Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Workplace accidents can occur in any industry and any setting, from construction sites to office buildings. When a serious injury keeps you from being able to do your job, it’s understandable to worry about medical costs, missing out on paychecks, and possible retaliation from your employer for pursuing financial compensation.

Workers’ compensation in Florida is meant to provide you with peace of mind and keep you afloat financially while you are recovering.

Berlin Law Firm Serves Our Injured Workers

The attorneys at Berlin Law Firm are here to stand up for the rights of injured workers in Florida. With over 30 years of experience in this complex legal field, we’ll guide you step by step through the process to make sure you get the full amount of workers comp that you are owed. We are dedicated to handling your claim effectively and swiftly so that you can focus fully on your recovery and getting back to work.

In our pursuit of justice on our clients’ behalf, we can help with the following:

• If your employer denies your claim, we can help you appeal and then represent you in court.
• We can help you obtain damages for lost wages.
• Obtain the medical care you need and deserve.

Benefits and Entitlements of Injured Workers in Florida

In Florida, all employers are required to purchase and maintain workers’ compensation insurance as long as they have four or more employees.  If the employer is in the construction industry, they are required to have workers’ compensation insurance even if only one employee.

Many workers who are injured on the job and reach out to Berlin Law Firm express concern that they may have been partially responsible for the accident. However, Florida is a no-fault state for workers’ compensation insurance, meaning that you can still recover benefits under workers’ compensation even if the injury was completely your fault. As long as you were not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of your accident and you were not acting with malicious intent, your injury should be covered.

Not only does workers’ compensation cover serious injuries suffered while on the job, but it also covers cumulative injuries, events, and conditions. For example, you may work in a contaminated or toxic work environment that gradually causes debilitating medical conditions that may not be discovered for years.

While some injuries incurred outside of work will not be covered, others will be. For example, if you were driving a company car on your way to pitch a new innovation to a client, workers’ compensation could cover an injury sustained in a car crash. These cases can be complex, so it is always best to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.

If you are injured while on the job, you may face a lengthy recovery process in which your capacity to return to the workforce is limited or even completely restricted.

Some of the benefits that workers’ compensation may pay you include:

• Your medical costs
• Bills for rehabilitation
• Prescription drugs
• A portion of your lost wages
• Necessary travel expenses incurred while pursuing treatment for your injuries
• Two-thirds of your average weekly wage, with a cap of $575 per week, which is referred to as your income loss replacement benefit
• If the physician authorized to treat you under the plan issues a disability rating in compliance with the guidelines of the American Medical Association, you may be eligible for Permanent Partial Disability

Claims Process Overview

The stress, confusion, and fear surrounding a workplace injury can be intense. Knowing what to expect during the workers’ compensation claims process may help provide you some peace of mind. Here is a general overview of what to expect here in Florida:

• The first step is, if your injuries allow, to report the accident to your employer. Our lawyers at Berlin Law Firm strongly recommend that you make this report in writing and make sure to date the document. Florida law gives you 30 days in which to report the accident, but the sooner you can report it, the better. Witnesses to the accident will have a more accurate recollection of what they observed in the immediate aftermath of the accident, and your employer can provide you with a list of doctors that are included in the workers’ compensation network.
• Your employer is then required to file a “First Report of Injury or Illness” form within 10 days of your report.
• You will typically receive a phone call from the insurance company within 24 hours of reporting your accident to the insurance company.
• You will obtain an Independent Medical Examination (IME), which is a crucial part of the claims process, where an approved medical provider will confirm that yours was a workplace injury and diagnose the extent of your injury.
• Until told otherwise, you are still an employee of your employer. Even if you cannot work, make sure that you check in with your employer to provide regular updates about your condition.
• If your employer denies your claim for workers’ compensation, you have the right to appeal. Our Florida workers’ compensation lawyers can help present your best case to contest this denial of benefits and ensure that you meet all legal deadlines. Contact us for a free consultation.
• Mediation will then be held with the goal of resolving any lingering disputes, and the judge will then make a ruling. If this ruling is unfavorable to you, you have the option of appealing again, with this resembling more of a trial setting. At the conclusion of this appeal, the judge will make a ruling within 30 days, but even this ruling can be appealed if desired.

Injury Types Covered by Workers’ Compensation Insurance

As you can imagine, some work injuries may be relatively mild, others are more serious, and others may be life-altering. Here are some types of injuries commonly sustained in workplace accidents:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), such as a concussion
• Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries including herniated discs
• Severe burns
• Debilitating cuts and lacerations
• Broken or fractured bones
• Electrical shock
• Loss of hearing and/or eyesight
• Amputations
• Paralysis
• Wrongful death

Call for a Free Consultation

At Berlin Law Firm, our experienced attorneys have represented injured workers here in Florida for nearly 30 years. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial trauma our clients and their family may be experiencing, and we take pride in fighting for their rights.

If you have been injured while on the job, please call Berlin Law Firm today to schedule a zero-cost, zero-obligation consultation.