Life after a work accident can be difficult, especially if you suffer tremendous injuries and are left with expensive medical bills. After a job-related injury you need to get a Clearwater, Florida, workers’ compensation lawyer, so they can fight for your benefits.
Our WorkInjuryRights attorneys are experts at handling work-related accidents and have over forty-five years of experience recovering millions in settlements for our clients. We have helped different injury victims stand up against some of the biggest insurance companies and won.
Call us at 954-829-7077 today, and let us help you recover the settlement you deserve.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance employers carry, which caters to the injuries employees may suffer while performing their job. Under Florida’s workers’ compensation laws, injured employees can recover medical benefits and lost wages.
Workers’ compensation benefits do not rely on any parties being at fault. Rather, they cater to employees’ injuries as long as they are hurt while performing their duties.
How Do I Know if Workers’ Compensation Covers My Injury?
Workers’ compensation might cover your injuries if you get hurt while on the job. WorkInjuryRights will review your case to determine if workers’ comp will cover your injuries because getting into a work accident does not guarantee your injuries being covered under the Act.
What Are the Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Florida?
The extent of your injuries will determine what type of workers’ compensation benefits you receive. Florida’s workers’ compensation benefits include the following:
- Medical benefits
- Temporary Total Disability benefits
- Temporary Partial Disability Benefits
- Permanent Partial Disability
- Permanent Total Disability
What Should I Do if I Am Hurt on the Job?
You must follow the proper procedures after being hurt on the job to safeguard your rights and your ability to recover compensation. When you are hurt on the job, you should:
- Tell your employer you are hurt. Report the accident to your employer in oral or written form within 30 days of the incident.
- Get to a doctor as soon as possible and follow your doctor’s instructions. Seek medical care, discuss with your doctor if your injuries are work-related, and ask them to keep a detailed document of your treatment and information that proves the accident caused your injuries. Always follow their recovery instructions.
- Start and keep a written record of your injury and symptoms. Ensure you document all your symptoms, including how the accident happened, the resulting symptoms, and the treatment you are receiving.
- Take photographs of your injuries, if visible. If you suffered visible injuries, ensure you take clear photos, which will come in handy as proof of the accident’s severity.
- File a workers’ compensation claim with the assistance of a workers’ compensation attorney. Let us help you file your claim and simplify the claims process.
- Rest and recuperate. Take time to focus on your recovery and let our experienced injury attorneys handle all the legal procedures while keeping you updated.
How Can a Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help Me?
Navigating a workers’ comp case can be easy with the legal guidance of an experienced attorney. A Florida workers’ comp lawyer can help with the following:
- Reviewing your case
- Filing your claim
- Collecting and submitting evidence supporting your claim
- Handling settlement negotiations
- Appealing a denied workers’ comp claim
How Much Does a Florida Workers’ Compensation Attorney Cost?
There is no standard attorney fee for a work-related injury case. The specific facts surrounding your case will determine how much your workers’ compensation case will cost. At WorkInjuryRights, we offer our clients a contingency fee plan, meaning you only pay us after we win your case.
Steps for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Florida
You must follow the proper steps when filing your workers’ compensation claim after your accident. The following are the steps you should follow:
- Report your injury to your employer.
- Get medical attention.
- Try solving the dispute before filing a petition.
- Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer.
- File the petition.
- File an appeal if your claim is denied.
What Responsibilities Does an Employer Have in a Workers’ Compensation Process?
When you are hurt at work, it is your employer’s responsibility to:
- Report your injuries to their workers’ comp insurance company
- Provide you with the needed medical care for as long as your injuries require
What Are My Rights After an On-the-Job Injury?
When you are injured at work, your rights include the following:
- The right to file for workers’ compensation
- The right to receive medical care
- Right to independently calculate your losses
- The right to rest and recover
- The right to legal representation
- The right to file for other claims of compensation
What Can I Do if My Claim Is Denied?
Insurance companies tend to deny injured workers’ claims. If the insurance company denies your workers’ compensation claim, we will help you file an appeal for the court to reconsider your original claim.
Are There Deadlines to Filing Workers’ Compensation in Florida?
You have 30 days to alert your employer about the accident and a two-year time limit to file your workers’ compensation claim. You risk being barred from recovering your workers’ comp benefits if you do not file your claim within the deadline.
Can I Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Your employer cannot fire you if you file a workers’ compensation claim. Your employer has workers’ compensation insurance for this specific purpose. It is your legal right to claim benefits when you are hurt at work while performing your duties.
Can I Sue My Employer?
You can file a lawsuit against your employer in Florida to offer you workers’ compensation benefits if the law requires them to carry workers’ compensation insurance and they do not carry it.
What Is My Clearwater Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?
Several factors, including the extent and severity of your injuries, will influence your Clearwater workers’ compensation claim’s worth. All work accidents are different, so your case’s specific circumstances will determine the benefits you can recover.
Let our workers’ compensation attorneys review your case and estimate how much your case may be worth.
Other Workers’ Compensation FAQs
How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
The timeline for resolving a workers’ compensation claim can vary widely. Simple claims may be resolved in a few months, while more complex cases involving disputes or severe injuries could take a year or longer.
The process involves filing the claim, waiting for a response from the insurance company, potentially negotiating a settlement, and sometimes even going to a hearing.
What Should I Do if My Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Delayed?
If your workers’ compensation benefits are delayed, it’s important to contact your employer’s insurance company to inquire about the status of your claim.
You may also want to speak with a workers’ compensation attorney to ensure your rights are protected and to help expedite the process, especially if the delay seems unjustified.
Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation for a Repetitive Stress Injury?
Yes, workers’ compensation can cover repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis, if they are directly related to your job.
These injuries often develop over time, so it’s crucial to report symptoms to your employer as soon as you notice them and seek medical attention to document the injury.
Do I Need to Report My Injury to My Employer Immediately?
Yes, it’s essential to report your injury to your employer as soon as possible, ideally on the same day it occurs. Florida law requires that you report the injury within 30 days, or you risk losing your right to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Prompt reporting ensures that your employer can initiate the claims process without unnecessary delays.
How Does a Pre-existing Condition Affect My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
A pre-existing condition can complicate a workers’ compensation claim, but it doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from receiving benefits. If your work aggravated or worsened the pre-existing condition, you may still be eligible for compensation.
It’s important to provide detailed medical evidence to support the connection between your job and the exacerbation of your condition.
Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits If I Was Partially at Fault for My Injury?
Yes, in Florida, you can still receive workers’ compensation benefits even if you were partially at fault for your injury. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning you don’t have to prove that your employer was negligent to receive benefits.
However, certain actions, like being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the injury, could disqualify you from receiving benefits.
Contact Our Skilled Clearwater Workers’ Compensation Lawyers For a FREE Consultation
Some employers and insurance providers make it difficult for injury victims to recover workers’ compensation benefits. You do not have to deal with an uncooperative insurance company alone. Let our WorkInjuryRights attorneys help you recover the workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to while you focus on your recovery.
Our attorneys in Clearwater, Florida have extensive experience successfully representing clients and recovering the settlement they deserve. If the insurance company denies your claim or offers you a subpar settlement, our expert trial attorneys are ready to take your case to trial and represent you.
Call us at 954-829-7077 for a FREE case review.