If you have been injured while on the job or experienced a work-related illness, you may be unable to return to work and have to deal with mounting medical bills for treatment. In this situation, knowing what to do or where to turn can be difficult.
At this point, filing a work accident compensation claim is recommended. However, since recovering work injuries compensation can be a complex process, it’s recommended that you contact our legal team at Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A. for assistance.
We can review your situation and help you recover the work accident compensation payouts you deserve. However, if you aren’t sure if you need work injury advice or assistance with your work injury compensation claim, learn why hiring an attorney may benefit your situation.
Read More: Frequently Asked Questions on Workers Compensation in Florida
Reasons to Have an Attorney Helping with Your Case
There are several reasons to hire an attorney to help with your work injury damages claim. Some of these include:
Understanding Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Deadlines
Florida provides workers just 30 days to report an injury or illness to their employer and file a work injury claim. Be sure that the notification you provide to your employer is in writing and that the date of the incident is included. Maintain a copy of this report to prove when you submitted a notice of the injury and accident.
While 30 days may seem like a long time, the clock starts ticking the day your injury or illness occurred or when a doctor lets you know that it was job-related. As you work to deal with medical issues, including the inconvenience of the incident, the pain it has caused, and seeking treatment for the condition, it’s easy to forget about this deadline and that giving proper notice to your employer is required.
By working with an experienced attorney on your work injury damages case, you can ensure that you meet the deadline to report the incident. Our team will take over the legal process so you can focus on your recovery.
Read More: Changes to Florida Workers’ Compensation in 2022
Inability to Go to Your Regular Doctor
Some people wind up with unpaid medical bills because they didn’t realize you must go to a doctor to treat a work-related injury or illness. The workers’ compensation program in Florida is set up to cover the costs of medical care, including the time you spend in the hospital, diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, and other necessary and approved medical treatments. However, these medical expenses are only covered if you go to an approved doctor on the employer’s list.
If you seek treatment from your personal doctor rather than one on the list of approved doctors provided by your employer, you must pay the resulting bills. Usually, your health insurance policy won’t cover work-related illnesses or injuries, which means you have no recourse to seek compensation for this.
With help from an attorney, you can feel confident you are seeking treatment from the right medical professional to avoid these issues.
Knowing What Your On-the-Job Injury Is Worth
When you file a claim for work injury damages, the amount of compensation you receive depends on several factors. In many cases, if you don’t have an attorney representing you after a workers’ compensation accident, you may not receive the full amount of compensation you deserve.
The attorney you hire will work to ensure the workers’ compensation injury payouts you receive account for the full value of your injury or illness. Some of the costs that will (or should) be covered after a workers’ compensation accident in Orlando, FL, include:
- All related medical costs (this includes past and future injury or illness-related costs)
- Vocational or physical rehabilitation benefits
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
It is important to note that if a third party played a role in your injuries or illness, you might have a claim beyond workers’ compensation. If this is the case, you can recover compensation for other related costs, including pain and suffering. This is another time that having an experienced attorney is invaluable.
Receive a Settlement Rather Than Weekly Benefits
In Florida, the default option for receiving workers’ compensation benefits after an injury or illness is weekly. However, receiving a lump-sum settlement is often more beneficial for an injured employee.
Having an attorney negotiate a lump-sum settlement means you don’t have to wait to receive benefits or payment for your workers’ compensation injuries. This also eliminates the possibility of your employer (or the insurance company) ending your benefits early.
Assistance if Your Work Injury Claim is Declined
There are situations where your employer or their insurance company may decline your claim. If this happens, you may think you have no other options; however, this is not the case. With the help of an experienced attorney, you can appeal the denial. The appeal process is often long and complex. Because of this, having legal representation is highly recommended.
The attorney you hire can help you navigate the claims process and receive a fair workers’ compensation injury settlement.
Read More: Denied Workers Compensation Claims in Florida
Don’t Wait to Call for Legal Assistance with Your Florida Workers’ Compensation Claims
Being injured on the job can result in serious issues for you and your family. However, since Florida workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, you should be able to receive benefits for your medical costs and lost wages.
Hiring an attorney is highly recommended if you have questions or need assistance. At Sternberg |Forsythe, P.A., our legal team is ready to help you recover the benefits you deserve. We understand the impact of these injuries and illnesses. When you contact our office, you can feel confident that the legal aspect of your case will be handled so you can focus on your recovery.
To get started, contact our office to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. We can discuss your situation and let you know how we will help.
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