Workers Compensation in Port St. Lucie, FL
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Florida state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Florida workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Port St. Lucie, Florida?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most severe Florida work-related injuries occur in the construction and transportation industries. However, the industries with the highest numbers of total injuries are healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and transportation. Most Port St. Lucie workplace injuries are caused by overexertion, contact with objects or equipment, and falls. The most common injuries resulting from these events are strains, sprains, and tears. Although many Port St. Lucie injuries are minor, more than 30% of statewide injuries result in missed or restricted work.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Port St. Lucie, Florida?
Unfortunately, going through the process of applying for workers’ compensation begins with getting sick or injured on the job. The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to your problems are especially crucial. For example, the injury had to occur during your regular work duties. While an event that happens during your lunch break wouldn’t apply, getting into a car accident while running an errand for your boss would qualify for a claim.
Florida’s Division of Workers Compensation reports that most Port St. Lucie employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This rule applies to any employer with at least 4 employees. However, all Port St. Lucie construction employers must carry coverage, regardless of the number of employees. All medically necessary treatment is usually covered by workers’ compensation, as long as it is obtained through an authorized provider. If your injury causes more than 7 days of missed work, you can also receive disability benefits for lost wages. Unfortunately, Florida does not require your employer to keep your job available until you can return to work.
For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Florida are critical for filing a claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay receiving help from a Florida healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer.
According to the Florida Division of Workers Compensation, Port St. Lucie employees have 30 days to report a work-related injury. Your employer should file the claim, but if they fail to do so, you can file it directly. However, the claim must be filed within 2 years of the injury.
Timeline and Other Information
Temporary disability compensation in Port St. Lucie is typically about 66% of your average weekly wage, capped at $1011 per week. These payments will usually continue until you can return to work or your condition stabilizes. However, temporary disability benefits are limited to a maximum of 104 weeks. If you are still unable to return to work at full capacity, you may be eligible for permanent disability benefits. The amount and duration of this compensation is determined by a formula. This formula incorporates the type and severity of the injury. A Port St. Lucie attorney can help you maximize the benefits you receive.
Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any possible witnesses to the event. In the meantime, the workers’ comp insurer may begin paying medical benefits while the investigation into your claim continues.
Why You Should Hire a Port St. Lucie, Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Port St. Lucie, Florida, in others, it may be more difficult. Your employer may ask if you suffer an injury on the clock or on your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a Port St. Lucieworkers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Port St. Lucie, Florida
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Port St. Lucie, Florida you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney who knows how to avoid them.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
