Florida law protects workers who are injured on the job or develop an illness in the course of their employment. If you were hurt or developed a work-related illness, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits through your employer.
Workers’ compensation benefits include medical benefits to ensure you receive treatment as well as disability benefits that replace part of your lost wages. If you lost a loved one, you may qualify for death benefits.
Get legal assistance from a workers’ compensation lawyer in Country Club, FL by calling the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733.
Qualifying for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers who sustain injuries on the job or develop an injury or illness due to workplace exposure generally qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Injured workers must meet these criteria to qualify for benefits:
- Be an employee
- Employer must carry workers’ compensation insurance
- Suffer an injury in an on-the-job accident or while performing job duties or develop an injury or illness due to a work-related exposure
- Report the injury or condition to the employer or supervisor within 30 days
- See employer- and insurance-approved medical providers
Further, if you were in a work accident or exposed to a condition at work that worsened an existing injury, you may still qualify for workers’ compensation benefits for the worsening of your injury.
Let us help you establish that you meet all the requirements for workers’ compensation benefits. Give us a call today: 1-800-747-3733.
Employers That Must Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Most employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance:
- Non-construction employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have at least four full- or part-time employees.
- Construction employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have at least one employee, including the employer him/herself.
- Farmers must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have more than five regular employees and/or at least 12 other workers for seasonal labor that lasts at least 30 days.
- State and local governments must carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation benefits generally fall under three categories:
- Medical benefits
- Disability benefits (lost wages)
- Death benefits
Medical Benefits Under Workers’ Compensation
Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover all medical treatment required for your work-related injury or illness. This includes:
- oHHospital care and hospitalization
- Doctor visits
- Medical testing
- Medication (prescription drugs)
- Physical therapy
- Protheses
- Attendant care
- Mileage reimbursement to travel for medical care
Disability Benefits Under Workers’ Compensation
Disability benefits fall under four categories:
- Temporary total disability: Covers two-thirds of your regular pay if you are unable to work due to a work-related injury or illness. In some cases, you may qualify for up to 80 percent of regular wages for up to six months.
- Temporary partial disability: Covers a portion of lost wages if you are released to return to work but with restrictions and you cannot earn at least 80 percent of your regular wages.
- Impairment income benefits: Covers a portion of your lost wages if you reached Maximum Medical Improvement and you have permanent work restrictions and an impairment rating.
- Permanent total disability: Covers a portion of lost wages if you will never be able to work again due to your work-related injury or illness.
Death Benefits Under Workers’ Compensation
If your loved one died due to a work-related injury or illness within a year of the accident or five years of continuous disability, you may qualify to recover death benefits of:
- $7,500 for funeral expenses
- Compensation for defendants
- Educational benefits for the surviving spouse
There is a maximum of $150,000 for death benefits.
Fighting for All the Workers’ Compensation Benefits You Deserve
Do not let your employer’s insurance company take advantage of you. Some insurance companies may wrongly deny a claim, blame injuries on preexisting conditions, refuse to cover certain medical treatment, or downplay the severity of the worker’s injuries.
For help fighting for all the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve, call a workers’ compensation lawyer in Country Club, FL from our firm.
Our team can:
- Prove your injury or illness is work-related
- Appeal a denied workers’ compensation claim
- Make sure workers’ compensation covers all required medical care
- Argue for an accurate disability rating
- Fight back against inaccurate medical assessments of your injury or illness
- Refute insurance company assertions that an injury or illness is preexisting
- And more
If you need help with a workers’ compensation case, our workers’ compensation team can help.
Other Legal Options Following a Work-Related Injury or Illness
You generally cannot sue your employer. However, if a third party caused your work injury or illness, you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit.
For example, if you became injured or ill due to a defective product, the manufacturer may be liable for your injuries or illness. Similarly, if you were in a construction accident due to the negligence of another contractor on the site, you may have grounds to take legal action against that contractor.
Types of third parties that may be liable in a third-party lawsuit stemming from a work injury include:
- Property owners
- Product manufacturers
- Contractors
- Drivers (for work-related vehicle accidents)
A third-party lawsuit may allow you to recover further damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- All lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Other injury or illness-related damages
Similarly, if you lost a loved one in a work-related accident or due to a work-related illness and another party is responsible for the fatal injury or illness, you may qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Discuss your eligibility to file a lawsuit with a work injury attorney at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine.
Get Help from a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Country Club, FL
If you were hurt at work or developed a work-related illness, call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for help with your case. A workers’ compensation attorney will fight for the full benefits that you deserve and can help with other work-related legal action.
Call 1-800-747-3733 for a free consultation about your case with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Country Club, FL.
We Can Help.
