The average Florida workers’ compensation settlement varies based on the severity of a victim’s injuries and their ability to go back to work. The actual dollar figure for your workers’ compensation claim depends on several factors.
While the amount you receive can vary, it’s important to understand that you have the right to receive disability benefits if an on-the-job accident keeps them from working. While it’s impossible to put an exact dollar amount on a workers’ compensation claim, our legal professionals at Sternberg Forsythe, P.A., can help you better understand the factors that will impact how much you receive.
The Average Amounts for Workers’ Compensation Settlements in Florida
The latest data shows that the average workers’ compensation settlement sits around $20,000. However, there’s a lot of variability in this number and several disclaimers that go with it.
If you experience a work injury, you don’t just receive a lump sum payment for the amount. Instead, your settlement will likely be lower based on your injury’s severity. For more severe injuries, such as vision loss, brain injuries, severe burns, and amputations, your structured settlement may surpass that number via periodic payments that are based on your needs.
If you can get back to work quickly and don’t experience any lasting impairment, then your settlement may be significantly lower than the estimate above. It’s hard to predict because each case is unique.
The best thing you can do is to contact our legal team and let us help with your situation. We can provide advice and guidance based on years of representing workers’ compensation claims.
Why It’s Challenging to Generalize Florida Workers’ Compensation Claims
Injuries that occur on the job vary so much that it’s often challenging to put a specific number on a workers’ compensation claim. For example, if an employee experiences a burn, soft tissue injury, broken bone, or similar injury, they will likely be able to return to work at some point. However, other workers suffer permanent injuries. This means that they will never be able to return to the same job and complete the same tasks they did before the accident.
There are some cases where a worker will never be able to go back to work or when the worker passes away because of an at-work accident.
Insurance providers must calculate the benefits an injured worker receives based on the state’s standards. If they don’t do this properly, the insurer may have to pay 10% interest, pay the underpayments, all the victim’s legal fees, and a 50% penalty.
A worker who files a hearing or who appeals to a negative decision may be able to recoup a higher settlement amount than individuals who simply accept the initial offer made by the insurance company.
Before taking this step, it’s important to know the process. When our team is contacted to help with a workers’ compensation claim, we will explain all the aspects of a workers’ compensation settlement, how the amount is determined, and more based on our years of experience providing services in this area of law.
Workers’ Compensation Amounts for Accident-Related Medical Care
An injured worker’s medical benefits for an at-work accident will usually cover all necessary and reasonable medical costs. The injured worker has the right to go to the doctor to maximize their treatment and provide continued access to doctors for future medical needs to ensure their condition doesn’t worsen. The future cost of needed medical treatment will be figured into the settlement amount.
The medical costs that a workers’ compensation settlement accounts for include:
- Transportation to the emergency room
- Care in the emergency room
- Surgeries and treatments
- Doctor visits
- Physical therapy or other treatment
- Medical devices
- Medication
It’s possible to include other medical costs in the injury settlement.
Workers’ Compensation Amounts for Wage Replacement
It’s important to ensure the weekly wage payout is accurate. The specific amount depends on how much the individual worked. A person’s gross salary determines the “average weekly wage” number. This means that union dues, taxes, or other deductions are factored into it.
The salary replacement should also include tips, incentive pay, exercised stock options, overtime, maternity pay, profit sharing, sick pay, vacation pay, and room and board.
Contact Our Legal Team for Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in Florida
Contact our workers’ compensation attorneys today if you need help with your workers’ compensation case and receive the benefits you deserve for your accident and injury. We can review the facts of your case and ensure you receive the quality representation you deserve. Workers’ compensation cases in Florida can be complex, but we are here to help ensure your needs are met. Reach out to us today, so we can get started on your case.