If your ability to earn a living has been impaired, it’s only natural to be worried about the workers’ compensation benefits you may receive. In Florida, the maximum amount you can receive per week for an injury is $971. However, this doesn’t mean you will receive the maximum, as the benefits paid are based on what you make at your job.
If you want to know more about the factors that impact the total workers’ compensation benefits you receive, keep reading.
Factors That Impact the Benefits You Receive for a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Workers’ compensation settlements vary based on the severity of your injury, extend of your disability, and several other factors. If you have been injured on the job, you need to seek care and treatment right away from your workers’ compensation doctor. If you have reached MMI – maximum medical improvement – your doctor will report there is nothing more they can do to help improve your condition. Sometimes, during the final evaluation provided by your doctor, they will give you the PIR – permanent impairment rating. This has a huge impact on the benefits you receive.
According to U.S. law, there are some workplace injuries that are automatically considered to be permanent and total. These include:
- Loss of a limb
- Brain or spinal cord injury
- Severe burns
- Other catastrophic injuries
These are injuries that make it impossible for you to return to any type of gainful employment.
Negotiating Your Workers’ Compensation Payment
If your doctor has found that you have a permanent and total disability, you may be able to qualify for a lump sum settlement or lifetime payments. These benefits are calculated to cover up to two-thirds of the weekly wage you earned prior to the injury.
Most insurance companies will try to settle this case by offering a lump sum. You also have the option to negotiate another style of structured settlement. Any workers’ compensation settlement that is considered final and full will consider all the following:
- How severe your injury was
- The projected medical costs you will pay out of pocket
- What you earned before the injury
- If you can pursue gainful employment
To help negotiate this final settlement, it is smart to hire an attorney.
Understanding Permanent Impairment Ratings in Florida
Most workers injured at work are not totally and permanently disabled. Usually, the rating of partially permanently disabled will be used. This allows you to receive a workers’ compensation settlement. In the state of Florida, you may receive a PIR ranging from one percent up to 100 percent impairment for PTD.
Your attorney can help you better understand the monetary value of the injury you have suffered. Remember, there are an array of factors that go into this calculation, so it isn’t typically something you can figure out on your own.
As you can see, there are several factors to consider to ensure you get the workers’ compensation benefits you need and deserve. If you need help with your case, contact Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A. by calling (561) 687-5660.