Chain | Cohn | Clark visits Kern County prison employees to provide tips, resources

Workers’ Compensation* attorneys and staff from Chain | Cohn | Clark recently visited Kern Valley State Prison in Delano to provide resources and tips prison staff and correctional officers.

Chain | Cohn | Clark took part in the recent annual health fair for Kern Valley State Prison staff, which is hosted by the prison to “increase awareness of beneficial programs and products available to staff,” according to organizers.

Participation by the workers’ compensation and personal injury law firm in the health fair was part of the law firm’s partnership with Kern County prisons called Group Law Services. The program, started by the Chain | Cohn | Clark nearly 50 years ago, provides quality legal help for working people in Kern County, especially those who belong to local credit unions, labor unions and service organizations. Through Group Law Services, members and their immediate family members are entitled to free initial consultations, reduced fees if ever in need of help from our law firm, and other benefits.

To see a list of local groups that provide their members with full access to Group Law Services benefits, click here. If your group is not a member, but are interested in becoming a member, please call 661-323-4000.

Benefits are provided to correctional officers and staff members of all Kern County prisons including Kern Valley State Prison, North Kern State Prison, California Correctional Institution, and Wasco State Prison. Among the most common clients coming to Chain | Cohn | Clark from these prisons are correctional officers as part of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association.

Job injuries, unfortunately, are a part of life for officers working in prisons. They are exposed to various dangers and physical demands unique in their workplace. Assaults by inmates, for example, are a common occurrence.

It’s important for these officers to take notice of their legal rights and obligations under California workers’ compensation laws. Here are some general tips employees of prisons can follow if injured on the job:

• Report an injury as soon as possible.
• Get names of any witnesses.
• Get medical treatment if you need it.
• Make sure to explain how you got hurt.
• Fill out accident report forms accurately.
• Be consistent in your statements.
• Do not give a tape recorded statement to an insurer.
• Consider talking to a workers’ compensation lawyer.

If you are injured in a work-related incident, or suffer from a disease or ailment caused by your employment, you should protect your rights, and the best way to do so is to retain a competent workers’ compensation attorney.

Chain | Cohn | Clark workers’ compensation attorney James Yoro has nearly 40 years of experience in Kern County, and attorney Beatriz Trejo can assist Spanish speaking injured clients as well.

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*NOTICE: Making a false or fraudulent Workers’ Compensation claim is a felony subject to up to 5 years in a prison or a fine of up to $150,000 or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater, or by both imprisonment and fine.