Workers’ Compensation Claims Process in Boca Raton

Every year, there are thousands of employees in Florida who begin workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton for job-related injuries and health conditions. Unfortunately, over half of these claims end up being denied by the employer and/or the insurance provider. If you or a loved one was injured on the job, you are not alone.

If you want to improve your chances of filing a successful workers’ compensation case, it’s critical to follow some specific guidelines and stay on top of any deadlines when going through the workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton.

At Work Injury Rights, our Boca Raton workers’ compensation lawyers are available to help you file for workers’ compensation benefits and aggressively pursue the benefits you need and deserve. Our team offers decades of experience in this area of law to clients in Boca Raton and throughout Florida.

We provide the information below to help you understand what’s involved in the workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton, Florida.

How Can I Know if My Injury Will Be Covered By a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

In Florida, most diseases and injuries that occur in the workplace or are caused by the normal requirements of a job are considered compensable injuries, which means they are covered under the workers’ comp laws of Florida. When an employee suffers from any infection, injury, or disease in their workplace, it’s covered here. Death is also covered, along with all physical occupational injuries.

However, emotional distress and mental anguish, including pain and suffering, are not covered under Florida workers’ comp. This means that things like any form of psychological trauma, like fears and trauma, are not covered. Other exceptions include instances where the injury was caused by alcohol or drugs used while at work, failure to follow the laid out procedures, or horseplay.

The best way to ensure your injuries and/or conditions are compensable is to correctly start the workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton. The following are some of the most common illnesses and injuries covered under the workers’ compensation laws in Florida:

• Neck, shoulder, and back injuries, along with soft tissue injuries associated with overexertion and repetitive movements
• Sprains and strains
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Respiratory injuries or illnesses including lung cancer and mesothelioma, as well as any other life-threatening disorders caused by exposure to hazardous materials
• Burns
• Traumatic brain injury and other head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Strokes
• Lacerations and contusions
• Hearing and vision loss
• Psychological disorders
• Crushed and fractured bones
• Internal organ damage
• Amputations
• Death

Understanding the allowable benefits in the workers’ comp system is a crucial step following an injury. If you still have any questions about the covered injuries and the workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton, get in touch with us for more information.

How Long Do You Have to Begin the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process in Boca Raton?

If you’re injured at work or develop a work-related illness, you are required to either file a Petition for Benefits or seek authorized healthcare or indemnity benefits within 2 years from the date of the injury. After this, you’re allowed one year to file your workers’ compensation claim, based on Florida’s statute of limitations.

Under this one-year statute, you shouldn’t allow more than a year to pass without receiving treatment from an authorized medical practitioner. An authorized medical practitioner is one that has been approved to provide medical care by the insurance company providing you with workers’ compensation coverage.

Once a year elapses before you get treatment from an authorized medical practitioner, you will effectively be forfeiting your rights to file a claim in the future. In that case, you will be barred from receiving further benefits, including medical treatment for the injury in question.

How Do You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Florida?

The following is a list of things you must do in order to properly begin the workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton:

Report the Accident as Soon as Possible

It’s crucial to report the accident or injury as soon as possible, ideally within 30 days. Otherwise, your employer and/or their insurance carrier may deny your claim. Ensure that you report the injury to your employer even if it didn’t cause you to miss any work.

Visit an Authorized Medical Facility or Practitioner

Visit a physician or medical group authorized by your employer or their insurance company to provide medical treatment. If you choose to see your own doctor, you might not be compensated for those medical services.

Inform the Insurance Company

Your employer is required to contact their insurance provider within 7 days of you reporting your injury. If they don’t, consider doing it yourself, with the help of an attorney. You should then receive documentation to explain your rights and responsibilities, along with more information about the claims process.

Request a Copy of Your Employer’s Report

Request your employer to provide a copy of the report that they filed with their insurance provider. In case your supervisor did not make a written report, you will want to make a report on the same for your own files.

Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you believe you have a workers’ compensation claim, you should get in touch with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer in Boca Raton, Florida at Work Injury Rights. We provide all our clients with a free initial consultation for your workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton, and we won’t charge you anything in case we’re unable to recover the compensation benefits you’re entitled to.

Some of the possible workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to include wage replacement, medical care, and temporary disability. Throughout the workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton, precaution is required to ensure that the injury is reported accurately, your claim is filed correctly, and the right procedures are followed when pursuing benefits, even when your claim is denied.

Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today for Help With the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process in Boca Raton

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in their workplace, get in touch with an experienced Boca Raton workers’ compensation lawyer today at Work Injury Rights. Our team has the skills and the experience to uphold the rights of any injured worker who is beginning the workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton.

Call us today to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team to discuss the circumstances surrounding your case and how we can help you pursue the benefits you are eligible for. We understand the complex workers’ compensation claims process in Boca Raton, and we won’t hesitate to fight for the compensation you need and deserve. To speak to our legal team, contact us today at 954-833-5226 and schedule your free case evaluation.