How Much Compensation Can I Get with a Tampa Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
There is no standard payout for every Florida workers’ compensation claim. Your potential compensation depends on factors such as your wages, injury, medical treatment, disability, permanent impairment, and how your injury affects your ability to work. At Rooth Law Firm, our board-certified Florida workers’ compensation lawyer can carefully evaluate those factors, calculate the benefits supported by your claim, and negotiate with the insurer when the offer does not account for them.
Your Wages Help Determine Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Florida uses your average weekly wage to calculate many workers’ compensation benefits. Under Fla. Stat. § 440.14, the calculation generally looks at wages earned before the injury, with specific rules for different employment situations. That makes your pay records important. Our Florida workers’ compensation attorney can check the wage figure used by the carrier and look for errors involving your regular pay or other earnings that should be included.
Your Injury Determines Which Benefits May Apply to Your Florida Workers’ Comp Claim
The type and severity of your injury affect the benefits available to you. Depending on your injury and resulting disability, compensation may include temporary disability benefits, permanent impairment benefits, permanent total disability benefits, and medical care. For example, if you suffer a serious back injury, you may need months of treatment and time away from work. A worker who is left with permanent restrictions may have a different claim from someone who makes a full recovery and returns to the same job.
A Permanent Impairment Can Add to Your Compensation
If your injury leaves a lasting impairment, that rating can affect the benefits you receive. Florida law provides different disability benefits based on the nature and extent of the worker's disability. Under Fla. Stat. § 440.15, Florida provides compensation for permanent total disability and permanent impairment, subject to the requirements of the law. Our workers’ compensation lawyer in Florida can assess your medical records and impairment rating to determine whether the benefits being offered match the evidence.
Future Treatment Can Affect Your Florida Workers’ Compensation Settlement
Your medical condition may continue to require treatment after you reach maximum medical improvement. Our Florida workers’ compensation attorney can review whether you may need future surgery, therapy, medication, specialist care, or other treatment. For a Tampa worker with a serious knee, shoulder, or spinal injury, those future needs can be significant when evaluating a proposed settlement.
Our Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Florida Can Negotiate for More When the Offer Falls Short
The insurance company's number is not automatically the amount your claim is worth. Our workers’ compensation lawyer can examine your wage records, medical evidence, disability benefits, and future treatment needs to find weaknesses in a low offer. We can use that evidence to challenge a low offer and negotiate for the benefits supported by your medical records, wage history, and disability status.
Your Settlement Can Resolve Future Rights
A settlement is more than a check. Under Fla. Stat. § 440.20, a represented worker may enter into a settlement that releases the employer and carrier from liability for workers’ compensation benefits in exchange for a lump-sum payment. Before agreeing to that amount, you should understand exactly what the settlement resolves and what rights you’ll give up.
Find Out What Your Florida Workers’ Comp Settlement Could Include
There is no reliable calculator that can tell every Tampa worker what a workers’ compensation claim is worth. Two people with similar injuries may receive different benefits because their wages, medical evidence, disability, and work restrictions are different. That’s why your claim needs more than a settlement calculator. Our workers’ compensation lawyer in Florida can assess the evidence behind that number, identify benefits that may have been overlooked, and negotiate with the carrier for an amount supported by your claim. Schedule your complimentary initial consultation by contacting Rooth Law Firm online or calling our office.