Table of Contents
2. How Much Does PIP Insurance Cover?
3. Uninsured Motorist Liability
4. What Sort of Damages Can Be Claimed?
5. What Should You Do if You Have Been Involved in a Car Accident?
Even as employers continue to focus on workplace safety, the number of workplace accidents in America will shock most people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017, work-related injuries claimed the lives of 5,147 people while more than 2.8 million others suffered from non-fatal illnesses and injuries at their workplaces. More than 882,000 Americans had to absent themselves from work to recover from their injuries; the average time they took to heal was eight days. The devastating injuries that employees suffer in their workplaces often leave with huge medical expenses. However, fortunately, workers are normally eligible to receive compensation payments to meet their medical expenses. If you have suffered an injury in a Florida workplace accident, it is important to know more about how the workers’ compensation system works and what benefits to which you are likely to be entitled. This knowledge will also be useful if your work environment is hazardous and there is a chance that you may be injured.
Workers’ Compensation System in Florida for Workplace Injuries
A workers’ compensation program is in place in Florida to look after the protection of workers and getting compensation easier if they suffer any injury at their workplaces. It should be clearly understood that under the provisions of this program, workers waive off their right to hold their employers responsible for the injury and to sue them in a court of law if they file a claim for compensation.
There is a multitude of rules and regulations governing the filing of a compensation claim, including rules that specify which doctors workers are allowed to consult with and the sort of treatment you can seek based on the type of the injury sustained by the workers. Failure to comply with the applicable rules may lead to the denial of the claim. The complicated rules and regulations, as well as requirements of compliance, are the reason why you must consult with a skilled attorney who is well experienced in matters of worker compensation before you file the claim.
Coverage of Expenses under a Claim for Workers’ Compensation
The principle under which the workers’ compensation program operates is similar to insurance, which is why the coverage is more or less, what your insurance will cover. A claim for workers’ compensation will typically include:
- Bills relating to medical treatment for the injuries sustained at the workplace
- Reimbursement of expense incurred by the worker on travel required for doctor’s consultation or other appointments for treatment
- Lost wages
- Disability payments
- Vocational rehabilitation
In case the worker dies within one year of having being injured in a work-related accident or within five years of suffering a continuous disability, the family of the deceased worker will be entitled to
- Up to $7,500 to cover funeral expenses
- Education benefits to surviving spouse
- Up to $150,000 in compensation benefits to dependents (paid at up to 66.67% of the weekly wage of the deceased worker)
While the workers’ compensation program in Florida is quite comprehensive and covers many expenses, among the things it has no provision for covering is the pain and suffering undergone by the injured worker. While this does not mean that the worker will not receive compensation for his suffering, it just means the compensation is not possible under the workers’ compensation program. With the assistance of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, it may be possible for you to determine the various options you may have to obtain compensation for the pain and suffering you may have suffered.
Get In Touch With An Expert Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Since a stature of limitations applies to the filing of a claim under the workers’ compensation program, you must consult a competent attorney who is well conversant with the rules and regulations that you have to comply with. Even though there are some exceptions, the general time limit for the claims to be filed is two years from the date of injury. Since there is a very large number of fraudulent claims being filed, the authorities keep on making changes to the laws governing worker’s compensation. The frequent changes in the regulations have made making successful claims even more complicated and difficult to comprehend. If you are eligible for workers’ compensation, there is no reason why you should be denied your claim for compensation for expenses incurred on medical treatment and other heads as per the law.
Contact Us Today
If you have suffered an injury in your workplace and want to pursue a claim under the worker’s compensation program, you should immediately consult us. As one of the most experienced law firms in this matter in Florida, the attorneys at Lavalle, Brown & Ronan, P.A have both the skills and the competence to assist you to receive the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.