As a Florida employee, calling workers’ compensation attorneys in Orlando isn’t in your plans as you step out every day. You want to go to work in the morning and get home safely without issues like a workplace injury. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always work out the way we plan it. Whether you work in construction or sit behind the computer every day, you’re always susceptible to workplace injuries.
Fortunately, Florida’s workers’ compensation laws provide financial benefits for injured workers. Upon a successful workers’ comp claim, you can receive medical care, wage loss benefits, etc. However, your chances of a successful workers’ compensation claim depend on how well you understand the system.
After a workplace injury, there are many steps you must take to get benefits. Failure to follow the proper processes can rob you of the compensation you deserve. We’ve put this article together to let you in on your responsibilities after an on-the-job injury. If you need more detailed and personalized legal advice, reach out to our workers’ compensation lawyers in Orlando.
Let’s get started.
What To Do After a Florida Workplace Injury
If you’ve suffered a work injury in Florida, taking these steps will ensure that you get compensation without hassles:
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Report the Accident to Your Employer
It would be best to let your employer or supervisor know about your work accident as soon as possible. In addition, let your co-workers know that you’ve sustained injuries too. If you wait too long to report your injuries, your employer may doubt that they happened at your workplace.
Ensure that the report is in writing and even if your employer witnessed the accident, still make a formal statement. Reporting your injuries early also ensures no delays in processing your benefits.
In your statement, give details about where and how the accident happened. According to Florida’s workers’ compensation laws, you must report your injuries to your employer within 30 days. If it’s an occupational exposure case, inform your employer within 90 days.
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Visit the Doctor ASAP
Another essential step to take after your workplace is visiting a physician as soon as possible. This is a top priority as your health is the most important thing to focus on after your accident. Seeing your doctor on time guarantees early diagnosis and treatment. This ensures that you recover from your injuries as quickly as possible.
It’s still important to visit a doctor even if you feel fine or aren’t experiencing any symptoms. That’s because some injuries wouldn’t show signs immediately. You may only realize the extent of your wounds much later when it becomes complicated.
Aside from healing fully, another reason to see a physician is to gather evidence supporting your work injury claim. Also, visit the doctor or hospital that your employer authorizes.
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You Must Follow Your Doctors’ Advice
One essential step many injured workers take for granted is following their doctors’ advice or recommendations. Don’t make that mistake. Doing everything your doctor asks you to do shows your employer that you’re serious about your recovery. So, don’t skip any part of your recovery process, even if you think they’re unnecessary.
This means that you shouldn’t skip your doctor’s appointments without justifiable reason. That’s regardless of whether you think you’re feeling better or not.
Also, it’s essential to make a detailed journal of your recovery process every time. Record whether you’re feeling better or worse, the medications you’re taking, medical expenses, etc. These details can help your workers’ comp attorneys in Orlando to settle grey areas in your work comp claim subsequently.
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Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
When it comes to getting adequate benefits for your workplace injury, you can’t achieve much without your lawyer’s help. That’s because your employer may attempt to make your compensation process a difficult one.
They’re typically more interested in protecting themselves than paying you what you deserve. As such, you need a legal professional who has experience with workers’ compensation claims to handle your case.
Also, there are many laws, regulations, and best practices governing work comp claims in Florida. This makes the work comp process a complicated one. You’ll need workers’ compensation attorneys in Orlando to guide you through the process and prevent you from making mistakes.
What Your Company Must Do Following a Workplace Injury
After reporting your injuries to your employer, your company is responsible for investigating your claim. According to Florida State Law, your employer must notify the insurance company of your injury within seven days. They do this by filing a First Report of Injury with the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation.
They will also file a workplace injury report to the insurance company. Your employers can face sanctions if they report your injuries late. In addition, the insurance company can only start processing your benefits after they receive the injury form from your employers.
How To Find the Best Workers’ Comp Attorneys in Orlando
The following tips will help you choose the most suitable workers’ compensation attorneys in Orlando for your workplace injury case:
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Consider Experience and Expertise
First, check that your lawyer is a workers’ compensation expert and not just any personal injury attorney. Also, consider how long they’ve been handling personal injury cases. The more experience they have, the more equipped they are to take your case.
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Factor in Their Past Records of Success
Apart from experience, check that most cases they handled in the past were successful. Also, check that the lawyer isn’t working on numerous cases when hiring them. This ensures that they’ll give your case the attention it deserves.
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Understand How They Communicate
Ensure that your lawyers’ communication preferences allow you to reach them constantly.
Work With Experienced Workers’ Comp Attorneys in Orlando for Maximum Financial Benefits
As with many other states, Florida’s workers’ compensation system isn’t fault-based. So, you don’t need to prove that your employer was careless or responsible for the accident to get compensation. This is supposed to make the work comp process a seamless one.
However, many issues may still arise that can get in the way of adequate compensation. This is usually the case when you make inevitable mistakes that the insurance companies leverage to withhold your benefits. You can avoid this situation by following the steps in this article. Also, hiring experienced workers comp attorneys will significantly improve your chances of success.
When scouting for suitable Orlando injury lawyers for your work comp case, think no further than Florida Lawyers 360. Our work comp attorneys are formidable, experienced, and compassionate. We’ll assess your case objectively and guide you through every step to ensure that you get justice. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
