Bradenton Worker’s Compensation Attorneys

Helping Injured Workers Pursue Fair Compensation

If you recently suffered a workplace injury, it’s critical that you get the medical treatment you need to fully recover. You should not have to suffer in silence and work through the pain just because you can’t afford to take time off work and get medical care for your wounds. It’s important to advocate for yourself by speaking with an experienced attorney who can help you apply for workers’ compensation benefits as an injured worker in Florida.

At Legler, Murphy & Battaglia, LLP, our legal team has assisted countless clients who were injured at work and needed fast access to medical treatment, lost wages, and other workers’ comp benefits. If you’re unsure if filing a workers’ compensation claim is right for you or if there are other legal options to explore, contact our Bradenton law firm for a free consultation with caring workers’ compensation lawyers.

What Should You Know About Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Florida?

If this is your first work-related injury and you’re unfamiliar with the Florida workers’ compensation system, you should learn some basic facts about it, such as how it works and what it covers. If you still have questions about it afterward or are ready to file a workers’ compensation claim, your next step should be to schedule a free consultation with Florida workers’ compensation attorneys eager to assist you.

The first detail to know is that Florida law requires most businesses with four or more employees to pay for workers’ compensation insurance, so it’s likely that the company you work for has this coverage available to injured workers like you. It’s even more likely if you’re in the construction industry, since construction companies must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have more than one employee.

Workers’ compensation insurance is meant to protect both employees and employers when someone is injured at work. The coverage pays for the injured employee’s medical expenses and lost wages so they can pay their bills as they recover. In turn, they can’t bring a personal injury lawsuit against their employer or hold them financially responsible for work-related injuries.

The main advantage of workers’ compensation claims is that they don’t require injured workers to prove negligence. As long as you were injured at work, you should be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, even if the accident was your fault. The fact that you don’t need to prove fault makes workers’ compensation claims the fastest way to get compensated for medical expenses and lost wages after a work-related injury. Workers’ compensation also offers death benefits to the family of any employee killed in a workplace accident, ensuring they’re compensated for funeral expenses and lost income.

If you believe you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits as an injured worker in Florida, you should talk to a trusted workers’ compensation lawyer to determine your next steps. Note that you must report your workplace injury to your employer within 30 days, after which you have up to two years to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, it’s best to file right away with a lawyer’s help so you can get your benefits as soon as possible. Contact our Bradenton law office to learn more.

What Are the Most Common Workplace Injuries?

Your workers’ compensation benefits should cover any treatment you need to help your workplace injuries heal, so the specific injury you suffered shouldn’t affect your claim. However, certain injuries are unfortunately quite common when it comes to Florida workers’ compensation claims, requiring surgery, physical therapy, and even life-saving measures. The most common work-related injuries include the following:

Burns caused by hot surfaces, chemicals, or electric shock
Broken bones and sprained joints caused by tripping, slipping, or falling from a platform
Traumatic brain injuries caused by being struck by heavy objects or falling from tall surfaces
Torn ligaments and back injuries from carrying heavy objects
Vision loss due to chemicals or sharp tools making contact with the eyes
Hearing loss from extremely loud noises at work
Lacerations or limb loss due to sharp objects and machinery
Organ damage due to long-term exposure to toxins in the workplace
Repetitive stress injuries to joints and muscles over time, such as carpal tunnel syndrome

Regardless of the job-related injury you sustained, you deserve to know your medical bills will be paid for so you don’t have to put off the care you need. You should also rest assured you can continue to make a living while you’re healing from your injuries, whether it will be weeks or months before you can return to work.

In fact, depending on the extent of your injuries and your ability to work again, you might qualify for disability benefits so you can pay your bills despite being too injured to work. This will depend on what your medical provider says about your maximum medical improvement. If they determine that your injuries prevent you from working for now, you can apply for temporary total disability benefits, which allow you to collect about two-thirds of your average weekly wage.

If you can do some light work while you heal, you might qualify for temporary partial disability benefits so you get a portion of your average weekly wage during your physical recovery. On the other hand, if you can never work again due to a life-changing work injury, you can apply for permanent total disability benefits. Additionally, you might be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, depending on your injuries. A skilled workers’ comp attorney can help you navigate the different disability programs, so consult with one today for answers.

