- Workers' Compensation
Nobody expects to get injured at work. On the day of your workplace accident, you probably left home thinking about nothing but getting back home at the end of the day. Unfortunately, our Boca Raton workers’ comp lawyers have seen many people just like you end up disabled after a workplace injury.
Your Boca Raton Workers’ Comp Attorney Will Help You Get Workers’ Comp Benefits
In the days and weeks following your workplace accident, your workers’ compensation lawyer in Boca Raton will help you file your workers’ compensation claim.
Ideally, your claim will be approved and you will receive benefits.
If, however, your claim is denied for some reason, your workers’ compensation lawyer in Boca Raton may have to file an appeal on your behalf.
You Must First Qualify for Benefits
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you must meet certain criteria. Essentially, you will need to demonstrate that your injuries were caused by a workplace accident.
There are many requirements, including the following.
- Your accident must take place on company time.
- Most workers’ comp cases involve injuries on company property.
- If you’re hurt while working remotely or driving for a work errand, you can still get benefits.
- Your injury must have occurred during the normal scope of your employment.
- You must report your injury within 30 days of the date of your accident.
- You must submit to a drug test, and it must not come back positive.
- You must agree to be treated by an approved workers’ compensation physician.
- You must comply with your doctor’s treatment regimen.
As long as you meet these criteria, there is a good chance your workers’ compensation claim will be approved.
If Approved, You’ll Receive Two Types of Benefits
Once your claim is approved, your workers’ compensation lawyer in Boca Raton will make sure that you receive the benefits you deserve.
In Florida, you will be entitled to two main types of benefits under workers’ compensation. The first benefit is that your medical care will be covered by your employer’s insurance carrier.
Your second benefit will be weekly replacement wages that you will continue to receive until you return to work.
Your Medical Treatment Will Be Covered by Workers’ Compensation
As briefly stated above, if you’re approved for workers’ compensation, any medical treatment related to your workplace accident will be covered by insurance. You will not be expected to pay out-of-pocket for the costs associated with your workplace injuries.
As long as you are treated by an approved workers’ compensation doctor, you should not have any problems. However, if you seek treatment from your primary physician or any other doctor, your treatment will not be covered by insurance.
Your Employer’s Insurance Carrier Will Be Responsible for Any Medical Bills
One thing your workers’ compensation lawyer in Boca Raton will make sure of is that you’re not paying for any medical bills yourself. The reason workers’ compensation exists is to make sure that employees are taken care of should they get injured on the job.
You should not be responsible for things like prescription medications, hospital bills, or physical therapy. If you are sent a bill for any of these services, make sure you let your workers’ compensation lawyer in Boca Raton know immediately.
At Some Point, the Doctor Will Determine That You’ve Reached Maximum Medical Improvement
After some time, your workers’ comp doctor will declare that you have achieved something called maximum medical improvement. What this means is that you have reached a point at which no further medical care will benefit you.
Maximum medical improvement does not mean that you are 100% recovered. It simply means that any further treatment would be futile. Shortly after this happens, you will see another doctor to determine your percentage of disability.
What is Maximum Medical Improvement?
After your doctor declares that you’ve reached maximum medical improvement, you’ll be scheduled for an independent medical examination. This is where a doctor will review your case and examine you.
By the end of your assessment, the doctor will indicate which body parts are still injured and what percent of that body part is considered disabled.
For example, if you injured your back at work, an independent doctor would examine your back and determine how badly it has been damaged. They may say that your back is 50% disabled. They would do the same thing for any other body part that was injured during your workplace accident.
Your Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Boca Raton Can Get a Second Opinion
If your workers’ compensation lawyer in Boca Raton does not agree with the independent doctor’s findings, they do have the option of getting a second opinion.
Depending on what the second doctor says, your disability rating may be changed somewhat. Once your disability rating has been decided, your workers’ compensation lawyer in Boca Raton can start to negotiate your settlement.
You May Need to Apply for Disability Benefits if You Cannot Work
If your independent medical examination reveals a disability rating anywhere higher than 70% or 80%, you may be declared permanently disabled. Of course, it depends on which body part you injured.
If your injuries were serious, you may end up on disability for the rest of your life. This will depend on whether you meet the strict criteria for disability. If not, your workers’ compensation lawyer in Boca Raton will do their best to negotiate a settlement that will compensate you for your disability.
Your Boca Raton Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Will Help You Through the Process
If you suffer a debilitating injury at work, there is a good chance you may be permanently disabled after the fact. Our Boca Raton workers’ compensation attorneys have helped hundreds of clients settle workers’ comp cases.
If you are unable to work after you’re treated for your work-related injuries, you deserve workers’ comp benefits for permanent disability.
Our Firm Offers New Clients a Free, Initial Consultation
We recommend that anybody who’s hurt on the job contact our office the same day as their accident if possible. We do offer new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to sit down with one of our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Boca Raton.
Your attorney will review your case and let you know what your best options are. Since the initial meeting is free of charge, you have nothing to lose.
