Workers' Compensation Attorney Florida

Serious injuries, illnesses, and fatalities can occur at any workplace. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that their employees are provided with a safe working environment. Employers in Florida must have workers’ compensation insurance in most cases for covering on-the-job injuries.

Compensation Denial Construction Accidents Unsafe Workplace Compensation Claims Permanent Disability Healthcare & Medical Workers' Comp Navigating a Workers' Comp Claim

You can obtain coverage for your medical bills and lost wages if injured during work. Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t readily release the claim amount or may attempt to deny or diminish your worker’s comp claim. The accomplished Tampa workers’ compensation attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett have the skills, experience, and resources to take on large insurance companies and employers to help you obtain the maximum workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.

Workers' Compensation is a No-Fault Insurance in Florida

You don’t need to worry about having your claim denied because of your carelessness that led to the injury. In Florida, workers’ compensation insurance ignores fault. It only focuses on where the incident took place. You could have your injuries covered by workers’ compensation insurance if the accident occurred while you were performing your duties.

This is true even if the accident was due to your fault. Injured workers may be delighted to realize that insurance companies don’t care about assigning blame; however, this doesn’t mean they are happy about releasing fair compensation for your injuries. In addition, your injuries may result from an employer or third-party negligence.

You should speak with a capable workers’ compensation attorney to understand your rights and ways to maximize compensation if you are injured at the workplace. The attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett will do everything possible to help you achieve the outcome you are looking for.

Workers' Compensation Law at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett

Common Reasons for Workplace Injuries in Florida

An injury can occur at any type of workplace:

A restaurant
A construction site
An office
A factory
Any other site where individuals are working hard at earning a living

These are a few reasons for accidents to occur at a worksite:

Unsafe working conditions
Failure to follow proper procedures
Faulty or defective parts or products
Inadequate supervision and training
Negligent subcontractor
Involvement in a car accident while performing a work-related duty
Faulty or defective machinery or parts

Workers’ Compensation Laws in Florida

In Florida, most employers must provide their employees with workers’ compensation. This is for those employees that get injured on the job. Workers’ compensation reimburses medical bills and lost wages if an employee cannot resume responsibilities due to work-related injuries.

You should know that workers are also eligible to sue a third party if injured due to someone else’s negligence. This is in addition to filing a claim for compensation with workers’ compensation insurance provider and Social Security. You should contact our proven and knowledgeable workers’ comp attorneys in Tampa at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett if this seems too confusing and you need help getting the compensation you are entitled to.

Man sitting at a desk and holding his wrist in pain.

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Florida Workers’ Comp Claim

Injured employees generally have two years to file a workers’ compensation claim from the accident date. Based on this, you must complete several other tasks within that timeframe. This makes it fundamental for you to take the necessary steps early, or you may risk jeopardizing your right to benefits. If you were injured at work, you should not delay reporting the accident to your employer.

Employees usually have only 30 days from the date of the injury in a typical workplace to report the injury to their employer. However, they may have up to 90 days in case of occupational exposure. Your workers’ compensation claim may get denied if you fail to inform your employer of your work-related injury in this timeframe.

Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits You Can Claim

The severity of your work-related injury dictates the type of benefits you are eligible for. You may be able to collect the following types of benefits under Florida Statutes § 440.15:

Temporary partial disability: This benefit is for people that sustained a minor injury and can work to some extent
Temporary total disability: This type of benefit is for workers that are unable to work because of their injury
Permanent partial disability: These benefits are awarded if your injuries are severe but allow you to work to some extent
Permanent total disability: This benefit if for covering your expenses if you are unable to work in any capacity following a major incident

You can use workers’ compensation benefits for the following:

Doctor visits
Transportation costs to the pharmacy and your doctor appointments
Lost wages, benefits, tips, and bonuses

You can also seek job retraining as part of your benefits, which the State covers. You can apply for a vocational evaluation with the Division of Workers’ Compensation.

You are in the Hands of a Fighter: Get Legal Representation from Our Proven Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Our highly rated Tampa workers’ comp attorneys at Carlson Meissner & Hayslett have a history of successfully advocating for their client’s rights. Our legal team will leave no stone unturned to get the benefits you deserve through workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, and a personal injury lawsuit. To schedule your free case review with our lawyers, contact us at (727) 306-0273 or online.