Are you an injured worker in Florida? Have you suffered a work-related injury and don’t know your options for receiving workers’ compensation benefits? You might feel overwhelmed and confused about the process, but don’t worry. This blog will provide an overview of the different types of workers’ compensation benefits that may be available to you, whether temporary income replacement while you recover or medical treatment coverage.
At Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A., our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys help employees who have sustained workplace injuries obtain the benefits to which they are legally entitled under Florida law. In the event of fatal workplace accidents, we also assist families in obtaining death benefits. We go the extra mile for you to ensure you receive the maximum amount of workers’ compensation benefits and that you are not wrongfully denied benefits.
For more information about how we can help you, don’t hesitate to contact us at (866) 519-3831 to schedule your FREE consultation.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Florida
If you experience a work-related injury in Florida, there are workers’ compensation benefits available to help support your recovery. To be eligible for these benefits, you must meet certain eligibility requirements and file a claim within a specific timeframe. You can read more about how workers’ compensation in Florida works here.
Medical Coverage Benefits
Workers’ compensation pays your medical bills and treatment related to your work-related injury in Florida. These benefits include:
- Authorized primary doctor and specialist(s) when medically necessary
- Doctor’s visit
- Hospitalization
- Physical therapy
- Medical tests
- Prescription drugs
- Prostheses
- Attendant care
Workers’ compensation medical benefits also cover mileage reimbursement for travel to and from your authorized doctor and the pharmacy.
Lost Wage Benefits
In Florida, you can be reimbursed for lost wages if your injury keeps you from being able to work. However, there is a 7-day waiting period before benefits will kick in. If your disability extends to 21 days, you’ll be paid retroactively for those first seven days.
Depending upon your disability, you might receive disability payments as follows:
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD). If your doctor says you can’t work due to your injury, you should be paid 66-2/3% of your regular wages at the time you were injured, up to a statewide maximum reimbursement amount. TTD is available for up to a total of 104 weeks. Certain severe injuries may entitle you to 80% of your regular earnings for up to six months following your accident.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD). You may be eligible to receive TBD benefits for up to a total of 104 weeks if you are unable to make 80% of the wages you were making at the time of your accident if your doctor says you can return to work with restrictions.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD). If your doctor determines you have reached what is known as “Maximum Medical Improvement,” because your injuries are so severe (as defined by law), leaving you permanently unable to work, you may receive PTD benefits.
- Permanent Impairment (PI). Suppose the authorized doctor determines you have a permanent impairment due to your work-related injury or illness. In that case, you will be assigned a “permanent impairment rating” (a percentage used to calculate PI benefits).
Your workers’ compensation attorney will go over the specific compensation you will receive in more detail once they have reviewed your case.
Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
You may also be eligible for vocational rehabilitation benefits under workers’ compensation insurance if your work-related injury prevents you from returning to your previous job.
The Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation will pay for you to learn a new skill so that you can return to work in a different capacity. Vocational rehabilitation benefits may include tuition, professional or educational training, and certifications.
Many workers’ compensation insurance programs provide two years of vocational rehabilitation, which can assist you in acquiring new skills and finding new employment. If you are disabled and undergoing vocational rehabilitation, you may still be entitled to wage compensation for lost wages.
You can read more on vocational rehabilitation in a blog we wrote here.
Death Benefits
In the event of a work-related death within one year of the accident date or five years of continuous disability, the following benefits may be payable up to a maximum of $150,000:
- Funeral expenses up to $7,500
- Statutorily-mandated compensation for dependents
- Benefits for the education of the surviving spouse
Contact Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A. for Help with Workers’ Compensation in Florida
If you or a loved one have been injured on the job, you need to understand the workers’ compensation benefits available to you. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be a daunting task, and it can be frustrating searching online for the right “workers’ compensation attorneys nearby” to help and answer any questions you may have. If you need clarification about benefits or need help filing a claim, call an experienced workers’ compensation attorney team who will go the extra mile for you.
At Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A., our experienced attorneys can answer all your questions and help file your workers’ compensation claim to ensure you receive the benefits you need to recover from your injuries.
Contact our office today at (866) 519-3831 for a FREE consultation with a member of our workers’ compensation attorney team. You can also fill out our online form here.
Copyright © 2023. Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A. All rights reserved.
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A.
1645 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd #550
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 598-7120
https://workerscompfl.net/
Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A.
7380 Sandlake Road, Suite 500
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 896-0116
https://workerscompfl.net/
Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A.
110 E Broward Blvd #1700
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 581-9115
https://workerscompfl.net/
Lyle B. Masnikoff & Associates, P.A.
543 NW Lake Whitney Place, Suite 106
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
(772) 461-9181
https://workerscompfl.net/
