Reporting a Work Injury in Coral Springs

If you or a loved one has been injured in Coral Springs, Florida while at work, you have the right to seek compensation for the injuries and damages you sustained. The Florida workers’ compensation system is a strict liability system, meaning that injured workers’ may be entitled to benefits no matter who is at fault for the workplace accident. Understanding your rights is very important when reporting a work injury in Coral Springs.

The workers compensation lawyers at Work Injury Rights are committed to helping you and your family understand your rights in this rather complex system. We have handled countless workers compensation cases in Coral Springs, and we remain committed to helping injured workers and their families recover all the benefits they are entitled to. Contact us today via 954-833-5226 to schedule a free consultation with our Coral Springs workers’ compensation lawyers when reporting a work injury in Coral Springs.

How Long Do I Have to Report a Work Injury in Coral Springs, Florida?

If you were injured in the workplace, you should inform your employer within 30 days, or within 90 days in case of an occupational exposure case. This is according to Florida workers’ compensation law. Failure in reporting a work injury in Coral Springs within 30 days gives your employer the option to deny the claim on the basis of “late notice”.

So, while you technically have 30 days to spare before reporting an injury, you shouldn’t wait to report or seek medical treatment. Keep in mind that the longer you wait to report, the more the details surrounding the accident will get cloudy and inconsistent, and the more likely your employer or their insurance company may deny or challenge your claim. Your best bet is to report the incident to your employer as soon as possible.

If your employer denies your claim for not reporting your work injury in time, get in touch with a Coral Springs workers’ comp attorney to ensure your best interests are protected and your workers’ comp dispute is handled appropriately.

To Whom Do I Have to Report a Workplace Injury?

If someone suffers an injury in their workplace, the right thing to do is to report it to someone in a supervisory capacity without delay. This representative can be a supervisor, foreman, manager, etc. Your employer might have provided a document beforehand explaining how to begin the process of reporting a work injury in Coral Springs.

In general, it’s best to make this report in writing, even after you gave it verbally. You could send an email to document that you reported it to your supervisor if you did not get the chance to fill out a notice of injury or an incident report. Note the name of the supervisor you gave the report as well as the date and time you reported the injury for your own records.

Failing to report the injury to the right person within the 30-day deadline may jeopardize your chances of receiving the workers’ compensation benefits you are eligible for. If your supervisor tries to intimidate you into not reporting the injury, get in touch with us for help immediately as this is illegal. You do not have to go it alone when reporting a work injury in Coral Springs.

What Are Employer Responsibilities After a Workplace Injury?

In case an employee sustains an injury while in the workplace, they are required to report it to their insurance carrier, no matter how minor the injury is. The employer should also investigate the incident without delay. They should ideally collect facts about the accident and make these ready to share with the insurance company.

For instance, employers must report the “Medical only claim” to the insurance carrier for medical-only injuries within seven days of knowing about an injury. For this claim, the injured employee will be in need of medical attention from the accident whose injuries were not severe enough to cost more than seven days of work due to the accident. If an employer delays in reporting a work injury in Coral Springs, they can be fined.

There are other claims the employer should file with their insurance provider depending on the severity of the accident and the resulting injuries, such as the lost-time claims.

What Are the Employee Responsibilities After a Workplace Injury?

The employee has the following responsibilities following a workplace accident:

Report the Injury to a Supervisor

Any employee that is injured while in their workplace should report the incident to someone in a supervisory capacity, preferably in writing. It won’t be enough to just inform a coworker that is not your manager or supervisor. In case you wait for too long when reporting a work injury in Coral Springs, you could lose the ability to receive full benefits.

Visit an Approved Medical Provider

For any injuries that require emergency medical care, you should ask your employer for the contact details of the approved doctors and schedule an appointment for treatment.

Get a Copy of the Injury Report

You should ask your employer to provide you with a copy of any reports they filed with their insurance company and any other entity.

Update Your Employer

If your doctor gives you certain work restrictions or removes you from work for a period of time, you will want to get this in writing and hand it to your employer. Don’t forget to keep a copy for your own reference.

If you’re taken from work indefinitely, try to establish how frequently you’re supposed to update your employer to ensure you’re in compliance with those requirements.

Keep the Insurance Company Informed

Always make sure that the insurance provider is up to date with the development of your injury. In many cases, the insurance company won’t help unless they are aware of the injury.

If you are unable to work, or you reach a point where you can go back to work, make sure that the insurance provider is aware of it too.

Call and Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Trusted Workers’ Comp Lawyers

If you have been injured in your workplace in Coral Springs and the surrounding areas, your employer has an obligation to handle the damages. Workers’ compensation is meant to give you the compensation needed to make a full recovery so that you can resume your daily duties.

At Work Injury Rights, our workers’ compensation lawyers can help protect your rights as an employee and fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Contact us today at 954-833-5226 to schedule a free case evaluation when reporting a work injury in Coral Springs.