Workplace Accident Attorneys Safeguarding Clients’ Rights in Florida
Workplace injuries in Florida are extremely common—so common that an entire workers’ compensation system exists to provide benefits to those who have been injured on the job. Filing for workers’ compensation benefits can be complicated, however, and, in some cases, the benefits provided through workers’ compensation may be insufficient to compensate you for your workplace injury. Although some workplace injuries only require short recovery periods, serious work-related injuries can make it difficult to ever return to work or earn a living in the same industry. Our Florida Work Injury Lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve.
After sustaining a workplace injury, remember that it is important to seek out legal help. If you receive workers’ compensation benefits, your employer’s insurance premiums will increase—and this provides your employer with an incentive to challenge your claim if at all possible.
At Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., our experienced Florida work injury lawyers can help establish that your injury did, in fact, occur while on the job. We understand that it can be difficult to properly complete a workers’ compensation claim when English is not your first language, and we are here to help our clients (documented & undocumented / documentados e indocumentados) fill out and submit the required documentation and appeal claims.
We know how important your livelihood is to your family’s financial well-being, and we are here to advocate for your rights both within and outside of the workers’ compensation system. We pride ourselves on serving the Florida community, so we encourage you to contact our offices for legal guidance after you have been injured in the workplace, regardless of your documentation or legal status.
Securing Workers’ Compensation Benefits After a Workplace Injury
After sustaining a workplace injury in Florida, it is important to first notify the employer of the injury. Under Florida law, you must report the injury to the employer within 30 days. The next step is to seek out medical attention and ensure that the physician provides you with a copy of your medical report, which should contain information regarding the injury and the physician’s recommendations for treatment. You should provide the employer with a copy of this documentation, and also retain a copy for your own records. Taking these initial actions will help preserve your right to workers’ compensation benefits and make it more difficult for the employer to challenge your application.
Workers’ compensation benefits may be available for workplace injuries sustained in a variety of ways, including for injuries:
- Resulting from workplace accidents, such as being trapped between machinery or hit by a falling object.
- Incurred in a motor vehicle accident while on the job.
- Caused by overexertion, often because of excessive lifting of heavy items.
- Resulting from repeated straining over time, typically as a result of performing the same activity repeatedly.
Florida Work Injury Lawyers Gonzalez & Cartwright Fight to Obtain Proper Compensation for Florida Work Injuries
The Florida workers’ compensation system is an important safety net, but workers’ comp benefits only cover reasonable medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages. If your injury is serious, it may be necessary to sue a negligent third party in order to receive full and fair compensation. Our Florida work injury lawyers can help you evaluate the viability of a lawsuit against a negligent third party, such as the manufacturer of a machine that caused the injury or the owner of the property where unsafe conditions caused the injury.
Under Florida law, it may also be possible to sue the employer’s insurance company if the insurance company acted in bad faith. We can potentially establish that the insurance company acted in bad faith if the company:
- Did not properly investigate the workers’ compensation claim in the required timeframe.
- Hid or manipulated evidence relating to the claim.
- Delayed paying benefits without sufficient reason.
- Made misleading statements after the injury.
- Improperly cut off workers’ compensation benefits.
- Attempted to control the type of medical care provided after the injury.
Schedule an Appointment with a Dedicated Workplace Injury Attorney
Our personal injury attorneys speak fluent English and Spanish, and we are here to help you evaluate your options after a workplace injury. Even if you only need help to complete your workers’ compensation application, contact our offices at 561-898-0497, or toll-free at 888-888-3903, to schedule an appointment with our experienced Florida work injury lawyers today. We have our main office located at 813 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as an office in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Work Injury
Yes. Worker’s compensation is a no-fault system, meaning that you are entitled to claim benefits regardless of whether your actions contributed to the events that caused the injury. In some cases, benefits can be reduced if alcohol or drug use was involved, or if you failed to follow safety rules.
After you file the claim, your employer is required to notify its insurance company of the injury within seven days of receiving notice that the injury occurred. The employer will investigate the accident to build its account of what happened. Once you take these initial steps, workers’ compensation benefits will either be approved or denied. If your application is denied, an attorney can help you with the appeals process or explore other legal options for obtaining proper compensation for your workplace injuries.