Florida Workers Compensation Law Lawyers
Florida Workers Compensation Law
Almost all Florida employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance to cover and on-the-job injuries suffered by an employee. The injured worker can receive compensation for lost wages and medical expenses associated with the injury, regardless of fault.
A company can either self-insure or obtain private or state insurance to cover its workers. The employee does not share in the cost of this insurance premium. In exchange, the worker is prevented from suing his employer for further compensation to cover the expenses from his injury.
Even though fault is not assessed, the employer is still required to keep the workplace safe. Some employers do not take this responsibility seriously and may expose workers to conditions that result in slip and fall accidents, chemical burns, toxin exposure, and heavy equipment injuries.
About 100,000 Floridians apply for these benefits every year which can cover a temporary total disability, a critical injury, retraining benefits, permanent disability, as well as death benefits.
Because giant insurance companies provide workers' compensation insurance, the injured may not receive all the compensation they deserve under the law unless they have an experienced Florida workers' compensation attorney on their side.
Workers' compensation is there for all of us - it is actually the oldest social insurance program. Florida adopted its workers' compensation program in 1935. Under Florida law, workers' compensation must be offered to all full-time employees if there are four or more employees, unless the business is a construction company, which must offer workers' compensation coverage to all of its employees.
Florida workers' compensation law can be found in Chapter 440 in the Florida Statutes.
While workers' compensation will cover medical bills and lost wages for an injury at the workplace or on-the job, it does not compensate you for pain and suffering which you could expect to receive for an injury outside of the workplace.
Farah & Farah has found that even with this limitation there are some circumstances that would allow full recovery of a typical injury case.
Our Florida workers' compensation attorneys will investigate whether a third party or defective product contributed to your injury. If so, they can be named in a lawsuit. And you may be able to sue your employer if you can show that his actions resulted in a situation where there was a "virtual certainty" an injury would occur; where he concealed the dangers; and where there had been prior complaints by other employees.
Workers' compensation law has changed over the years. In October 2003, changes were made to state law that curtailed the workers' right to a second opinion from a doctor of his or her choosing following an injury in the workplace. Instead, the insurance carrier selects the doctor to diagnose and treat your injuries.
Under new state law, attorneys' fees are limited. As a result, many law firms have made the decision not to invest time litigating a workers' compensation claim. The injured will have a tough time finding a law firm to represent them and insurance companies know this. It has emboldened the industry to deny more claims than ever.
Farah & Farah is dedicated to representing the injured in workers' compensation claims up until the time the Florida legislature nails shut the doors to the courthouse.
Please visit our Florida Workers Compensation Website for more info.
Our personal promise: Accident victims have specific rights, but by law you have a limited time to take action. When you use our team at Farah & Farah, there are NO up-front charges.
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Our fee is a percentage of the money awarded payable only when your case is successfully concluded. No matter how many times you call and how long we talk, there is NO CHARGE or cost until your case settles. Do not sign any releases, agreements or give any statements until you have spoken with us about your legal rights. When it comes to getting you more, we won't settle for less!
We personally promise that you will be treated with the respect and dignity you deserve. We promise to keep you up to date and informed as to developments in your case. Your case is important to us, regardless of size.
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