Different Types Of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available

If someone is injured at work in Florida, and their employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, the employee can usually seek workers’ compensation benefits. Depending on the injury, though, the employee may be eligible for multiple types of benefits. It is important that if you have been hurt on the job, you know the types of benefits for which you are eligible. Failure to do so may jeopardize your claim.

Medical Benefits

As one might imagine, workers’ compensation insurance will cover your medical bills related to the injury – expenses like doctor copays, specialist visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, in-home medical care, and others. That said, it is important to keep in mind that with a workers’ compensation-related injury, your employer has quite a lot of control as to which doctors you see and how often such visits are considered “necessary.”

If your claim is approved, you cannot, by Florida law, be held liable for any medical costs directly related to your work injury, except after you reach a condition known as maximum medical improvement (MMI). If your treating physician believes you have reached MMI, it means that your injury is as healed as it will likely ever be, and thus further treatment is unnecessary. If you believe more healing is possible after this point, it may be on you to pay medical costs at that point.

Lost Wages

While there is a 7-day ‘waiting period’ one must go through before payments will begin, Florida law will pay lost wage benefits if your injury keeps you from returning to work for a certain period of time, but the amount will vary due to the nature of your injuries. For example, a person who has sustained a temporary total disability (TTD), they are eligible to receive 66 ⅔ percent of their normal wage per week. A person who has a temporary partial disability is less likely to receive benefits simply because they may be able to return to light duty, but will receive benefits if they cannot.

Conversely, a person who has sustained a permanent injury, whether partial or total, will be able to receive permanent impairment benefits – or, depending on a person’s situation, may be advised to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). While each situation is different, it can get quite complicated trying to figure out exactly which benefits one may be entitled to receive.

Contact An Orlando Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Being injured at work can be frightening. If this has happened to you, it is a good idea to call an Orlando workers’ compensation attorney to ensure that your questions about the process get answered quickly. The Hornsby Law Group is experienced in these types of cases, and will work hard to get you the benefits you deserve. Call our office today at (407) 499-8887 for a free consultation.

Source:

flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2021/440.02