Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale You Can Trust
If you’ve suffered a workplace injury in Fort Lauderdale, securing the benefits you deserve under Florida’s workers’ compensation system is crucial. A Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyer can help injured workers navigate the complex claims process. Whether you need wage replacement benefits, medical benefits, or permanent impairment benefits, our experienced workers compensation attorneys are here to advocate for the financial compensation you deserve after a workplace injury.
Call our Fort Lauderdale workers compensation law firm today at 954-388-8616 to schedule a free consultation.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation, often called workers’ comp, is a government-mandated insurance program designed to protect employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. In Fort Lauderdale and throughout Florida, employers are required to carry workers’ compensation coverage to provide injured employees with medical benefits, wage replacement, and other necessary support.
Under this system, workers who are injured on the job can receive compensation without the need to file a lawsuit against their employer. This no-fault coverage provides the financial and medical assistance employees need while allowing businesses to operate smoothly without costly legal disputes.
If you’ve been injured at work in Fort Lauderdale, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. A Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer can help you understand your rights and fight for the full benefits you deserve.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Navigating the workers’ compensation system can be complex, especially when trying to understand all the benefits you’re entitled to receive. At Work Injury Rights, our Fort Lauderdale workers compensation attorneys are here to help you understand the various forms of compensation available to you after a work-related injury.
Medical Expenses Coverage
One of the primary benefits of workers’ compensation is coverage for medical expenses. This includes:
- Doctor Visits: All necessary visits to physicians are covered.
- Hospitalization: Any surgeries or hospital stays required due to the injury.
- Prescription Medications: Coverage for medications prescribed by your doctor.
- Physical Therapy: Necessary rehabilitation services to aid your recovery.
- Medical Equipment: Items such as crutches or wheelchairs that are required for your treatment.
Disability Benefits
When you’re unable to work due to your injury, wage replacement benefits can significantly ease your financial burden. These benefits generally include:
- Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD): If you are entirely unable to work temporarily, you will receive a portion of your lost wages, typically calculated at two-thirds of your average weekly wage.
- Temporary Partial Disability Benefits (TPD): If you can return to work but not at full capacity, you may receive benefits to cover two-thirds of the difference between your current earnings and your pre-injury wages.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Provides benefits if you suffer a permanent impairment but can still work in some capacity.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Offered if you’re permanently unable to return to any form of gainful employment.
Additional Benefits
Besides medical and wage replacement benefits, workers’ compensation may also cover:
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Services that help injured workers return to gainful employment, including training for a new job.
- Mileage Reimbursement: Compensation for travel expenses to and from medical appointments.
- Death Benefits: In the unfortunate event of a fatal work-related incident, death benefits are available to help cover funeral expenses and provide financial support to the dependents.
What to Do After a Work Injury in Fort Lauderdale
Suffering a work injury in Fort Lauderdale can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. Knowing the right steps to take can significantly impact your workers’ compensation claim. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what to do if you’ve sustained a work-related injury.
Take Photographs
If possible, take clear photos of your injury and the accident scene. Visual evidence can be extremely beneficial if the insurance company claims your injury is not work-related.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Your health and safety are paramount. Seek medical assistance right away to assess and treat your injuries. Ensure the treating physician records your condition accurately, which can be crucial for your workers’ compensation claim.
Report the Injury to Your Employer
It is essential to inform your employer about the workplace injury as soon as possible. According to Florida work injury lawyers, failing to report within 30 days can jeopardize your claim.
- Notify Your Supervisor: Inform your direct supervisor or manager about your injury. Ensure they understand the seriousness of the incident.
- Follow Up in Writing: Submit a written report detailing the incident. Include as much information as possible to assist with the workers’ compensation claim process.
Document Everything
Maintain a detailed record of the injury and symptoms. Include dates, times, and names of anyone involved. This documentation can serve as vital evidence for your workers’ compensation attorney.
File a Workers’ Comp Claim With a Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Enlisting the help of a Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation attorney can be invaluable. They can assist with:
- Filing Your Claim: Ensure all paperwork is accurately completed and submitted within the statutory deadlines.
- Handling Insurance Companies: Experienced compensation attorneys will deal with the insurance companies on your behalf, ensuring your rights are protected.
- Legal Representation: If your claim is denied or disputes arise, your Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyer will represent you in court.
Following these steps and getting legal assistance from an attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your workers’ compensation claim. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact a Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer at Work Injury Rights for a free consultation.
Why You Need a Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Attorney
When you suffer a work-related injury, navigating the complexities of Florida’s workers’ compensation system can be daunting. Having an experienced Fort Lauderdale workers compensation attorney by your side can make all the difference in ensuring that you receive the compensation and benefits you deserve.
Here’s why enlisting the help of a Fort Lauderdale workers comp lawyer is crucial:
Expertise in Florida Workers’ Compensation Law
Our Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation attorneys at Work Injury Rights are well-versed in Florida’s workers’ compensation laws. This expertise allows us to effectively navigate the legal intricacies and advocate for your rights.
Filing Your Workers' Comp Claim
Properly filing a workers’ comp claim involves detailed paperwork and strict adherence to deadlines. Our attorneys will guide you through each step, ensuring all forms are accurately completed and submitted on time.
Maximizing Your Compensation
Insurers and employers often prioritize their own interests, which can result in lower compensation for injured workers. A dedicated Fort Lauderdale workers’ comp lawyer pursues the maximum benefits available under the law, including coverage for medical expenses, wage replacement, and disability benefits.
Protecting Your Rights after a Work Injury
Employers may pressure you to return to your job before you’ve healed from a work injury. A Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer protects your rights and can explain how to handle challenges like this.
