Each year, there are nearly 900,000 non-fatal workplace injuries in the U.S. For many, work is a dangerous place, especially if you work with machinery or perform regular physical labor.
Florida employees who suffer injuries on the job are entitled to benefits, such as workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits protect you if you need time away from work to recover.
Learn more about Florida’s workers’ compensation and how the process works in this quick guide.
Starting the Workers’ Compensation Process
You’ve been injured while performing your work duties. Now what?
To begin the workers’ comp process, you should report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. If you delay, you may not be eligible for benefits later.
Then, visit a doctor who can diagnose and treat the injury. Keep any documentation they offer, which will come in handy when you submit your claim later.
Your employer should report the incident to their workers’ compensation insurance provider within a few days. You can learn more about your employer’s insurance options in this blog.
The insurance provider will then contact you with information regarding your rights and how to continue the compensation process. In most cases, they should honor your injury claim and begin sending you compensation shortly.
How Much Compensation to Expect
As long as your employer has workers’ compensation insurance, which is required by nearly every state including Florida, receiving compensation should be easy.
Once your injury claim is approved, expect to receive around 66% of your usual salary per week. For high earners, however, there is a cap to your earnings.
Workers comp checks come twice a month, once every two weeks. You can continue receiving these benefits until your doctor says you’re physically well enough to work. If your recovery lasts long, you may eventually be eligible for disability benefits, rather than workers’ compensation benefits.
What if Your Claim Gets Rejected?
If you submit your injury incident to your employer, but they or their insurance company refuses to offer benefits, there are steps you can take.
First, you can contact the insurance company yourself to dispute the rejection. You can then file a formal petition with the company to have them reevaluate your claim.
If, after two weeks, they still haven’t agreed to offer workers’ compensation benefits, consider contacting a workers’ compensation attorney. They can help you prove the validity of your work injury and receive the compensation you deserve.
In many cases, hiring an attorney won’t lead to a long legal battle. They can help you with mediation and out-of-court disputes so you can start receiving benefits as quickly and smoothly as possible.
What to Know About Florida’s Workers’ Compensation
If you’ve been injured at work in Florida, you’re entitled to Florida’s workers’ compensation. Follow the steps listed here to start receiving benefits quickly. And if you run into any issues, remember an attorney is available to help.
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