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At Brand Peters PC, our founding attorney Jonathan M. Brand has been serving the Bay Area since 1989. After earning his J.D. (law degree) from John F. Kennedy Law School, he had the intention of strictly pursuing personal injury law; however, not long after he founded Brand Peters PC, he decided to expand his practice so he could also represent injured workers in their workers’ compensation cases. Since the firm’s inception, he has successfully handled thousands of workers’ comp and personal injury cases on behalf of his injured clients, and he has obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements over his years in practice.

Attorney Brand is not only well-liked and well-respected in the legal and chiropractic communities, he recently authored an article in the July 2013 edition of Plaintiff, the magazine for Northern California plaintiffs’ attorneys. His article is entitled, “Making workers’ comp work for you and your client,” and it explains the “new rules of workers’ comp and how WC intersects with personal injury law.” This scholarly article reaches its target audience of plaintiff attorneys all throughout Northern California, and is intended to help them identify the various ways of making the workers’ compensation system work for them as much as possible when personal injury and workers’ compensation “cross-over.”

Attorney Brand explains how the reality is that in many serious personal injury cases, workers’ compensation is a part of the process; therefore, it is his contention that by taking the time to understand workers’ compensation a bit more, personal injury attorneys can learn how to make it work for them instead of against them. The article demonstrates how the focus is more on the nuts and bolts of workers’ compensation and how it affects a personal injury case. To read the complete article in the July 2013 edition of Plaintiff magazine, click here!

One search online and dozens of stories involving work-related injuries are right at your fingertips. Online, employees who have been through the most horrific ordeals share their horror stories. These accounts will make you cringe, make you squeamish, and mostly make you angry and frustrated at bosses and insurance companies across the nation.

One truck driver was injured twice on the job- and these injuries were sustained within a few weeks of one another. Unfortunately, he received little mercy from his company’s workers’ compensation doctor. The man was fired from his job- for not being able to do any heavy work after being injured and subsequently lost his home, car, belongings and family.

In statements released to the press, the victim shared that, “After we lost the apartment…I was evicted…I stayed in a men’s shelter…my knee has gotten far worse, and I am completely disabled, and suffer anxiety and depressive disorders due to two mental breakdowns from the stress and pain I am in.”

In another story, a worker at an auto supply company was wearing a sweatshirt when it caught on a 110 ton stamping press, her first day on the job. The press slammed down and crushed her arms, resulting in the amputation of both of her arms-from the elbow down. A legal battle then ensued, with the employee fighting with all of her might to receive the damages she deserved.

How can you avoid having a work injury horror story like these to share and how can you ensure that your company has protections in place for its workers?

• Use proper safety equipment
• Ask for assistance if you cannot complete a task on your own
• Lift carefully, using the knees, or use a dolly if an item is too heavy
• Notify your supervisor if you experience pain after completing a task
• Be aware that certain repetitive motions can lead to carpal tunnel
• Stay informed of risks
• Get plenty of sleep
• Exercise caution when on the road for work

Workers’ compensation insurance is required by law in most states. If your employer does not have workers’ compensation, they can be held personally liable for your injuries or have to pay steep fines imposed by the state. If you have been injured on the job, contact a workers’ compensation attorney immediately to receive the legal assistance you need. Fight back today to reclaim your health and happiness!