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Workplace compensation is not your only option for having your injury compensated, however. There are a few cases in which you may still be able to sue your employer after an injury, even some which apply if you lose your workers’ compensation case:

• If your employer did not have workers’ compensation insurance,
• If they interfered with your compensation claim, or if it was wrongfully denied,
• Your injury was caused intentionally by your employer,
• The situation your employer put you in was well beyond acceptable danger/risk levels.

Whether suing your employer directly for one of the above reasons or pursuing a workers’ compensation case against a Boca Raton business, you deserve the representation of experienced and qualified worker’s compensation attorneys.

What Injuries Are Covered By Workers’ Compensation In Florida?

While workers’ compensation law is complex in Florida, and each case deserves to be examined carefully, there are generalities for which types of injuries are eligible to apply and receive workers’ compensation for.

First, any remotely serious injury suffered while working your job, as well as those you suffered as part of your job, at your workplace. Even if these injuries were caused by you (mistakes, improper equipment handling, etc.) you will still be eligible UNLESS you were under the effect of any sort of illicit substance or alcohol at the time.

Second, injuries are caused by exposure to a dangerous environment, or by long-term ongoing conditions. These sorts of injuries do not happen overnight or in a specific incident but occur over time. They are no less eligible for workers’ compensation however and can and should be taken very seriously.

Finally, some injuries that happen outside your workplace, but within the “scope and context” of your work, might also be eligible for compensation.

If you are not sure whether your workplace incident injury, ongoing injury, or health condition can be considered for workers’ compensation, you should call for a free initial consultation with one of our South Florida workplace compensation or personal injury attorneys.

How Can A Family Get Compensation For Fatal Occupational Injuries In Florida?

While most workplace injuries are not fatal, in some tragic cases deaths can happen at work or during work-related activities. While this can theoretically occur in any workplace, some jobs are certainly more dangerous than others.

Tied for the most Florida deaths in the last worker safety census, are construction and trucking/transportation. The “most” dangerous occupation however is farming and agriculture, as it has the highest deaths to worker ratio. But there are plenty of other industries, like landscaping, fishing, or factory work, with far from negligible numbers of fatalities in Florida each year.

Obtaining compensation for a fatal occupational injury however is more complicated than applying for workers’ compensation after an injury. Because workers’ compensation insurance does not cover additional liability for death, emotional trauma, or any of the other deep and personal costs of losing a loved one.

However, depending on the tragic event, what and or who caused it, you might be eligible to sue for a wrongful death suit and receive compensation if you win that civil suit. Unlike a regular workers’ compensation suit, you and your lawyer will have to work out who exactly it is targeted at, because the employer might not be liable if the fatal injury was caused by a third party, for example, faulty third-party equipment.

If you have suffered a recent loss due to a fatal workplace injury, you might very well be entitled to compensation that can help you carry on through this difficult time. Reach out to a trusted and experienced Florida workers’ compensation attorney for a free consultation to learn about your rights and the procedures needed to claim them.

What Benefits Can I Get If I File A Workers’ Compensation Claim

In Florida, if you are injured on the job, whether inside the workplace or not, you are entitled to benefits to help you continue with your life, hopefully only until you recover, but potentially indefinitely. This financial compensation is designed to help cover your costs and recover money lost due to being unable to perform your job.

There are four types of compensation/benefits you might be eligible for, though each is capped at a weekly amount based on a state-wide cap. Most compensation amounts are calculated based on the severity of your injury/disability (usually the impairment rating given by your doctors) and the work you did (and the salary you earned) before being injured.

• Permanent Total Disability Benefit: for workers who are entirely unable to return to any form of work after their injury is fully healed. These benefits last until you turn 75 or die, and are meant to help you and your family maintain your standard of living despite your inability to work.
• Permanent Partial Disability: for workers whose injuries will not entirely keep them from being able to work, but lower the amount they can earn. These benefits are designed to bring you back up to a similar income level you were before the injury, based on the impairment rating given by your doctors.
• Temporary Full Disability Benefits: these benefits are for workers who, as a result of their injury, are entirely unable to work, but only for a definite period. The maximum amount is two-thirds of your regular earnings and can be granted for up to 104 weeks or until you reach maximum recovery as determined by your doctor.
• Temporary Partial Disability Benefits: for workers whose injury will not entirely prevent them from working, but will, for a duration, partially impair their ability to do so. It is perhaps the most complicated to calculate.

A skilled workers’ compensation lawyer with experience in Florida’s workers’ compensation systems will not only help you determine how much you might get but will also help you win the fight to obtain it.