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Have you been in a situation where you suffered an injury while at work? If you have never found yourself in that position, you might be wondering what you should do and the steps to file for workers’ compensation. Suffering a workplace injury can result in lost wages and medical conditions that could leave you too stressed in terms of finances and your mental state due to the traumaad further stress due to untimely financial expenses and mental trauma.
Not all workplace injuries are the same. The injuries can differ basedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injury on the nature of work and what exactly happened. Some injuries do not have obvious symptoms right away or develop over a longer time. The reporting process for such injuries might be different.
You should know all your rights if you ever experience an injury at work and what to do to become financially whole stable again with a full recovery. This post will be your guide to help you understand your legal rights after getting hurt at work.
What To Do Right After Sustaining An Injury At Work
Reporting to your HR representative is the first thing you should do as soon as you experience an injury at work. The HR representative is responsible for explaining the process to file for and claim the workers’ compensation. They will explain the process of claiming workers’ compensation and the benefits you can expect to receive based on your company’s policy.
The conditions that qualify a person to claim workers’ compensation include:
- The person has to be an employee contracted by the company
- The person must file the report within the state’s statute of limitations
- The injury or illness must be related to work
- The company carries workers’ compensation insurance coverage
Suppose that your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance. In that case, you might need to look for other avenues to collect the compensation. The most likely method is to pursue a third-party claim.
Each state has a time limit to file a workers’ comp claim. Florida residents must report their injuries within a year of incurring them. A year is an ample amount of time because some internal injuries may take a long time to show symptoms.
Common Workplace Injuries Employees Sustain
Workplace injuries can vary drastically, depending on where you work and what you do. For instance, you might be likelier to suffer from falls or other physical injuries if you have a physically demanding field job. If you are employed at a company where you need your job requires you to work around chemicals or other harmful substances, you might be likelier to suffer internal injuries.
Some of the most common workplace injuries reported in Florida include:
- Slip and fall
- Inhalation of toxins
- Collisions
- Cuts and bruises
- Tears or strains
The nature and severity of your injury can make a big difference in the amount you can receive through workers’ compensation. It is important to remember that reporting it within a year is necessary regardless of the injury you have suffered, reporting it within a year is necessary. Otherwise, you run the risk of being ineligible for workers’ compensation. Your employer will be within their legal rights to dismiss your case.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Workers’ compensation can entail different benefits, depending on the company’s insurance policy. Some of the expected benefits you can receive through workers’ comp in Pompano Beach include:
- Medical care
- Rehabilitation benefits
- Funeral coverage (in case of death)
- Temporary benefits to cover lost wages
You will most likely not receive all the benefits available in your company’s workers’ comp insurance. Your employer is responsible for coming up with the best possible scenario to support you as you recover from your injuries. There is always a chance that your employer will offer you a lump sum payment in a workers’ comp situation.
Lump-sum compensations might ‘appear’ to be adequate, but you should be a little cautious about accepting such an offer. It might be a method for your employer to reduce the amount of money they have to spend on helping you recover from your injury. Always think twice about accepting such an offer.
Consult with a Pompano Beach personal injury lawyer if they do not make a different offer or provide you with adequate benefits.
Reporting The A Workplace Injury
When reporting an injury to begin claiming workers’ comp after suffering an injury, the date you incurred the injury is a crucial piece of information. If you sustained an internal injury that did not exhibit symptoms for a while, you might be unaware of the exact date when you suffered the injury. It is advisable to report the first date you missed work because of the injury or the day your doctor advises, provided that they suspect the injury developed due to your work.
Your HR representative will give you the paperwork you need to fill out after you reportreporting your injury. Filing the workers’ compensation claim quickly can make the process faster. The paperwork will most likely offer you room to share details about the injury, how it happened, and the symptoms you have been experiencing due to it.
WithIn most cases, this is the final step before, and your employer will begin processing everything. You might have to visit the doctor again if the employer asks for medical records that prove your claim.
What Happens After Filing Your Workplace Injury Report
You must wait Once once you hand in the report and fill out all the paperwork, you must wait. The claim passes through several rounds of reviews. The claim review process will examine your medical records, your experience at the company, any past incidents, and all the documents you included in your claim.
The result will be an acceptance or rejection of your claim. If the employer approves your claim, your employer will inform you of the benefits that it feels are most suited to your case. You can challenge the claim if you think the employer did not handle the claim adequately in the benefits they approved or unfairly rejected your claim.
Challenging the result of your claim is not a straightforward process, and it’s advisable to work with a qualified personal injury lawyer for it.
Why You Might Need A Pompano Beach Personal Injury Lawyer
It is unlikely to experience a situation in which your workplace might deny you your rights in a case such as this. If such an unfortunate situation arises, you need to seek immediate legal assistance from an experienced professional.
Consider contacting an Injury Lawyer to enlist the help of their experienced Pompano Beach personal injury lawyers to appeal your employer’s decision and protect your legal rights. Legal professionals who have a track record for dealing with such cases can help you file your claim and make a solid case to ensure that you get the support necessary through this tumultuous time.
Suppose that your employer refuses to offer you the assistance you need during this traumatic time. In that case, you are well within your rights to file a third-party claim against your employer. Pursuing this course of action means refusing to accept the workers’ compensation benefits you might be offered.
Accepting the inadequate workers’ comp benefit from your employer implies that you agree with your employer’s decisions in the case and their’ ‘willingness to assist you.’
Consider contacting Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers to enlist the help of their experienced Pompano Beach personal injury lawyers to appeal your employer’s decision and protect your legal rights. Legal professionals who have a track record for dealing with such cases can help you file your claim and make a solid case to ensure that you get the support necessary through this tumultuous time.
