What Does Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cover?
While most people go to work simply trying to earn a living, things don’t always go smoothly and, unfortunately, workers sometimes get more than they bargained for. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 300 workers were fatally injured in Florida in 2017 alone. For this reason, every worker should understand Florida’s workers’ compensation statute and exactly what benefits it affords injured workers.
What is Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Statute?
Generally speaking, anyone who is injured at their workplace while working in the scope of his or her employment is generally entitled to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. This no-fault system does not require injured workers to demonstrate that an employer was negligent in order to receive benefits. Therefore, in comparison with a personal injury lawsuit, workers’ compensation benefits are theoretically more straightforward to obtain. However, battles with an employer’s insurance company can go far from smoothly and therefore, anyone who is hurt at work should obtain the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
The good news for any worker injured in the Sunshine State is that, depending on the circumstances and nature of your injury, Florida’s workers’ compensation statute can be utilized to cover a broad range of your post-accident necessities including expenses such as:
- Emergency room visits and subsequent hospitalization
- Follow-up visits to a doctor
- Medical tests
- Prescription drugs
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
What Should You Do if You Are Injured on the Job?
There are certain actions that you should undertake after a workplace accident in order to help you protect your rights. If you fail to do certain things, you can actually jeopardize your chances of later qualifying for workers’ compensation benefits. For example, you should:
- Alert your manager and file an accident report. Always alert your manager as soon as possible after becoming injured at work. Additionally, even if you don’t think your injuries are serious, ensure that your account of what occurred is documented in an accident report that you are given a copy of.
- Get needed professional medical help. Do not hesitate to pursue medical treatment after a workplace injury even if you think your injuries are minor. In addition to the fact that a doctor can uncover injuries you didn’t immediately notice, waiting can actually prevent you from being able to pursue workers’ compensation benefits altogether.
- Obtain competent legal help. The fact that you likely have a general right to obtain the benefits of workers’ compensation under Florida law does not help you unless you exercise these rights. Reach out to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to discuss the circumstances of your injury and obtain guidance on how to proceed successfully.
Your Options After a Workplace Injury
It is natural to be worried about how to cover your medical bills and costs if you have experienced an injury on the job. You may also be worried about your future and how you will support yourself and your family, especially if you cannot work or have suffered a permanent injury. And even more tragically, if you have lost a loved one due to a workplace accident, you will have to deal with the grief of coping with the death of a family member on top of all these other concerns. While there is no monetary compensation that can heal the pain or loss that a serious workplace injury can cause, you do have the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits to help ease your burden. As the Miami workers’ compensation attorneys at Payer & Associates, we offer the help of an experienced and caring legal team who are available to help you fight for the benefits that you deserve. Begin by reaching out to us today.
Resource:
bls.gov/regions/southeast/news-release/fatalworkinjuries_florida.htm
