Florida Workers’ Compensation Claims
Dealing with a workplace injury can be overwhelming, but understanding the workers’ compensation process in Florida can significantly ease this burden, as can our Fort Lauderdale work injury lawyer. Here is everything you need to know about filing a workers’ compensation claim in Florida, from the initial steps right through to what benefits you might expect.
- Understanding Florida Workers’ Compensation Laws
Florida’s workers’ compensation laws are designed to provide quick and effective benefits to injured workers. These benefits cover medical care, income replacement, and more, depending on the severity of the injury. It’s important to know that in Florida, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning employees do not need to prove their employer was at fault to receive benefits.
- Eligibility for Filing a Claim
To be eligible for workers’ compensation in Florida, you must be an employee of a company that carries workers’ compensation insurance, and your injury or illness must be work-related. Independent contractors and volunteers might not be eligible under most circumstances.
- Steps to File Your Claim
Important steps of filing your claim include reporting the injury, seeking medical attention, and filing the claim. You must report your injury to your employer within 30 days of the occurrence or within 30 days of discovering it’s work-related. Visit a healthcare provider authorized by your employer or their insurance company. Your employer should report the injury to their insurance company within seven days of notification. The insurance company then files the claim with the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation.
- Types of Benefits Available
After an injury in the workplace, you can potentially recover medical benefits, disability benefits, rehabilitation benefits, death benefits, and more. Medical benefits cover all necessary medical treatments and medications. Disability benefits compensate for lost wages if you are unable to work temporarily or permanently due to your injury. Rehabilitation benefits assist in covering the costs of physical or vocational rehabilitation. Death benefits provide financial support to the dependents of a worker who dies due to a job-related injury.
- What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied
Claims can be denied for various reasons, including disputes over whether the injury is work-related or if the claim was filed late. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision, and you may want to seek legal assistance to navigate the appeal process effectively.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Work Injury Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured on the job, you might need to turn to our skilled Fort Lauderdale, FL work injury lawyer for legal counsel. Workers’ compensation policies are intended to protect employees who sustain injuries while working, but some workers may find that these policies are more confusing than helpful. Injured employees may seek counsel from a lawyer simply because they aren’t sure where to start.
Navigating Florida’s workers’ compensation laws can be daunting. This is where the knowledge and experience of a work injury lawyer becomes invaluable. We are committed to helping our clients understand their rights, the intricacies of their specific cases, and the best course of action to take.
At the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt, we understand that it’s not always easy for injured workers to interpret the complicated forms and documents that are necessary in a workers’ compensation case.
