When you are hurt on the job, you and your family should be primarily focused on your health and rehabilitation. The last thing you need to worry about is whether or not you are being fully compensated for your injury due to intimidation or misinformation from your employer’s insurance company. Unfortunately, many victims of work-related accidents are often left with a painful injury, mounting medical bills, a hostile work environment and insufficient or delayed benefits.
Injuries on the job are all too common in Florida, and workers who find themselves in a work-related accident have a legal right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. Because taking action by yourself can become a daunting and complicated task, it is often wise to consult with a workers’ compensation attorney in your community who is knowledgeable in workers’ compensation law.
The workers’ compensation system was established to safeguard employees who have been injured on the job by providing them with benefits. Although the level of benefits differs in each state, in general, workers’ compensation provides for the following:
• payment of medical and rehabilitation expenses, including doctors’ bills and hospital fees, medication charges, and rehabilitation therapy
• income replacement for disabled workers
• lump-sum payments for workers who are left with permanent partial disabilities
• survivors’ benefits if workers are killed (usually include both income replacement and a lump-sum payment to cover funeral expenses)
Although the workers’ compensation system is generally associated with providing benefits to employees, it actually functions as providing significant benefits to both employees and their employers. As discussed previously, an employee who is hurt at work can use this system as a way to receive immediate medical care for his or her work-related injuries or disability and receive compensation for lost wages. Likewise, the direct employer of the hurt individual is benefitted by workers’ compensation insurance because the system looks to compensation of these costs from the employer’s insurance company. Thus, the employer himself will not be hailed into court for payment of damages, and are free to continue conducting business as normal.
As a result, workers’ compensation insurance acts as an exclusive remedy to the injured employee; he or she can only receive benefits under workers’ compensation law and are (for the most part) prohibited from directly suing his or her employer.
Employees who are injured on the job and can no longer work as a result of those injuries need a safety net. Workers’ compensation law functions as the net, allowing workers to quickly receive pay so their families are not financially devastated by their injuries.
When individuals are involved in a work-related accident, they are often faced with many uncertainties in regards to their rights and future employment situation. Below, we hope to provide you with assurance as we answer our most common questions regarding worker’s compensation claims:
Common Definitions You May See During Your Worker’s Compensation Claim
A Quick Introduction: What is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
What Benefits are Typically Available Under Workers’ Compensation?
What Should I Do if I am Injured on the Job?
Helpful Hints for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
If I am receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits, But Return to Work, Do I Maintain Those Benefits?
What Types of Injuries or Illnesses are Covered Under Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Who Pays for Workers’ Compensation Coverage?
What Happens if My Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits is Denied?
Can I Receive Other Benefits While Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
How Easy is it to Return to Work After Being Injured and Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
What is Workers’ Compensation Rehabilitation?
What are the Workers’ Compensation Requirements My Employer Needs to Have?
What is an Employee’s Exclusive Remedy?
What if My Employer Does Not Comply with Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Requirements?
What is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim and What Happens Next?
What Are My Responsibilities After Being Injured On the Job?
Are Injuries Caused by Non-Traditional Work Accidents Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?
What Are The Regulations Mandated by OSHA?
At Rue & Ziffra, P.A., we know that being injured at work is both a complicated and overwhelming experience for you and your family. In the aftermath of the work-related accident, victims are confronted with intricate rules and laws, countless unknowns, and an unrelenting fight against his or her employer in regards to receiving compensation for injuries.
We sincerely hope that this information has aided you in your time of need. However, we do realize that the above questions and answers are just the beginning. This is why our attorneys want you to know that you don’t have to be left in the dark in your time of need – there are legal professionals here that are knowledgeable and prepared to fight for your better interests.
If you or someone close to you has been involved in a work-related accident and is seeking help with a worker’s compensation claim, please contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney now at Rue & Ziffra, P.A. We proudly serve areas throughout and around Volusia County and Flagler County, Florida, including, Port Orange, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Bunnell, Orange City, Sanford, Orlando, and Leesburg.
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