What To Do After An Accident At Work in West Palm Beach, Florida
Our personal injury and workers’ compensation attorneys in West Palm Beach are committed to getting the compensation you deserve if you have suffered injuries due to another person’s negligent or reckless actions. Call Advocates USA today for your free case evaluation at 1-800-872-4878.
Regardless of your profession, there are potential dangers that come with every job. Whether you are a construction worker, work with hazardous material, or an office clerk, dangerous conditions are always present. Work injuries can happen in a split second, leaving your life in turmoil with significant financial debt. Our work injury and personal injury attorneys at Advocates USA in West Palm Beach has provided tips to follow to help give you the best opportunity to claim the maximum workers’ compensation benefits in Florida.
5 Tips To Follow After A Work Injury
1. Notify Your Supervisor or Management Of Your Work Injury in West Palm Beach.
Depending on your injuries’ severity, inform your employer of your work injury immediately following the accident or when you can. Regardless of who’s to blame for your workplace accident, workers’ compensation insurance is no-fault, so employees should not fear being without coverage or not being able to pay for their medical expenses.
Also, employees should not fear retaliation, such as losing a job or decreasing pay for reporting a work accident because it is illegal. After you have been injured in a construction site accident, a slip and fall accident, or any other work accident in Palm Beach County, obtain as many details as possible such as:
- Names of witnesses
- The date and time of the accident
- Details leading up to how your personal injury occurred
- Location
- Any relevant photos or videos of the accident scene
If you cannot obtain this information due to your severe work injuries, have someone else take down this information.
There are, however, injuries that develop over time, such as repetitive stress injury. As soon as you start feeling any discomfort, report it to your supervisor and document the work contributing to the pain and any changes you are experiencing. Examples of repetitive stress injuries our work injury attorneys at Advocates USA frequently see are:
- Disc injuries
- Stress fractures
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Lumbar fractures
2. Promptly File Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in West Palm Beach
If you have sustained a work injury in Florida, you have 30 days to notify your employer of your work accident and file a workers’ compensation claim. This also includes any condition or illness that has developed over time. You have 30 days to notify your employer from the date of discovery. Delaying your workers’ compensation claim can prolong the process of receiving compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages. It also gives the insurance company reason to deny your work injury claim due to technicality.
3. Seek Medical Attention
If you have experienced a work related injury, your primary concern should be your health. Whether it was a severe work accident or experiencing discomfort from repetitive movements, our work accident lawyers at Advocates USA suggest you seek treatment from your doctor and report your personal injuries to your employer if you and your doctor feel they are work-related.
Once the workers’ compensation has begun, the insurance company will most likely want you to submit an independent medical examination (IME)from a doctor within the Employers’ network. This IME will determine your work injuries’ severities and the compensation the insurance company feels is reasonable. If you think the doctor misrepresented your injuries, pain or if the insurance company under valued your claim, you should hire a West Palm Beach work injury attorney at Advocates USA.
4. Follow Your Doctors Instructions
As usual, following your doctor’s orders is a must, especially if you are in the process of a workers’ compensation claim. Insurance companies are eager to either dismiss your claim or undervalue your compensation. This includes attending all your appointments and therapy appointments, following your prescribed treatments and medication, and only perform the work duties permitted.
5. If Your Claim Was Denied or Undervalued Consult With Workers Compensation Lawyers At Advocates USA
Unfortunately, when dealing with insurance companies and compensation for personal injuries during a workplace accident, workers’ compensation insurance companies are quick to deny or undervalue your claim. If you fall into this category, contact experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at Advocates USA for a free consultation, and we can help you appeal your claim.
Regardless of your process, Advocates USA is the best personal injury attorney for workplace injuries and accidents in Palm Beach County. We know how to navigate the system and handle the bully insurance companies. We want to fight for your fundamental legal rights and get the compensation you deserve so you can begin your road to recovery.
Contact our work accident and personal injury attorneys at Advocates USA today for a free evaluation by calling 1-800-872-4878 or filling out our contact form. We are available 24 hours a day with offices in West Palm Beach and throughout the state of Florida.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IN FLORIDA
What is a work comp attorney?
A knowledgeable workers’ comp attorney can help you structure a settlement properly for your social security disability payments. If your settlement isn’t structured correctly, your work comp benefits could be significantly lower. Workers comp lawyers are essential in cases involving permanent injuries or illness.
How do workers comp lawyers get paid?
Workers’ compensation lawyers usually receive a fixed percentage of the benefits of a sick or injured worker. Workers’ compensation attorneys will typically get between 15% to 30% of your settlement amount; in a case where you settle for $100,000, your attorney’s fee could be between $15,000 to $30,000.
How workers comp works in Florida?
The law limits the amount of time you can receive workers’ compensation. Florida’s workers’ compensation system is designed to get workers back to work as soon as possible. Once the doctor releases you back to work, the insurance company does not have to keep issuing workers’ compensation benefits to the injured employee. To get more information, contact Advocates USA Attorneys today for your free consultation by calling 1-800-872-4878. We are the attorneys for the injured