What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Am I Entitled to in Florida?

If you’ve been injured on the job in Florida, understanding your available benefits is crucial for your recovery and financial stability.

Florida’s workers’ compensation system provides comprehensive coverage designed to help injured workers get back on their feet. The point of a workers’ compensation system is to provide financial and medical benefits to employees who are injured or become ill due to their job, while protecting employers from lawsuits related to workplace injuries. The goal is to get workers healthy so that they can rejoin the workforce.

Some common examples of how people are injured at work here in Florida are:

• Slipping on a wet floor in a restaurant or retail store – common for wait staff, cooks, retail associates, etc.

• Repetitive strain injuries from typing or using a mouse in an office – common, especially for data entry positions like secretaries.

• Lifting heavy objects in a warehouse, causing back injuries – common not just in warehouses, but in any office work environment.

As a Florida work injury lawyer with over 30 years of experience with workers’ compensation cases, Adam Baron can help you understand your rights, help you get the treatment and benefits you deserve, and keep you from having to deal with the Florida work comp “system” all on your own. From Boca Raton to Coral Springs to Miami, the work injury law firm of Adam Baron can help.

If you were injured or became sick while working, we can help. Call Adam Baron at 954-247-HURT now for a Free, No-Obligation Case Review.

Here’s what you’re entitled to receive under Florida law.

Medical Benefits – 100% Coverage

Workers’ compensation pays 100% of all medical bills and treatment related to any work-related accident in Florida. This comprehensive medical coverage includes:

• Doctor visits and specialist consultations
• Emergency room treatment and hospital stays
• Surgery and medical procedures
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Diagnostic tests like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans
• Medical equipment and devices

The key requirement is that all medical treatment must be authorized by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier and provided by approved healthcare providers within their network.

Temporary Disability Benefits – Wage Replacement

When your work injury prevents you from earning your regular wages, Florida workers’ compensation provides two types of temporary disability benefits:

Temporary Total Disability (TTD): TTD benefits are equal to two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wages, up to a maximum cap of $971 per week. You receive these benefits when you’re completely unable to work due to your injury.

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): If you can return to work but in a limited capacity or at reduced wages, TPD benefits make up part of the difference between your current earnings and your pre-injury wages.Duration of Temporary Benefits

You can receive up to a total of 104 weeks of temporary disability benefits in most cases.

However, for TPD or TTD in Florida, the doctor can limit your work status for up to 260 weeks for certain injuries. You will continue to receive TTD benefits until one of the following events occurs: You recover from your injuries and your doctor clears you to go back to work, your doctor determines that you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), or the time limit for TTD benefits expires.

Permanent Disability Benefits

If your injury results in permanent limitations, you may be entitled to additional benefits:

Impairment Income Benefits (IIB): At Maximum Medical Improvement & Rating Assigned, when your doctor states you are at Maximum Medical Improvement, your condition is evaluated for permanent impairment. You receive compensation based on the percentage of permanent impairment to your body.

Permanent Total Disability (PTD): In rare cases where your injury prevents you from returning to any type of work, you may qualify for ongoing PTD benefits.

Additional Benefits Available

Vocational Rehabilitation: If you cannot return to your previous job due to your injury, Florida workers’ compensation may provide vocational retraining to help you develop new job skills.

Mileage Reimbursement: You’re entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses to and from approved medical appointments.

Death Benefits: If a work-related injury results in death, surviving family members may receive death benefits and burial expenses.

Important Considerations

Your benefits depend on several factors, including your pre-injury wages, the severity of your injury, and your doctor’s medical opinions. Insurance companies may dispute your claim or try to minimize your benefits, which is why having experienced legal representation is often crucial.

Remember that there are strict deadlines for reporting injuries and filing claims, so don’t delay in seeking both medical attention and legal advice. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to under Florida law and protect your rights throughout the claims process.

Understanding your benefits is the first step toward securing the support you need during your recovery. Don’t let insurance companies shortchange you – know your rights and fight for the full compensation you deserve.