How Does Morgan & Morgan Help Injured Workers With Workers’ Compensation Claims in Florida?
Key Takeaways
- Florida workers’ compensation may provide authorized medical care, partial wage replacement, and other benefits to eligible employees with work-related injuries or illnesses.
- Reporting a workplace injury, following the authorized medical process, and keeping records of your treatment and work restrictions can help document your claim.
- Workers’ compensation disputes may involve whether an injury is work-related, what medical treatment is necessary, your ability to return to work, or whether certain benefits should be paid.
- If your benefits are delayed, denied, or disputed, Morgan & Morgan can review your claim, explain your options, and help you pursue available benefits through the workers’ compensation process.
Injured?
Understanding Benefits, Disputes, and the Workers’ Compensation Process
Florida’s workers’ compensation system may provide benefits to employees who are injured or become ill because of their work. Depending on the circumstances, those benefits may include medical care, partial wage replacement, and other assistance related to a workplace injury.
Some workers’ compensation claims move forward without major disputes, while others become more complicated when benefits are delayed, denied, reduced, or challenged. Questions may also arise about medical treatment, your ability to return to work, or the benefits available for your injury.
Morgan & Morgan can review your claim, explain your rights and options, and help you address disputes that may arise during the workers’ compensation process.
After a Workplace Injury
After a workplace injury or work-related illness, it is important to report what happened to your employer promptly. Providing notice helps begin the workers’ compensation process and allows your employer or its insurance carrier to address the claim.
If you need emergency medical care, let the healthcare provider know that your injury is work-related. For follow-up treatment, Florida’s workers’ compensation system generally requires care to be authorized through the employer or insurance carrier.
Keep copies of accident reports, medical records, work restrictions, and other documents related to your injury. Following the workers’ compensation process and attending authorized medical appointments can help document your claim and create a record of your treatment and recovery.
If you have questions about reporting an injury, obtaining medical care, or dealing with a problem involving your benefits, Morgan & Morgan can review your situation and explain your options.
Medical Care and Wage Replacement
Florida workers’ compensation may provide several types of benefits after a work-related injury or illness. Depending on your circumstances, these may include authorized medical treatment and partial wage replacement when your injury prevents you from working or limits your ability to earn your usual wages.
Medical benefits may cover authorized care related to your workplace injury, such as doctor visits, prescriptions, therapy, diagnostic testing, and other necessary treatment. Wage-replacement benefits can vary depending on whether you are unable to work, able to return with restrictions, or experiencing a lasting impairment.
As your treatment progresses, your authorized healthcare provider may determine that you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), meaning your condition is not expected to improve significantly with additional treatment. Reaching MMI can affect the type of workers’ compensation benefits that may be available, including whether a permanent impairment rating is appropriate.
Morgan & Morgan can review the benefits you are receiving and help address disputes involving medical treatment, work restrictions, wage replacement, or the extent of a lasting impairment.
If Your Claim Is Delayed or Denied
A workers’ compensation claim may be delayed, disputed, or denied for a variety of reasons. The insurance carrier may question whether an injury is work-related, whether sufficient medical evidence supports the claim, or whether a particular treatment or benefit is covered.
Other disputes may involve:
- Whether the injury was reported properly
- Whether the accident occurred within the course and scope of employment
- Whether a preexisting condition contributed to the injury
- Whether medical treatment is authorized or necessary
- Whether you are able to return to work or should receive wage-replacement benefits
- Whether another issue affects your eligibility for benefits
A denial does not necessarily mean the matter is over. Florida provides a process for resolving workers’ compensation disputes, which may include filing a Petition for Benefits and presenting evidence supporting your claim.
How Morgan & Morgan Can Help
When a workers’ compensation dispute arises, Morgan & Morgan can review the benefits you are seeking, the reason they were denied or delayed, and the evidence available to support your claim.
Depending on the dispute, pursuing benefits may involve filing a Petition for Benefits, gathering medical records and other evidence, responding to arguments from the employer or insurance carrier, and participating in mediation.
Mediation gives the parties an opportunity to try to resolve disputed issues without a final hearing. Your Morgan & Morgan attorney can represent you during this process, explain any proposed resolution, and negotiate on your behalf.
If the dispute cannot be resolved, the case may proceed before a Judge of Compensation Claims. Morgan & Morgan can prepare your case, present supporting evidence and legal arguments, and advocate for the benefits available to you under Florida law.
If your Florida workers’ compensation claim has been delayed, denied, or disputed, Morgan & Morgan can review your situation and explain your options. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
