What Should You Do If You Get Injured at Work

If you are injured on the job, knowing your rights is important.  Your employer CANNOT fire you because you are filing a claim for workers’ compensation after a work-related injury. There are laws that protect employees from possible retaliations by an employer for reporting injuries.

I was Injured at Work Now What?

What should you do if you get injured at work? Before running into the bosses office and demanding that workers compensation pay the medical bills, make sure the employer is covered and the injury was a work related accident. Your employer is required by law to have workers’ compensation coverage if there is four or more  full or part-time employees.

Reporting Your Injury

Work related injuries should be reported to your employer as soon as possible. If the injury is not reported to the employer within the 30 day window, there is a chance your workers’ compensation insurance claim may be denied.  You can get the insurance information from the workers’ compensation insurance poster that is posted somewhere in the office as required by law.

If for whatever reasons your employer cannot or will not report the injury, you can contact them yourself. If there is no information posted in the office, you can contact Florida’s Employee Assisstance and Ombudsman Office to get help.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Your Injury

Your employer and the workers’ compensation insurance provider are responsible for providing you with certain benefits for the work-related injury you sustained.

Workers’ Compensation Medical Benefits: These include  medical treatments and care related to the injury, such as:

•  doctor visits
•  hospitalization
•  physical therapy
•  prescriptions
•  medical exams

Workers’ Compensation Lost Wages Benefits: This includes wages that were lost due to an injury at work. The monetary amount and duration of benefits varies on the results of the injury.

Temporary Disability: The two types of disability benefits that may help recover lost wages after an injury are Temporary Total (TT) and Temporary Partial (TP).

•  Temporary Total – Occurs when the work-related injury you sustained restricts you from returning to work for a specific time or until the injury is healed.
•  Temporary Partial – Occurs if the work-related injury allows you to return to work with restrictions.

Impairment Benefits (IP): If your injury is not expected to improve, a doctor will evaluate the injury for any work restrictions and provide you with an impairment rating. If you receive a rating higher than 0%, you will be entitled to a set value based on your injuries rating percent.

Permanent Total Disability (PT): If the work-related injury is so severe that it leaves you permanently disabled and unable to work, you may receive permanent total disability benefits.

Death: If a death occurs within one year of the accident or five years of continuous disability, a maximum of $150,000 in benefits may be payable to the following:
•  Funeral costs (up to $7,500)
•  Compensation to dependants
•  Education benefits to surviving spouse

Consult with a Work Injury Lawyer Boca Raton

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, lost a loved one as a result of the accident, or if you would like more info about other serious injury cases or contact Boca Raton FL worker’s compensation attorneys at Glotzer & Kobren, P.A. at 561-361-8677.