Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Florida

You go to work expecting to do your job, not leave with an injury that keeps you from earning a living. When that happens, you may be trying to understand how workers’ compensation works and whether your benefits will cover your needs. 

Wettermark Keith helps injured employees understand their rights and pursue the benefits available under state law. Our workers’ compensation lawyer in Florida can also determine whether someone other than your employer may be responsible for your injuries. If so, you may have a workers’ compensation claim and a separate personal injury case against a third party.

We have helped more than 100,000 clients and recovered over $1.5 billion for people facing challenging situations. Our Florida personal injury lawyers represent clients on contingency, so we get paid only if you recover benefits.

It’s More To Us, It’s Personal. Call us to explore your legal options during a free consultation.

Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Florida Will Handle Your Entire Claim

Recovering from a workplace injury is challenging enough without having to figure out the workers’ compensation system on your own. We handle the legal process for you while you focus on your recovery. 

We know many of our clients work physically demanding jobs and take pride in providing for their families. When a workplace injury interrupts that, Wettermark Keith brings the same work ethic, determination, and straightforward approach to protecting their rights and benefits.

We explain your rights under Florida law, keep you informed about your claim, and work to protect the benefits you may be entitled to receive. 

We help by:

• Determining whether workers’ compensation covers your injury.
• Helping you report your injury correctly.
• Gathering medical records and other supporting evidence. 
• Filing the paperwork required for your claim.
• Communicating with the workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
• Responding if your claim is delayed or denied.
• Representing you during disputes or hearings.
• Determining whether you also have a third-party injury claim.

Our team includes former insurance lawyers, so we understand what insurance carriers look for when reviewing claims. That knowledge helps us prepare strong claims and identify issues before they become larger problems.

How Workers’ Compensation Works in Florida

Florida’s workers’ compensation system provides benefits to many employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. Instead of filing a lawsuit against an employer in most situations, injured workers generally receive benefits through the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.

These benefits are available regardless of who caused the accident in many cases. In exchange, employees usually cannot sue their employer for negligence when workers’ compensation coverage applies. Workers’ compensation may cover injuries caused by: 

• Falls at work
• Heavy lifting
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Machinery accidents
• Construction accidents
• Vehicle crashes while performing job duties
• Exposure to harmful chemicals
• Burns, electrocutions, or other serious workplace accidents

Occupational illnesses caused by workplace exposure may also qualify for benefits under certain circumstances. Not every injury qualifies for coverage. 

Questions can come up about whether the injury happened during work, whether it was reported on time, or whether another factor caused the medical condition. A workers’ compensation attorney in Florida at Wettermark Keith will address these issues while pursuing the benefits our clients need.

What Benefits Can Workers’ Compensation Provide?

Depending on your situation, benefits for a work-related injury may include:

• Medical care: Authorized treatment, hospital care, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and health equipment.
• Wage replacement: Partial income benefits if your injury prevents you from working.
• Disability benefits: Benefits based on the severity of your injury and your ability to return to work.
• Vocational rehabilitation: Assistance for eligible workers who need training for a different job.
• Death benefits: Financial assistance for certain surviving family members after a fatal workplace injury.

Report Your Florida Work Injury as Soon as Possible

One of the most important steps after a workplace injury is telling your employer what happened. Waiting too long could put your benefits at risk, even if your injury is serious.

In most cases, Florida law requires injured workers to report a workplace injury or illness to their employer within 30 days of the accident or within 30 days of first learning that an injury or illness is related to their job.

After receiving notice, your employer generally reports the injury to its workers’ compensation insurance carrier so the claims process can begin. If your employer does not report the injury or disputes what happened, our workers’ comp lawyers in Florida will explain your options and help protect your rights. 

How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Reporting your injury is only one deadline to keep in mind. If there is a dispute about your benefits, you may also need to file a Petition for Benefits to protect your claim. 

In most cases, injured workers have two years from the date of injury to file a Petition for Benefits under Florida law. The deadline can be different if the employer or insurance carrier pays benefits or authorizes medical treatment. See Florida Statutes § 440.19.

Missing a deadline could affect your ability to recover benefits. Wettermark Keith’s workers’ comp attorneys in Florida help clients identify the filing deadlines that apply to their claims and complete the required paperwork on time.

What if Your Florida Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?

You may receive a claim denial after you have applied for benefits. A denied claim does not always mean you have reached the end of the process. 

Sometimes, the insurance company needs more information. In other cases, it may disagree about how the injury happened, whether it was job-related, or what medical treatment should be covered.

If this happens, we will review the reason your claim was denied, gather more evidence if needed, and represent you throughout the dispute process.

Can You File a Lawsuit After a Workplace Injury?

You may have a separate personal injury claim if your injury was caused by someone other than your employer who may also be legally responsible. This could be:

• A negligent driver while you were working.
• A defective machine or piece of equipment.
• A contractor or subcontractor working at the job site.
• A property owner who failed to correct a dangerous situation.
• Another third party whose negligence caused the accident.

Unlike workers’ compensation benefits, a third-party personal injury lawsuit may allow you to seek damages such as pain and suffering, the full amount of lost income, and other losses that workers’ compensation does not cover.

These cases involve different legal rules and deadlines. Wettermark Keith will determine whether you may have one claim or multiple claims arising from the same workplace injury. 

When a Workplace Accident May Lead to a Wrongful Death Claim

If a workplace injury is fatal and someone other than the employer contributed to the accident, a wrongful death claim may also be available.

A Florida wrongful death lawyer at Wettermark Keith can determine whether surviving family members have the right to pursue a third-party wrongful death lawsuit in addition to any available workers’ compensation death benefits. 

Florida generally gives families two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit under Florida Statutes § 95.11(5)(e).

Get Help From Our Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

When you’re injured at work, life does not stop while you heal. Our team understands the workers’ compensation laws in Florida and the challenges injured workers often face when dealing with insurance companies. We will work to protect the benefits available to you.

We explain your options in clear language, keep you informed throughout your claim, and work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no attorney’s fees unless we recover for you. 

When appropriate, we can also help connect you with medical providers and other resources that support your recovery. Call Wettermark Keith today for a free consultation to learn how our workers’ compensation lawyer in Florida can help you.