Nobody wants to get injured at work, yet accidents can happen. If you experience a catastrophic accident, you may be forced to put your job on hold and suffer medical bills and lost earnings totaling thousands of dollars. Many people who suffer severe injuries end up with long-term impairments. Having a Florida workers’ compensation lawyer on your side will ensure that you receive compensation for the medical expenses and lost wages you deserve after you’ve been injured on the job.
If your rights and financial security are at stake, you can rely on Florida Accident and Injury Lawyers to help you attain a fair and speedy resolution. We can provide you the advantage you need in a workers’ compensation claim by supporting you with in-depth legal knowledge and proven expertise.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation In Florida
When somebody is involved in an accident, they can usually file a personal injury lawsuit against the party who caused their injuries. However, policymakers recognized over time that a Florida personal injury claim might not effectively resolve workplace injuries. For instance, employees who have been injured in a workplace accident must prove that the other party was to blame for their injuries, which can be a time-consuming process.
Accordingly, Florida established its workers’ compensation system to overcome these problems. Workers’ compensation in Florida is a “no-fault” system, in contrast to other types of personal injury claims. There is no longer a need to demonstrate that your employer’s negligence caused your injury; instead, you must establish that you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits since you were injured on the job as a covered employee. These claims are also significantly faster to resolve, which means that injured employees do not have to wait long for recompense and medical coverage.
Unfortunately, securing these benefits isn’t always straightforward and clear. For various reasons, business owners and their insurance providers often deny claims from employees. If you don’t have legal representation, you have little chance of collecting the compensation you’re due. Our mission as Florida workers’ compensation lawyers is to assist you in navigating the legal system.
The Common Causes of Florida Work-Related Injuries
When an employee suffers an occupational injury or illness due to their job, they are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Most workplace injuries are caused by the following:
Overexertion
Workers’ injuries are frequently caused by physical overexertion. Carrying large loads or working in an unergonomic position can cause this, as can performing a repetitive task too many times without enough rest. Acute pain is the most common symptom of overexertion injuries, which can be quickly alleviated with proper medical care and better working conditions. However, if overexertion isn’t addressed, it can lead to long-term health problems.
Lifting and Carrying Accidents
There are a wide range of injuries that may result from lifting or carrying something heavy. That’s also true if you lift and carry lighter objects over and over again. In addition to minor issues like soft tissue injuries and pinched nerves, more serious ones like spinal injuries and disk degeneration are common.
Vehicle Collisions
Vehicle crashes are the primary cause of fatal occupational injuries, and they injure thousands of Floridians each year. This workplace accident takes the top spot on Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) “Fatal Four” list. Getting injured at your place of work isn’t a requirement to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Florida. Depending on the circumstances, you may also be entitled to compensation if you were hurt while driving for your job.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Anyone can slip or trip at any moment and in any place. Your Slip and fall work-related injury may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of whether it was caused by an accidental tumble or by tripping over a bump. The OSHA list of “Fatal Four” occupational accidents includes falls from heights, which are the most common cause of death in the construction industry.
Electrical Accidents
Another one of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” hazards is electrocution. On-the-job accidents can be caused by various factors, including mishandling dangerous energy, faulty wiring, malfunctioning electrical components, and more.
Equipment and Machinery Accidents
Accidents involving equipment and machinery can result in soft tissue injuries, shattered bones, head trauma, limb loss, and a variety of other severe injuries. Human error is a significant factor when it comes to these kinds of accidents. For example, if a colleague made a mistake and you were injured as a result. However, maintenance problems and malfunctions can also lead to sudden and unanticipated accidents.
Violence in the Workplace
If you were hurt at work due to a dispute, such as if a colleague physically attacked you, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. In Florida, workers who have been injured because of another employee’s violent actions are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
However, injuries directly related to a worker’s job aren’t always the case. For instance, overexertion injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis, tennis elbow, or worsening a previous illness might make it difficult to prove the link between your condition and your job. When negotiating with your employer or insurance provider, an expert Florida workers’ compensation lawyer can represent your interests and fight for your rights.
What Are the Different Types of Benefits for Florida Workers’ Compensation Claims?
Injuries on the job can considerably impact your life, including your health, career, income, and personal well-being. Workers’ compensation in Florida is meant to help you get back on your feet as soon as possible and cover your losses. Here are some of the benefits available for workplace injuries:
Temporary Disability Benefits
If you require time off work to recover from a work-related condition or injury, you may be entitled to temporary total disability benefits under Florida workers’ compensation. Until one of the following three situations occurs, temporary total disability compensation will keep going:
- Your doctor has given the all-clear for you to return to work.
- A medical professional tells you that despite additional treatments, your health will not improve (a condition referred to as “maximum medical improvement,” or MMI).
- You’ve reached the end of your temporary disability benefits period.
Permanent Impairment Benefits
As soon as your medical rehabilitation is finished, your doctor will conduct an evaluation to see if you have any long-term medical conditions or lost functions (referred to as “impairments”). An impairment grade, indicated as a percentage, will be assigned to you by the doctor if you are able to work in some capacity. Based on a formula provided by Florida law, this rating can subsequently be used to determine the length of your permanent disability compensation.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
If your doctor determines that you have a permanent impairment that prevents you from working (including light work), you will be eligible for permanent total disability payments at the same rate as you are currently receiving temporary total disability benefits.
Additional Benefits
Workers’ compensation in the state of Florida also includes extra benefits, such as:
- Medical benefits: Medical treatment for a work-related condition or injury is covered by workers’ compensation if prescribed by a doctor and approved by the insurance provider. In addition, you are entitled to reimbursement for the cost of transport to and from medical visits, as well as the cost of prescribed medication.
- Occupational rehabilitation: Placement services, career counseling, and other types of assistance may be available to you if you are unable to return to your previous employment.
- Death benefits: In the event that a worker dies as a direct consequence of a work-related injury or illness and leaves behind a spouse, children, or other dependent family members, they can be eligible for death benefits.
Claims for the Negligence of a Third-Party
If you are injured on somebody else’s property because of hazardous conditions or a contractor’s carelessness, you may be the victim of third-party negligence.
For instance, you could have been hurt in a forklift collision because of a defect in the design that caused it to jerk forward without warning. Or, perhaps you got chemical burns when a container exploded owing to a production error. In such cases, a third party might be held liable for the losses suffered by an injured employee. In the same way that you can sue your employer for losses that are not covered by your workers’ compensation coverage, you can claim additional damages.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to bring a claim against the person or business responsible for your accident, whether it was the manufacturer of the defective equipment, the owner of the property on which the accident occurred, or another company or contractor whose employee caused your accident.
Get Experienced Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyers on Your Side
Getting the workers’ compensation that you deserve after an injury on the job may be a challenge. At Florida Accident and Injury experienced workers’ compensation lawyers have the knowledge and experience to protect the interests of injured employees. Contact us today to talk to our legal experts about how we can help you get the benefits you’re entitled to under workers’ compensation laws.
