Have you been injured at work? Has a workplace accident caused you to be out of work? Is your employer dragging its feet filing your claim with its insurance company? Do you have questions about the workers’ compensation process in Florida? Below are five important things you need to know about Florida’s workers’ compensation laws if you have been injured at work.
When people think of work injuries, they often think of factories, remote job sites, and construction jobs. An office job rarely comes to mind when thinking about a workers’ comp claim. However, there are dangers in the office that you may not be aware of until too late. Here are some of the more common office job-related injuries that may result in a Florida workers’ comp claim.
You can fall anywhere, even in an office setting. A wet floor or trip hazard can cause you to lose your balance or slip and fall. A fall can lead to long-term injuries and time off from work. Employers should repair loose or worn carpeting or other floorings, remove trip hazards, and secure things like cords and wire. Spills should be cleaned up immediately. […]
As we near Memorial Day Weekend, many people will purchase fireworks as part of their celebrations. Some towns or event organizers may have firework exhibits as part of their holiday celebrations. Unfortunately, there will be some people who are injured while using fireworks or enjoying a firework display. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 18,500 fires will be started by fireworks each year in the United States. Over 10,500 people were treated in emergency rooms in 2014 for fireworks-related injuries. Sparklers caused a quarter of those injuries. Most of us love fireworks, but we must remember that using fireworks can result in serious injuries. Below are safety tips for using fireworks. […]
Many times, an injury occurs in a job and you don’t realize you’ve been hurt until much later. This often happens with chronic injuries such as a strained back or neck or repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’ve left the job that you feel caused the injury, you may wonder if you can file a workers’ compensation claim. In many cases, you can file a claim even though you are no longer employed with that employer.
A workers’ compensation claim is based on the injury occurring in the workplace. With many injuries, this is obvious. For instance, you may get hurt when you are cut on a machine at work, or you may fall in the office and break your ankle. These injuries require immediate attention. […]
The Florida division of workers’ compensation has launched a new online assistance program for employer coverage. The goal is to assist business owners in obtaining coverage for their industry. The coverage helps to protect employees from the negative impacts of injuries that occur while on the job.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition that can render a person unable to work or function normally in daily life. First responders can suffer PTSD because they see horrific sights and deal with traumatic and heartbreaking situations. Unfortunately, first responders diagnosed with PTSD are not eligible for workers’ compensation under Florida’s Workers’ Compensation system unless they also have a physical injury. […]
When we think about heat stroke on the job in Florida, we tend to think about employees who work outside. We know that construction workers, farmers, and other people who work outside during long, hot days are susceptible to heat stroke. However, employees who work indoors are also in danger of heat stroke. In some cases, the temperature indoors can be higher than the temperature outside. In buildings without proper ventilation, air circulation, or air conditioning, the risk of a heat stroke can increase dramatically. […]
Working on a road construction crew can be dangerous work. When your “office” is the side of a busy highway or interstate, simply doing your job can place you in life-threatening situations each day. Even though Florida doubles the original fine for speeding in work zones when workers are present, the fines are not enough to deter all drivers from putting construction crew employees at risk. When a construction worker is injured in a work zone, he or she can file a workers’ compensation claim to pay for medical treatment and provide temporary disability benefits. However, these benefits do not fully compensate the worker for all his losses and damages. As you approach a construction zone, remember the men and women working in the area are doing their job and deserve your patience and caution. Below are several suggestions to help avoid accidents in work zones. […]
When you are injured on the job, Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance system covers your claim. The system is designed to protect employers from being sued for workplace accidents while providing injured workers the medical care and other benefits they need while they are healing from a workplace injury. The workers’ comp claim process should be straightforward; however, many times it is not. Insurance companies search for ways to deny claims. One defense companies like to use is the pre-existing condition defense. If the insurance company can point to a pre-existing condition or a prior injury, it can claim that your current injury is the result of your prior injury, not the accident at work. If successful, the company could deny your workers’ comp benefits. […]
According to a story posted by Business Insider, The Florida House of Representatives passed a workers’ compensation reform bill that will increase the number of weeks an injured worker can receive benefits. House Bill 7085 increased the length of time a worker can receive temporary total disability or temporary partial disability benefits from 104 weeks to 260 weeks. By doing so, lawmakers have addressed the problem of a gap between the end of benefits and the injured worker still receiving treatment for his or her injuries. […]