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What Does Florida Worker's Compensation Cover?

Explaining what Florida workers’ compensation insurance covers

Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance provides benefits to workers who are injured on the job. Instead of having to sue their employers, workers can avail themselves of this system to receive the benefits to which they are legally entitled without having to show that the employer was negligent in any way.

If you were injured on the job, it is important that you have a knowledgeable legal advocate on your side. Attorney Joseph M. Rooth, founder of the Rooth Law Firm, is a Board Certified New Port Rickey workers’ compensation attorney who has helped injured workers for nearly 25 years. He aggressively fights for the rights of his clients to receive the compensation they deserve.

Medical benefits

Workers’ compensation covers all medical care that is necessary to treat a work-related injury that is prescribed by your treating doctor and the workers’ compensation insurance company authorizes. Medical care that is paid by workers’ compensation may include:

  • Doctors’ visits

  • Hospitalization

  • Physical therapy

  • Medical tests

  • Prescription drugs

  • Prostheses

Additionally, you are entitled to mileage reimbursement for you to travel to your doctor and the pharmacy.

You cannot go to any doctor; the insurance company must select a doctor to treat you. If your work injury requires you to go to the emergency room, notify the staff that you were injured at work and give them the contact information for the workers’ compensation insurance company if you can.

Wage replacement benefits

Workers’ compensation may also replace a portion of your wages for a specific amount of time. Benefits that may be available include:

Temporary disability benefits

Temporary disability benefits may be classified as one of the following:

  • Temporary total disability – If your treating doctor determines that you are unable to work because of a work-related injury or illness, temporary total disability benefits of two-thirds of your average weekly wages are paid to you, subject to a maximum amount. You do not receive these benefits for the first seven days unless you are disabled more than 21 days, according to your treating doctor. In some situations, you may be able to receive up to 80% of your average weekly wage for up to six months after the workplace accident if the injury was severe.

  • Temporary partial disability – If you are able to return to work with restrictions, you may be eligible for temporary partial disability benefits if you are unable to earn 80% of the weekly wages you were earning at the time of the accident. These benefits pay 80% of the difference between 80% of your current earnings and your previous earnings.

The maximum amount of time to receive these benefits is 104 weeks.

Permanent total disability benefits

If you have reached your maximum medical improvement and your condition is not expected to improve and your doctor determines that you are permanently unable to work, you may be able to receive permanent total disability benefits, which are based on the severity of your disability.

Death benefits

If the workplace accident resulted in the death of your loved one, death benefits of up to $150,000 may be available. This includes payment for funeral expenses up to $7,500, educational benefits to the surviving spouse and compensation to dependents.

Contact an experienced New Port Richey workers’ compensation lawyer to file a claim

In most cases, you have only 30 days to report your injury to your employer. If you were injured in a workplace accident, it is important that you seek help from our experienced workers’ compensation attorney. We ensure your claim is accurate, complete and filed in a timely manner. Additionally, we help you pursue the maximum compensation available for your claim. Attorney Joseph Rooth has helped clients just like you who were injured throughout the Tampa Bay area for almost 25 years. For help with your workers’ compensation claim, contact us online or give us a call at 727-849-3400 to schedule a confidential consultation.

roothlawyerWhat Does Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cover?