likely claim that the injury happened outside of work and not because of your job duties.

When you hire a workers’ compensation lawyer, they can gather the information to show how your injury was work-related.

Q: How Does Workers’ Comp Work in California?

A: Workers’ comp in California offers benefits to injured, covered employees for injuries, illnesses, and other conditions from a workplace accident or that developed from their job duties.

You report your injury to your employer, get medical care, and file your workers’ compensation claim.  If your claim is approved, you can obtain limited wage benefits and the cost of your medical treatment.  You do not have to prove that anyone was at fault to get benefits through workers’ compensation.

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Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Santa Barbara County

When you need experienced and dedicated legal representation, reach out to Larson, Larson & Dauer today.  We can use our knowledge of the state’s workers’ compensation laws to help you.