WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAWS

The Law Offices Of Adam Baron Advocates for Injured Employees in Florida

Encountering an accident or illness at work is a devastating and difficult situation to overcome. Without our jobs, we cannot pay our bills or support our families. Fortunately, the workers’ compensation system provides recourse to employees who are hurt on the job in the form of workers’ compensation benefits payments. Navigating this process can be especially difficult due to its complex rules and the insurance companies that are in charge of determining the amount of benefits to which you are entitled. Experienced workers’ compensation attorney Adam Baron has assisted Coral Springs residents and other individuals in pursuing a settlement after suffering a debilitating job-related injury.

Workers’ Compensation Settlements

According to federal and Florida laws, injured workers are eligible to receive benefits after suffering an accident or illness at work. The workers’ compensation system was established many years ago as an agreement between labor unions and employers. The agreement provides workers with a system for obtaining benefits. In exchange, they are barred from pursuing a legal action against their employers for their injuries, with a few limited exceptions.

Unfortunately, many employers and insurance adjustors abuse this privilege and deny claims simply as a way to avoid paying out on the benefits owed to workers who are injured or made ill while on the job. For help with a claim denial, contact a Coral Springs workers’ compensation denial attorney at the Law Offices of Adam Baron, P.A. We will meet with you free of charge to discuss the options available to you at this time.

The first step in recovering benefits is to report your injury to your employer so that it can open a claim with its workers’ compensation insurer. It is important that you report your injuries immediately and see a doctor as soon as possible to begin documenting the nature and scope of your harm. The insurer will likely ask you to see a preapproved physician, who will then determine whether your injuries are temporary or permanent, and whether they are partial or total. These two classifications will guide the insurer in determining the amount of benefits that you should be awarded.

Workers Compensation Appeal Process

In the state of Florida, you have exactly 30 days from the date of your injury or illness to file a workers’ compensation claim for benefits. Claims filed after the 30-day limit will be denied. However, even claims filed within the 30-day time frame can be denied. Florida employers, and the insurance companies that represent them, can deny workers’ compensation claims if they believe them to be invalid.

Workers Compensation Denial & Pursuing a Settlement

In some instances, an insurer may deny a workers’ claim for benefits or may award something less than what the worker believes he or she should receive under the law. Many insurance companies are open to settling a workers’ compensation claim because it limits their future financial exposure to providing continued benefits payments to the injured worker. In a settlement, the insurance company and the employee reach an agreement that the insurer will pay the employee a lump sum payment in exchange for the injured worker’s agreement to close his or her claim and to not seek any additional compensation or treatment through the workers’ compensation system related to the claimed injury.

Although the amount of the settlement can vary depending on the facts of the case, the insurance company will usually base the settlement on the amount of benefits that it would be required to pay the employee over his or her lifetime, or over the duration that the injury persists. An insurance company’s exposure to payouts tends to be higher if the employee has been deemed at Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) status but requires additional medical treatment, is physically unable to go back to his or her job, or must undergo re-training before working again.

Explore Your Options with a Work Accident Attorney in Coral Springs