Handling Claim Denials and Appeals
If your workers’ compensation claim is denied, it’s not the end of the road. Our Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyers have significant experience managing appeals and disputes. We will gather and present the necessary evidence, represent you in hearings, and fight tirelessly to overturn denied claims.
Legal Representation in Complex Cases
Some workplace injuries involve third parties or particularly complex circumstances. In such cases, legal representation is indispensable. Our Fort Lauderdale work injury lawyers will investigate all aspects of your case, identify liable parties, and pursue any additional legal actions necessary.
Common Workplace Accident Injuries
Workplace injuries vary depending on the type of job, but some injuries occur more frequently than others. Here are the most common:
Back and Neck Injuries
Often caused by car accidents, falling objects, or repetitive heavy lifting, these injuries can lead to long-term discomfort and mobility issues.
Burns
Employees working with kilns, ovens, radiation, or corrosive chemicals are at risk of severe burns.
Fractures
Falls, vehicle accidents, and repetitive tasks can lead to broken bones, significantly impacting an employee’s ability to work.
Amputations and Loss of Limbs
Handling heavy machinery or large cutting tools increases the risk of traumatic amputations.
Hearing Loss
Continuous exposure to high noise levels without proper hearing protection can lead to permanent damage.
Joint Pain
Jobs requiring repetitive movements or heavy lifting frequently result in chronic joint pain.
Slip, Trip & Fall Injuries
These accidents often cause fractures, dislocations, and other musculoskeletal injuries.
Construction Accidents
Some of the most severe workplace injuries occur on construction sites, leading to head trauma, broken bones, and even paralysis.
Work-Related Car Accidents
Employees injured while traveling for job-related duties may suffer from a range of injuries.
Cuts & Lacerations
Working with sharp tools or machinery increases the likelihood of deep cuts, which may lead to infections or permanent damage.
If you’ve been injured on the job, a Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer can help determine whether your injury qualifies for compensation.
Contact Work Injury Rights today at 954-388-8616 to discuss your case.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Fort Lauderdale Workers Compensation Lawyer?
Our Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyers at Work Injury Rights, just like most other workers’ comp attorneys in Florida, work on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t pay anything until your case is closed and benefits awarded. After the award, a percentage of it is used as lawyer fees.
Florida law caps this at 20% for the first $5,000, 15% for the next $5,000, and 10% for the remaining benefits received in the first ten years from the date of filing the claim, and 5% of the remaining benefits received after 10 years.
What Should I Do if My Workers’ Compensation Claim is Denied?
If your workers’ comp claim is denied by your employer or their insurance carrier, you will receive a Notice of Denial from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. If this is the case, you have a right to file a Petition for Benefits with the Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims (OJCC).
If mediation efforts are unsuccessful, you and your employer’s insurance carrier (or their defense team) will appear before the OJCC, and a judge will listen to both sides of the case and decide, within 30 days, whether to award you benefits or not.
Having your claim denied might reduce your chances of receiving benefits, and it is important that you work with an experienced Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyer to have your claim approved as early as possible.
Fort Lauderdale Workers Compensation Lawyer Frequently Asked Questions
What Responsibility Does the Employee Have When Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim?
Employees who are injured on the job are required to fulfill certain responsibilities through the workers’ comp claims process.
These responsibilities include:
- Report the work-related injury to the employer within 30 days of the accident.
- File a workers’ comp claim within 2 years from the date of the accident.
- Seek reasonable medical care from the recommended doctor.
- Submit to a drug test if the employer requests one when investigating your work-related injury.
- Accept a job recommended by the treating physician if you can return to work before reaching maximum medical improvement.
- Keep the employer updated on important issues like your likely date of return and doctor’s recommendations.
Hiring an experienced Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyer can ensure that all of these steps have been followed.
What Responsibility Does the Employer Have in the Workers’ Compensation Process?
Under Florida laws, employers have the following responsibilities in the workers’ comp process:
- Send the injured worker to an approved doctor to receive medical care.
- Investigate the workplace accident that caused the employee’s injury.
- Report the employee’s injury to their insurance carrier within the statutory period (not later than 7 days after learning of the injury).
If your employer has failed to fulfill their responsibilities following your work injury, get in touch with one of our Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyer to discuss your options.
Can I Be Fired for a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
By law, Florida employers can’t fire their employees for filing a workers’ comp claim. Employees are protected against unfair termination or any form of retaliation as a result of filing a workers’ compensation claim.
If you think you were terminated as a result of a work injury claim, contact our Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyers to find out your legal options and how best to move forward.
Is there a Time Limit to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
In Florida, workers’ comp claims should be filed within 2 years from the date of the accident. Failure to observe the statute of limitations can cause your claim to be denied.
Can I Sue My Employer for a Work Accident?
In most cases, Florida employees do not have the right to sue their employers for work-related injuries. Instead, injured workers can receive benefits through workers’ compensation. However, workers may be able to sue an employer who doesn’t have the required workers’ compensation insurance.
You should speak to a Fort Lauderdale workers compensation lawyer to understand your rights after a workplace injury.
Can an Independent Contractor File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
In Florida, independent contractors are not covered by workers’ compensation and can’t receive benefits if they are injured while on the job. However, workers who should be considered employees are sometimes misclassified as independent contractors. If you think you may qualify to receive benefits, call our Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyers to review your case free of charge.
Call A Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation
If you suffer a work-related injury or illness, Florida workers’ compensation covers medical bills and a percentage of lost wages. However, the process can be overwhelming. An experienced Florida workers’ compensation lawyer can handle your workers’ comp claim, ensuring that everything is done correctly and on time.
If you’re an employee in Fort Lauderdale and have been injured while on the clock, call Work Injury Rights today at 954-388-8616 to schedule a consultation to find out your rights and possible benefits.
