Can I File A Florida Workers’ Comp Claim If I No Longer Work For The Employer?

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.

Where the Injury Occurs

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 Hazard of Working for a Road Construction Crew

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. […]

Judge Denies Request to Change Doctors in Florida Workers Comp Case

According to a story reported by the Florida Record, an injured worker’s second request to change doctors after a workplace injury has been denied. In a decision by the First District Court of Appeal, the court upheld the lower court’s decision to deny the worker’s request to change doctors because he had already been granted a one-time change of physicians. The injured employee had previously requested a change of doctors when his authorized orthopedic physician retired and the insurance company authorized another doctor. The employee alleged that he should be allowed to change doctors again to return to a doctor with the practice of his original doctor. The court denied the request because the worker had already been granted a one-time change of doctors. […]

Safety Tips for Florida Workers — Avoiding Lightning Accidents

The Naples Dailey News reported that since January 1, 2007, 52 people of died from lightning in Florida. This is more than any state in the country. The next closest state for lightning-related deaths is Texas with 21 fatalities during the same period. Just this year, two people have been killed in the United States from lightning strikes, including a Florida construction worker. The 46-year old Fort Pierce resident was injured while working on an empty pool on Jensen Beach last week. He died from his injuries after a lightning accident. Florida’s climate is the perfect combination of elements to develop lightning storms. Last year, over 1.2 million lightning flashes were reported in Florida, again only to Texas which had just over four million flashes. Even though lightning safety education has increased, Florida still has too many deaths and accidents related to lightning strikes. In 2016, nine people were killed in Florida from lightning-related accidents, an increase from the five people killed in 2015. Education is extremely important. Workers must understand the dangers of working outside during Florida thunderstorms. Lightning can develop very quickly and without warning. Below are several safety tips for staying safe this summer from lightning accidents. […]

Is a Lack of Sleep Increasing Your Risk for a Work-Related Injury in Florida?

We should all get a good night’s sleep each night so that we can function at our top performance level the next day. However, many of us don’t get a full eight hours of sleep each night. In fact, EHS Today reports that 63 percent of workers report sleep deprivation during their work week. A lack of sleep can increase your risk of being injured in a work-related accident. […]