At our Bradenton law office, we believe your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage should be financially responsible for your workplace injuries to ensure you can afford your bills as you heal. That’s why our dedicated workers’ compensation lawyers work hard to get you the benefits you need. Whether you’re ready to file a workers’ compensation claim or have questions about disability programs and other legal options, call us today to speak with compassionate Bradenton workers’ compensation attorneys.

Can You Initiate a Lawsuit for a Workplace Injury?

One of the purposes of workers’ compensation insurance is to protect employers from lawsuits when employees get injured. This means you typically can’t sue your employer even if your injuries are found to be their fault. However, you may be able to take legal action against a third party that contributed to your injuries at work. Some examples of third parties that can be held financially liable by injured workers include:

The owner of a property found to be unsafe for workers
The manufacturer of equipment determined to be defective
The maintenance company that failed to properly maintain or repair a broken machine
The driver who caused a car accident that injured an employee driving for work
Contractors whose negligent actions led to serious construction accidents

In short, if you suspect that anyone besides your employer played a role in your work injury, exploring this possibility with the help of workers’ compensation lawyers makes sense. If your suspicion of third-party negligence is correct, you’ll be eligible to collect more compensation than you’d get with a workers’ compensation claim.

After all, workers’ compensation benefits are limited to a portion of your lost income and medical benefits sufficient to treat your injuries. Personal injury lawsuits can collect additional compensation, including:

Future medical expenses
Property damage
Lost income
Pain and suffering
Disfigurement
Punitive damages
Wrongful death

If you’re entitled to even some of these damages, your settlement will typically be much more generous than your workers’ compensation benefits. This is why Florida workers injured on the job should meet with Bradenton workers’ compensation lawyers to discuss the option of a third-party negligence lawsuit.

Of course, this type of legal action requires you to prove that someone other than your employer caused your injuries, so it can take much longer to get a lawsuit settlement than workers’ compensation benefits. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between these options. You can make a workers’ compensation claim immediately after the injury to get benefits within weeks, and then talk to a Bradenton workers’ compensation lawyer about initiating a claim against a third party’s insurance company.

If you want to know more about filing a lawsuit, initiating the workers’ compensation claim process, or both, contact our Bradenton law firm. During your initial consultation, you can speak with a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer about your legal options as an injured worker in Florida.

How Can a Bradenton Workers’ Compensation Attorney Assist with Your Claim?

The workers’ compensation program is meant to streamline the process of injured employees getting the medical and financial help they need, so many injured workers file for workers’ comp on their own. While this works out for some employees filing simple claims for injuries they will soon recover from, others need guidance from an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. After all, sometimes the employer’s insurance company denies workers’ comp claims or refuses to pay out the full amount of workers’ compensation benefits.

When that occurs, you need legal representation from a workers’ comp attorney who will help you successfully navigate the Florida workers’ compensation claim process. The experienced workers’ comp lawyers at Legler, Murphy & Battaglia, LLP would be happy to help you get the benefits you deserve as an injured worker. If the employer’s insurance company denied your claim or your employer failed to complete the paperwork for your workers’ comp case, an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer from our Bradenton law office will step up and fight for you to get the benefits you’re entitled to.

Whether you need help getting an appointment with a medical provider approved by your employer’s insurance company or need us to gather your medical records to push your claim forward, our team is here to assist you. We can represent you in court if the insurance company refuses to pay your rightful benefits as an injured worker, and we can examine the circumstances of the work accident to determine if you can sue a third party for compensation.

We’ve spent years representing injured victims throughout Manatee County, so you can rest assured we’re knowledgeable about Florida’s workers’ compensation laws. Additionally, we believe every injured employee should be fully compensated for their injuries, which is why we aggressively fight for the rights of every injured worker we represent. If you’re ready to learn more about workers’ compensation laws and how they apply to your case, call our Florida workers’ compensation law firm at 941-909-3763 for legal advice from a caring workers’ comp lawyer.