You should hire a Florida workers’ compensation lawyer from the beginning of your incident to protect your legal rights. Florida law lets you seek compensation and other benefits if you get hurt at work, but you can lose your right to workers’ compensation if you miss the deadlines for the program. In addition, a workers’ compensation lawyer can help guide you through the process of notification, getting the correct medical care, and applying for benefits.
If you were hurt or developed an illness because of your job, contact an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your rights to a workers’ compensation claim.
Workers’ Compensation Deadlines in Florida
Florida only gives you 30 days to report your injury or illness to your employer. Your notification to your boss must be in writing, and on the correct form. Make sure that you put the date on the form and keep a copy so that you can prove when you gave notice.
Thirty days might seem like a long time, but the clock starts running on the day that the injury or illness occurred or when a doctor told you that your illness or injury was job-related. When you are dealing with medical issues, such as pain, inconvenience, and getting treatment for your condition, it is easy to lose sight of the deadline or to forget that you have to give your employer notice.
When you work with a lawyer on your claim, the lawyer can take care of the legal matters so you can focus on getting better. We can also make sure that all the rules get followed for your benefit.
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(855) 529-0269You Cannot Go to Your Regular Doctor
Many people end up with unpaid medical bills because they did not realize that you have to go to a different doctor for treatment of a work-related illness or injury. Florida’s division of workers’ compensation will provide medical care, hospitalization, doctors, prescription drugs, diagnostic tests, physical therapy, and other approved medical expenses but only if you go to a doctor on your employer’s list.
If you go to your personal doctor instead of one of the doctors on the approved list, you will get stuck with those bills. Standard health insurance usually does not cover work-related injuries or illnesses, so your health insurance will not pay those either.
You must also provide the name and telephone number of your employer or the workers’ compensation insurance company to everyone who treats you for the work-related injury or illness. You must notify each such provider that the condition is work-related.
Workers’ Compensation Cash Benefits
In addition to providing free medical services, Florida worker’s compensation can provide cash benefits to help replace some of your income when you cannot work because of your work-related illness or injury.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits send you a check for part of your regular wages if you cannot work at all for the time you recuperate.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits provide some income if your doctor expects that you will never be able to perform any work again to support yourself.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits help to make up some of your lost income if you have to work temporarily in a limited capacity because your work-related illness or injury and the limitations have reduced your pay.
- Impairment Income Benefits (IIB) pay you for the value that the Florida workers’ compensation program places on permanent impairment from the work-related injury or illness.
Now is the time to hire a workers’ compensation attorney in Florida. Call Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today at (855) 529-0269 for a free consultation about your Florida workers’ compensation claim.
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