Workplace Injuries & Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that employers are required to provide to their employees who are injured or hurt while doing their jobs. This insurance provides compensation for medical expenses and lost income, resulting from the work-related injury. If you were hurt on the job and work for a company with at least four full-time employees, you may be entitled to:
• Attendant care
• Home modifications
• Impairment benefit checks
• Medical treatment and a change in physicians
• Mileage reimbursement for medical related travel
• Physical therapy
• Percentage of your lost wages
• Prescription reimbursement
• Vocational retraining
• And many other benefits
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established to help create safe work environments for workers in the United States, however, even with the regulations set by OSHA, work related injuries are still quite common and vary greatly across occupations.
According to the Florida Department of Financial Services, over 58,000 workers’ compensation cases were filed in 2007 and the average settlement was over $10,000, average benefits paid was over $12,000, and the average medical care incurred was over $8,000.
KEL Attorneys has the experience needed to challenge employers and their insurance companies in workers’ compensation disputes. Our goal is to protect the rights of injury victims and their families and as with all areas of law that we practice, our number one priority is our relationship with our clients. Many factors determine the benefits and/or compensation that an employee injured on the job may be entitled to, including:
• Age
• Future expected wages
• Future medical care and therapy
• Injury type
• Job type
• Level of education and training
• Wages
Workers’ compensation insurance companies unfortunately have little incentive to act on the injured employee’s behalf, because they stand to lose money each time a workplace injury occurs. This is why it is very important to hire an attorney with the proper experience to deal with workers’ compensation disputes.
If you are injured on the job, it is important to notify your supervisor immediately and contact an experienced attorney within 30 days of the incident. Your employer or their insurance company should notify you of your rights and direct you to the proper treatment with a workers’ compensation physician. Be sure to document the following:
• Who you notified of your injuries
• When you notified them
• Any other circumstances surrounding your work accident
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, please contact KEL Attorneys right away. We will answer all of your questions and evaluate your case, so call today for a Free Consultation at 888-238-2686.