REPRESENTING PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES WHEN INJURIES OCCUR
WHO I AM
“The highways are crowded with people who drive as if their sole purpose in getting behind the wheel is to avenge every wrong done them by man, beast or fate. The only thing that keeps them in line is their fear of death, jail and lawsuits.”
The power of the civil lawsuit helps keep the playing field level.
OUR HISTORY:
Harmon Firm was created when Judge James Hedrick Harmon retired from the Superior Court in 2003. Jim Harmon, after 4 years with a large “mill” firm took advantage of his father’s mentorship, not to mention the senior Harmon’s prolific research and analytical skills.
IMPERIAL COUNTY COUNSEL CAREER HIGHLIGHT
Supreme Court Case: County of Imperial, California v. Munoz 449 U.S. 54 (1980)
Listen to Supreme Court Arguments CLICK HERE
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU:
→ Industrial Injuries
→ Workers Comp
→ Serious & Willful Claims
→ Catastrophic Claims
→ Wrongful Death
→ Personal Injury
FAQ
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CAN I SUE MY OWN EMPLOYER?
No. Workers comp is the exclusive remedy when you get hurt on the job. This means that if your employer is properly insured, you cannot sue them, except in very rare exceptions.
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CAN I USE MY OWN DOCTOR IN A WORKERS COMPENSATION CASE?
The current laws require that you see a doctor within the employer’s Medical Provider Network. There are exception to this rule, including predesignating a doctor, before the injury.
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IF I GET INJURED, BUT THE EMPLOYER SAYS I’M AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, AM I OUT OF LUCK?
It depends. A lot of employers pay workers in cash or give them a 1099, in order to avoid workers’ comp insurance payments. But the law presumes an “employment relationship” if they are supervising or controlling your work.
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I HAVE BEEN INJURED AT WORK OR OUTSIDE OF WORK, WHAT DO I DO?
The most important thing to do is get medical treatment. You have a duty to get medical help and document your damages. Whether you make a claim or not, recovering from the injury is the most important thing to do. If you are going to make a claim, you can always consult a lawyer when your condition has stabilized.
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AFTER A SERIOUS INJURY, IF A GUY COMES TO MY HOSPITAL BED AND TELLS ME I NEEDED A LAWYER, SHOULD I SIGN THE PAPERS?
No, never sign documents with a non-lawyer or a “runner.” Most of the time those people are getting paid a fee, they are called “Cappers” and that is illegal and unethical. There are situations in which a lawyer needs to go to the hospital or home visit to consult with a potential client. But in that case, the lawyer is present.
NEWS & REVIEWS
The workers’ compensation system in California is designed to work without a lawyer. But inevitably…
Today I had the unfortunate duty of representing a client at a debtor’s exam. “Unfortunate”…
One of our several “wins” in 2010 was a dispute over spinal surgery. The client…
We just settled a case with a $38,700 MSA. The employer’s insurance carrier wanted to…
You’ve been injured at work. Now comes the insult: the insurance company “requests” that you…
New potential client called today, worried that he’d be “fired” if an industrial claim was…
What Our Clients Say
MEET THE TEAM
James H. Harmon
Attorney & President
Angela Salsbury
Office Manager
Gloria Buccio
Assistant
Arnold Alvarado
Paralegal
Have you been injured on the job? Not sure?
Insurance companies never play fair. Get the information from someone on your team.
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