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 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. […]
Summer can be particularly dangerous for some workers. The hot summer months can increase work-related accidents in some industries. Employers and employees need to take steps to reduce the risk of injury to workers during the summer. Below are several of the common summer work hazards faced by Florida workers. […]
Imagine you are injured while at work. You do not believe you are seriously injured but a few days go by and your back is still hurting so you go to the doctor. The doctor prescribed a treatment plan; however, after a few weeks your back continues to hurt and you are having difficulty working. Your doctor orders an MRI and other diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your pain and the severity of your injury. Your doctor contacts the workers’ compensation insurance carrier for authorization.
Before the procedures can be performed, the insurance company contacts you to offer $10,000 to settle your workers’ comp claim right now. That figure seems like a lot of money, especially when you have been out of work and bills have been piling up at home. For some workers, this could be a third or even a half of their entire annual salary and the insurance company knows this — that is exactly why it made the offer. […]
Last week, a man was killed in an industrial accident while working around heavy machinery at the Fort Lauderdale FL rail year. According to Fort Lauderdale police, the “railroad incident” occurred before 5:30 p.m. n Wednesday at the FEC railyard at 3125 S. Andrews Ave. The fatal accident apparently happened while the man was inside a train container car, unloading crushed rock that is used for the construction of railroad tracks. He was struck by a piece of heavy machinery and died as a result of his injuries. […]