Welding Accidents

Welding Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles

Pursuing Every Available Path After a Welding Injury

A workplace welding injury may support more than one claim. We pursue workers’ compensation benefits while investigating whether defective equipment, unsafe site conditions, or contractor or manufacturer negligence provides grounds for a separate civil claim.

Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian has represented injury victims and their families in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death cases since 1993. Attorney Haleh Shekarchian is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Call (855) 785-0297 to discuss a welding accident in Los Angeles and the potential sources of compensation for your injuries.

Two Potential Claims After a Los Angeles Welding Accident

California workers’ compensation is generally a no-fault system for injuries arising out of and in the course of employment. An injured worker usually doesn’t need to establish employer negligence to pursue covered benefits, which may include medical treatment and partial replacement of wages lost while the worker can’t perform the job.

A separate civil claim may be available when someone other than the employer or a co-worker acting within the course of employment caused the injury. Potential defendants include general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, and employees of other companies at a shared job site.

The two recovery paths can address different losses:

Workplace benefits: Medical treatment and partial wage replacement may be available without proving employer fault.
Third-party injury claim: Recoverable damages may include pain and suffering, full lost wages, and future lost earning capacity when supported by the evidence.
Wrongful death claim: A worker’s family may have civil and workplace remedies after a fatal welding accident, depending on the relationship and circumstances.

These claims can affect each other. For example, an insurer may assert a lien against a third-party recovery for benefits it has already paid. We evaluate both avenues before settlement so that a decision in one doesn’t overlook issues affecting the other.

How We Handle Welding Injury Claims

We begin by examining how the injury occurred and whether it resulted from a single event or workplace conditions that developed over time. We then identify available benefits and investigate whether negligence by another party contributed to the injury.

Our representation covers compensation claims from the initial filing through hearings before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, commonly called WCAB hearings. We also assess related civil claims involving construction accidents, defective equipment, unsafe conditions, contractor negligence, and manufacturer negligence.

We handle several categories of workplace injury claims:

Specific incidents: Injuries connected to an identifiable event, such as a burn, electric shock, or explosion.
Repetitive trauma: Physical harm associated with repeated job duties or movements.
Occupational exposure: Conditions linked to harmful workplace exposure, including the chronic inhalation of welding fumes.
Death benefits: Claims brought by eligible dependents after a fatal workplace injury.

Each category raises different questions about medical evidence, employment, causation, and responsible parties. Reviewing the workplace claim alongside any possible civil case allows us to identify the legal paths supported by the facts.

Discuss Your Welding Injury with Our Firm

We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, so no attorney fees are charged unless compensation is recovered. Services are available in English, Spanish, and Farsi. If your injury prevents you from traveling, we can meet you at your home or in the hospital.

Call (855) 785-0297 to discuss your welding injury claim and the legal steps available to you.

Welding Hazards & Occupational Injuries

Welding can cause burns, electric shock, explosions, eye injuries, amputations, and harm from toxic fumes. Some claims arise from a single incident, while others involve occupational exposure that develops through repeated contact with hazardous fumes or gases.

Arc Flash Injuries
An arc flash is an intense release of heat and light from an electrical arc. It can injure the eyes and skin even when the worker isn’t directly struck by equipment or flame. The circumstances of the exposure and the protective controls in use can be important when evaluating the claim.

Welding Fume Exposure
Welding produces fumes and gases that can endanger health when ventilation and protective controls are inadequate. Chronic inhalation may support an occupational exposure claim rather than one tied to a single accident. Relevant evidence can include the materials used, where the welding occurred, and the ventilation provided.

California Welding Safety Rules & Filing Deadlines

California regulations require local exhaust ventilation for covered welding operations involving hazardous metals, fluxes, coatings, or filler metals. Regulated materials include those containing beryllium, cadmium, chromium, fluorides, lead, mercury, or zinc.

For covered indoor operations, California’s welding ventilation standard requires local exhaust systems to maintain a minimum air velocity of 100 linear feet per minute in the welding zone. Hazard-communication rules also require filler-metal labels warning that welding fumes and gases are hazardous to health. Whether a particular Cal/OSHA ventilation standard applies depends on the operation, materials, and work environment.

Workers’ Compensation Filing Deadline

Under California Labor Code section 5405, an Application for Adjudication generally must be filed within one year of the injury. The applicable date and any exception can depend on how the injury occurred, when an occupational condition was discovered, and other claim-specific facts. Reporting requirements and filing deadlines are separate, so prompt legal review is important.

Third-Party Lawsuit Filing Deadline

California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 generally provides two years from the injury to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit. Different rules can apply based on the defendant, the nature of the claim, or other circumstances. Because the workplace claim deadline and civil deadline aren’t the same, both should be evaluated without delay.

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"Her and her staff handled mine and my fathers personal injury case professionally. They were always making sure we were being well taken care of"
Her and her staff handled mine and my fathers personal injury case professionally. They were always making sure we were being well taken care of

- Elizabeth R.
"The team over at Haleh's firm was helpful, patient and honest. I had an injury in 2014, and throughout my almost 2 year ordeal, Haleh and her team were there to guide me in my journey back to health while protecting my interests."
The team over at Haleh's firm was helpful, patient and honest. I had an injury, and throughout my almost 2 year ordeal, Haleh and her team were there to guide me in my journey back to health while protecting my interests.

- Hector H.
"If anyone in So Cal is looking for a reputable law office go directly to The Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian! Ms. Shekarchian and staff are the epitome of professionalism."
If anyone in So Cal is looking for a reputable law office go directly to The Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian! Ms. Shekarchian and staff are the epitome of professionalism.

- Rob R.

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Injured? Get the Compensation You Deserve

Contact Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian now for a free consultation and let our experienced team fight for your rights.

Law Offices of Haleh Shekarchian

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