A workplace accident is much more than just an inconvenience. This type of incident represents the possibility of financial loss, time away from work and even difficulty getting back to your job after your recovery is complete. If you received an injury at work, it is in your interests to know how to protect yourself, secure rightful benefits and maximize the support available to you.
Injured Florida workers are not always sure what rights they have after an accident. You may think you have a valid workers’ compensation claim, but you might not know how to initiate this process. You may be unsure of how to move forward if your injury was not at work but work-related, or you may be sick because of toxic exposure on the job. You do not have to walk through the aftermath and insurance claims process alone.
Do you have a claim?
After a work accident, it’s important to determine if you actually have a valid claim. If your injury happened while you were at work, you likely do. You may also have a claim if your job somehow made you sick or you suffered injuries while doing a work-related activity. If you have a medical condition that worsened because of your job, this could be grounds for a claim. Your employer cannot prevent or discourage you from filing a claim if you have reason to pursue one.
You may not have a valid claim if your accident happened while you were at lunch, under the influence of alcohol or violating safety rules. There are certain types of employees not covered by their employer’s insurance policy, so you may want to start by determining whether you could file a claim.
A complex insurance process
The main priority of any workers’ compensation insurance company is to protect their own bottom line. You may not get what you think you deserve, or you may receive notice your claim was not successful. These are only a few reasons why you will benefit from the experience and support of a workers’ compensation attorney as you seek help after a work accident.
After a work accident, you may want to take quick action to seek an assessment of your case and explanation of the legal options available to you. This is the first step in learning about your rights and what you can do to move forward after a work-related injury or illness.