When you work in one of the more accident-prone industries in Florida you could be injured on the job. If this has happened to you, you are not alone. Workplace injuries are very common. According to the National Safety Council, every 7 seconds a person is injured at their place of work. This means that there are 510 injuries per hour, 12,600 a day, 88,500 a week, and 4.6 million every year. You may think your problem is easily resolved once you work through the workers’ compensation system to obtain financial assistance while you recover and are unable to work. Truth be told, the system can be a nightmare to navigate and manage a successful claim. The Florida workers’ compensation system isn’t the most seamless or the readiest to hand out money.

You have rights if you were hurt at work while you were performing your job. Do not allow the arduous workers’ compensation process to stifle you. You may have the right to be compensated through your employer’s workers’ compensation policy. The process is detailed and not every case will be successful. Denials of claims happen all the time so arming yourself with an established and knowledgeable Tallahassee workers’ compensation attorney is ideal to protect your rights.

Who Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cover?

Workers’ compensation benefits in Florida exist to help those injured while working. While the same functionality is true for each state, every state varies on how they manage their worker’s compensation program. But workers’ compensation is run as a “no-fault” system which dictates that injured workers can obtain benefits even in situations where the worker’s own negligence was a factor.

There are some limited exceptions, but for the majority of employees who work for a business in Florida, they have coverage from the workers’ compensation system. The same is not true for independent contractors. When you are an IC, you aren’t a direct employee of a business, and you manage your own workload and assignments. Due to this type of work arrangement, if you are injured while working you aren’t likely to be able to obtain benefits.

There are important steps to take when an injury at work occurs, and they include:

• If immediate emergency treatment is needed, take it.
• Report your incident to your manager or boss at once. By law, you only are allotted 30 days to inform your employer of the accident.
• If you don’t need emergency treatment, seek medical care from a provider approved by your employer so that your costs are covered.
• Get connected with a Florida workers’ compensation attorney.

Obtain the Most Experienced Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

When you have been injured you need to ensure your claim is successful because you will need the benefits to help you and your family while you recover. Work injury cases and workers’ compensation can be very tricky and the laws around it are extremely specialized. The right attorney for the job is one with extensive experience and training. Call the Florida worker’s compensation law firm of Stephen M. Andrews, P.A. today at (850) 906-9599 to schedule a free consultation.