Miami Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Over three percent of full time workers will experience a work related injury or illness within the year. This equates to nearly three million workplace injuries and illnesses every year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Recovering from these injuries can be an incredibly difficult, long journey. Sometimes a person’s ability to return to the work they were once able to do is greatly diminished. Many injured workers face financial difficulties following a workplace injury, and have to fight tooth and nail to regain the type of lives they once had. Contact our experienced Miami workers’ compensation lawyers for more information.
2003 Marked the Downfall of Workers’ Compensation in Florida
Most businesses only pay 21 percent of the cost of workplace injuries, leaving the rest to the victim and to taxpayers. This unjust system puts a heavy burden on the injured worker, who will most likely lose considerable wages during their time of recovery. Why is the system rigged against the everyday person and in favor of large business? How is anyone expected to recover if they can’t afford the proper treatment and go into debt when their injury prevents them from returning to work? The answers can be found in a law that changed the entire landscape of worker’ compensation in 2003. Florida is not alone it is lack of concern for injured workers. Many states have drastically decreased the amount of workers’ compensation over the last few decades. This unfair system does not allow the time or resources required to heal from a serious workplace injury. It puts profits ahead of people. Florida has cut workers’ compensation benefits by 65 percent since 1994.
Miami Workers’ Compensation
Florida law provides that every employer with four or more employees must provide no-fault workers’ compensation. This means that whether the injury occurred due to the worker’s own mistake does not matter. Fault is not even discussed or considered in the claim. However, this does not stop all employers from claiming that the injury was faked, that it occurred off the job, or that it was a preexisting condition.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
The amount of workers’ compensation you receive depends on the severity of your injury. The typical amount of medical disability benefits you can expect to receive is two-thirds of your weekly paycheck.
Other types of benefits include:
- Permanent disability benefits;
- Disability income benefits;
- Disability income benefits;
- Supplemental benefits;
- Permanent total benefits; and
- Death benefits, if a death resulted from the workplace accident.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
You have 30 days from the date of the injury to report it to your employer under Florida law. Your employer must report the injury to their insurance company within the following week. After an injury, you have two years to file a workers’ compensation claim, which is why it is important to speak to an lawyer as soon as possible while both the evidence and injury are fresh.
Contact a Miami Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
If you have been injured on the job, don’t hesitate to call one of our successful Miami workers’ compensation lawyers to discuss your legal options. The sooner you file a claim, the sooner you can recover the funds necessary to pay your medical and other bills associated with your injury. Reach out to the Pendas Law Firm for help today and begin down the path of recovery.
