What You Can Do to Increase the Value of Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Did you know that a worker is injured on-the-job once every seven seconds in this country? That equates to a lot of employees in this country who are hurt every single day while simply trying to make a living. And unfortunately, challenges don’t end at the injury itself. Instead, many injured workers find themselves battling their employer and its insurance company to obtain the benefits that they deserve. This is because even in a world where obtaining benefits should be straightforward, insurance companies make a living off of paying as little as possible no matter the severity of your legitimate workplace injuries. Therefore, you should undertake efforts to protect and maximize your legal rights as early as possible and in order to do properly, it is important to acknowledge actions that can increase the value of a workers’ compensation claim.
Understanding Your Rights Under Florida Law
Fortunately, any employee who is injured at work while working in the scope of employment is generally entitled to the benefits of workers’ compensation under Florida’s workers’ compensation statute. The most noticeable difference between a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim is the fact that pain and suffering damages are typically only a factor in the latter. In other words, that means that following a workplace injury you may be entitled to compensation for your:
- Medical bills
- Prescriptions
- Lost wages
- Other related experiences
Understanding the Risks of Accepting an Offer Too Soon
Unfortunately, there are no second chances when it comes to settling on an offer for workers’ compensation benefits. It is important to note that Florida law doesn’t allow you to reopen your case later on, even if your medical condition unexpectedly gets worse or if you realize that the offer you settled on was a low ball offer that doesn’t properly compensate you for your injuries. Therefore, it is imperative that you get it right the first time.
Understanding How to Maximize Your Claim
- Report your injury. The sooner you report the injury to your manager, the more you increase the chances of your claim being approved and even potentially increasing how much you receive in compensation.
- Seek medical attention quickly. Obtaining medical attention as soon as possible after being injured is essential to maximizing your workers’ compensation claim. In addition to documenting that the injury itself occurred when it did, this also creates a paper trail that can be used to substantiate your claim.
- Don’t stop treatment early. Keep in mind that unfortunately, canceling appointments or stopping treatment prior to when you are advised to by the doctor can make it appear to those deciding your claim that your injuries weren’t really as severe as you claim they are.
- Hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. It is always best to have someone on your side after being injured at work. Obtaining legal help from a team who will fight for your rights can make a world of difference in the outcome of your claim.
Understanding That You Should Contact the Right Attorney
You should never try to handle settlement negotiations on your own after being seriously injured in a workplace incident. As the Miami personal injury attorneys at Payer & Associates, we offer the guidance and experience you need for success with your claim. Contact us today to begin.
Resource:
nsc.org/work-safety/tools-resources/infographics/workplace-injuries
https://www.payerandassociates.com/factory-workers-and-workers-compensation/
