If you were recently injured on the job in Safety Harbor, FL, you’re likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation provides benefits to cover medical bills and help with lost wages. Unfortunately, injured workers often face an uphill battle to get fair benefits.
An experienced Safety Harbor workers’ compensation lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the full award you deserve. We have over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We’ve recovered more than $120 million for our injured clients over the years.
If you were hurt on the job, you deserve to understand your legal options. Contact us or call our law offices in Safety Harbor, Florida, at (727) 787-2500 to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer who can help.
Why Should I Call Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help With a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Safety Harbor, FL?
Workers’ compensation in Florida is supposed to provide fast relief to injured workers. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Like any other insurance company, the workers’ compensation insurers are out to pay as little as possible. Injury victims often have to fight hard to get the money they need.
You deserve an experienced Safety Harbor personal injury attorney who will handle that battle. At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve been recognized with an AV Preeminent rating from the Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating service. We’ve also earned a perfect-10 Avvo rating.
When you hire our law firm, you gain an advocate to:
- Collect evidence to prove your case
- Evaluate your rights under Florida state law
- Identify the cause of your accident
- Ensure that you get the quality medical care you need
- Protect you if you’re being rushed back to work
- Determine the value of your claim
- Negotiate with the other side for every dollar you deserve
Our Safety Harbor personal injury lawyers offer free consultations and you never pay unless we recover compensation in your case. This contingency fee arrangement ensures that you can always afford quality legal representation. Contact us today to get started.
How Common Are Workplace Injuries in Florida?
Work-related injuries are extremely common. After all, most people spend a significant amount of their time at work.
In 2023, private employers across the nation reported about 2.6 million non-fatal workplace injuries to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Over 5,400 fatal workplace accidents were reported. In Florida alone, 307 employees were killed on the job in 2022.
Our team at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers handles any type of workers’ comp claim, including those based on:
- Scaffolding accidents and collapses
- Building collapse
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Agricultural accidents
- Manufacturing accidents
- Accidents involving commercial vehicles and trucks
- Construction accidents
- Accidents involving equipment and heavy machinery
- Fishing accidents
- Landscaping injuries
- Fires and explosions
- Accidents in kitchens, restaurants, and bars
- Accidents related to hotels and hospitality workers
- Welding accidents
Don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice if you were injured on the job. Your consultation is always free of charge, and we can help you understand whether you’re getting everything you deserve.
What Do I Have to Prove to Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Florida?
You don’t have to prove that your employer was negligent to receive benefits. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system. Nearly every Florida employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
To receive benefits under an employer’s insurance policy, you must prove that:
- You were their employee, as independent contractors aren’t usually covered
- You were injured or developed an illness “in the course of employment”
Proving your case may seem simple. That said, employers challenge injured workers’ rights to benefits all the time. Different types of benefits also exist–and it’s important to ensure that you’re getting the full benefits that are available.
Can I Sue My Employer for Damages Instead of Claiming Workers’ Compensation in Florida?
No. Employers in Florida are generally protected against injury lawsuits filed by employees. So long as your employer carries the required workers’ compensation coverage, you can’t sue them for damages. That’s true even if you can prove that they were somehow responsible for your workplace injuries.
Personal injury lawsuits are still permitted if your injury was caused by someone other than your employer. For example, if the owner of your office building wasn’t your employer and failed to maintain the property in safe condition, you may have a valid third-party claim.
How Much is My Safety Harbor Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?
Your case value will depend on a number of variables that will be unique to your claim.
As our lawyers assess your case value, we’ll consider:
- The extent of your injuries
- Whether you can perform any work at all during recovery
- Whether you’ll ever return to work at the same earnings level
- Your average weekly wages prior to the disability
- The duration of your recovery period
- Whether you can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages for things like pain, suffering, and trauma
Workers’ compensation income benefits will pay about ⅔ of the amount you earned prior to the disability. Wage replacement benefits are also subject to a weekly cap of $1,260 in 2024. The cap increases slightly every year and will depend on the year your workplace accident occurred.
What Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available to Injured Workers in Safety Harbor?
In Florida, the following categories of workers’ compensation benefits are available:
- Medical benefits
- Disability benefits
- Death benefits
You can only receive disability benefits if you cannot work for at least seven days. Once your disability prevents you from working for at least 21 days, you can get paid for days one through seven.
Your disability benefits depend on the nature of your injuries.
Disability benefit options include:
- Temporary total disability benefits if you cannot work at all
- Temporary partial disability benefits if you’re restricted to light duty work, so are earning less as you recover
- Impairment income benefits if you suffer a permanent disability that will impair your earnings
- Permanent total disability benefits if you’re never able to work again
Your medical benefits should cover all medical expenses related to the injury or illness. That includes ER visits, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, prescription drugs, prostheses, and any other required medical care. To make sure your medical bills are covered, however, it’s important to see an approved doctor.
Can I Receive Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for Causing a Work Accident in Florida?
Yes. Florida has modified comparative negligence laws, meaning personal injury victims lose their right to compensation if they’re more than 50% responsible for their injuries. These laws don’t apply in workers’ compensation cases. You can receive benefits even if you negligently caused your accident.
What Causes Most Work-Related Accidents in Safety Harbor?
Workplace accidents occur for all different reasons. As with any type of accident, work accidents are more likely when people are careless. While you don’t have to prove negligence to receive workers’ comp benefits, it’s still important to identify the cause of your accident.
Some of the most common causes of workplace accidents include:
- Communication failures
- Under-trained or inexperienced employees
- Negligent hiring practices
- Dangerous property conditions
- Defective work tools or equipment
- Ignoring state and federal labor laws
- Failure to provide adequate safety protection
- Exposure to live electricity
- Falling objects
- Heavy lifting
- Negligent security and workplace violence
- Situations where workers are caught between two objects
- Failure to properly maintain work equipment or tools
- Exposure to toxic substances
Understanding the cause of your injury is important because it will determine whether you are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Our Team in Safety Harbor Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Workplace Injuries
Some of the most common types of workplace injury claims we handle at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers include:
- Broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Burns
- Organ damage
- Lung damage
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Eye injuries
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Cancer and other diseases
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a family member
Reach out to our law firm for a free case review if you were injured on the job. An experienced Safety Harbor workers’ compensation attorney can help protect your legal right to compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Florida?
It’s important to act quickly if you were injured on the job. You have only 30 days to report your injury to your employer or a supervisor. If you fail to report the injury, you risk losing your right to benefits. In most cases, you must file your workers’ comp claim within two years of the date you knew or should’ve known of your work injury.
Under the personal injury statute of limitations, you generally have two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit for damages (with limited exceptions).
Contact an Experienced Safety Harbor Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
Do you have questions about your rights under Florida workers’ compensation laws? Call Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers today. With an experienced Safety Harbor workers’ compensation lawyer on your team, you’re much more likely to receive every available dollar.