Have you sustained an injury at your workplace in Florida? Did you know that the law stipulates that as long as you are in a company with at least 3 employees, you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits? This means that if you’re injured while on the job, you are eligible for lost wages and medical expenses coverage, as you recuperate.
Understanding the workers’ compensation claims process in Fort Lauderdale is difficult. At Work Injury Rights, we help navigate you through that process. Workers’ compensation or workers’ comp is a type of coverage that was designed to work in employees’ favor, and not punish their employers or other parties.
In reality, however, it can be hard for the average worker to know whether or not their injury qualifies for compensation. This is particularly true, given that some employers and insurance carriers may attempt to downplay the extent of injuries and even deny them entirely. After all, they get to save a lot of money if your claim is denied.
If you have sustained an injury while doing your job, a seasoned Fort Lauderdale workers’ comp lawyer can help you establish if you have a compensable injury case. Our team has been in the industry for years and has handled similar cases, numbering in the hundreds.
There are numerous law firms in the city, but Work Injury Rights prides itself in putting our clients’ interests first and ascertaining they get the maximum applicable compensation. To take the hurdle of the workers’ compensation claims process in Fort Lauderdale off your shoulders, reach out by calling our offices at 954-388-8616.
How to Tell if Your Injury will be Covered by a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Most injuries sustained while on the clock are eligible for compensation via the workers’ comp insurance policy. These include exposure to toxic fumes and dangerous materials, collisions and crashes, muscle strains, slip and falls, cuts and lacerations, fights, exposure to loud noise, etc.
Here is a closer look at some of the most common claims that qualify for workers’ compensation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
Slip and Falls
Slips and falls tend to happen due to slippery or wet floors as a result of spills and routine cleaning. You might be eligible for compensation if you can prove you didn’t cause the accident or it wasn’t as a result of your negligence.
Auto Accidents
Did you know that auto accidents are the leading cause of workplace deaths in the country? These accidents can involve varying types of vehicles from garbage trucks and tractor-trailers to delivery trucks, passenger cars, and even emergency response vehicles. If you’ve been involved in an auto accident while at work, you may be eligible for lost wages and medical benefits.
Machine-Related Injuries
Machine-related injuries occur often either due to accidental situations or faulty equipment. Power tools and heavy equipment can cause an array of accidents including amputations, broken bones, lacerations, electrical burns, crushed limbs, etc.
Repetitive Motion & Overexertion
Doing the same motion day in day out can lead to permanent or temporary injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.
Industrial Accidents
These include building collapses and fires at the office, leading to many types of injuries like cuts, burns, broken limbs, etc. Thus the eligibility for compensation.
Falling Objects
Items that usually fall range from huge items like steel beams, roof trusses, fasteners, small hand tools, etc. The force from falling objects can result in strains, sprains, bruises, fractures, and even death.
While most workplace injuries often happen in dangerous work environments like factories, any workplace injury, even if it happened on a desk job is eligible for compensation. However, your injury may not lead to a valid claim if:
- It occurred for not following the safety rules
- It happened while you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- You were not wearing the provided safety attire and tools
- You were engaging in a non-work-related fight
- You provided untrue information in order to get compensation.
In order to determine the validity of your workers’ compensation claim, it is best to consult an experienced lawyer. The team at Work Injury Rights will be able to provide solid advice and recommendations on how to proceed with the workers’ compensation claims process in Fort Lauderdale.
How Long Do I Have to Initiate a Workers’ Compensation Claims Process in Fort Lauderdale?
According to Florida’s Workers Comp Act, you need to file a claim within two years after the date of the work-related injury. If this period passes and no claim is filed, the statute of limitations will expire and your employer or their insurance company will have legal grounds to deny your claim.
The state ideally has a secondary statute of limitations. If you were injured and received medical treatment and financial benefits, but they end without completing the necessary treatments or employer obligations, then you have one year from the final payment to file a claim.
Also, keep in mind that you have 30 days from the date of injury to notify your employer, preferably in writing. Work Injury Rights attorneys can help you navigate the often complicated workers’ compensation claims process in Fort Lauderdale.
How Do I Start the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process in Fort Lauderdale?
You start the process by filing and submitting the WC-14 Form with the State’s Board of Workers’ Compensation. Next, you’ll have to submit a copy of the same to your boss and their insurance carrier. You can get this form from Florida’s State Board of Workers’ COmpensation website.
In case your injury calls for medical attention, your employer is obligated to give you a list of authorized practitioners who can help you. Their insurance provider should subsequently pay for the authorized medical treatment.
The process of filing a workers’ compensation claim in Florida is by no means complicated. However, some employers and insurance companies can’t always be trusted to play their roles. As such, it is in your best interest to have a competent workers’ comp lawyer by your side.
The team at Work Injury Rights is competent enough to do our part in guiding you and handling all the necessary paperwork that is part of the workers’ compensation claims process in Fort Lauderdale to ensure the best outcome for your claim.
Call Our Trusted Lawyers for Help with the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process in Fort Lauderdale Today
In the unfortunate event that you sustain an injury or fall sick while on the clock, you may be eligible for medical and financial benefit from your employer. As you focus on recuperating, you will need the best available legal representation and our team is always available to help you in every aspect including the claims process.
Reach out to the workers compensation attorneys at Work Injury Rights by calling our offices at 954-388-8616 and we’ll guide you through the complex workers’ compensation claims process in Fort Lauderdale.
