The purpose of workers’ compensation is to help workers who get hurt or sick on the job cover short-term expenses while they recover. In order to get workers’ comp benefits, though, you will need to prove that you meet the criteria to qualify for them, which can be more complicated than most people expect.
Establishing workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Pensacola is a procedure- and evidence-heavy process that can be tricky to navigate. A workers’ compensation attorney from our team of professionals at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon can help simplify this process for you and make sure your claim is as strong as possible.
What Counts as a Work-Related Injury?
The requirement that a workers’ comp claim must be filed over a work-related injury seems fairly straightforward. In many situations, though, what qualifies as a work-related injury can be much more subjective, especially if the injured worker does not spend all their time on the job at one worksite or does not clock in and out at specific times.
An injury or illness is work-related for the purposes of workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Pensacola if it occurs while a worker classified as an “employee”—as opposed to an “independent contractor”—is performing work-related tasks. This means that chronic illnesses caused by exposure to certain conditions on the job should be covered by workers’ comp, just like acute injuries caused by accidents during work shifts.
Reporting Requirements for Workers’ Comp Claims
Another thing worth noting about eligibility for workers’ comp claims in Pensacola and throughout the Sunshine State is that a worker who intends to file such a claim must notify their supervisor at work about their injury/illness as soon as possible after discovering it. More specifically, you have a maximum of 30 days to tell your employer about your injury/illness. Otherwise, you will likely not have grounds to seek workers’ comp benefits even if you have been harmed directly due to a workplace accident.
Additionally, you must seek medical treatment for your injury/illness from one of the providers chosen by your employer or insurance company, unless you need emergency treatment immediately after being hurt. Costs accrued from going to an out-of-network physician or provider will likely not be covered by workers’ comp benefits. They may also impact your eligibility for other types of benefits like temporary or permanent disability payments.
A Pensacola Attorney Can Further Explain Workers’ Compensation Claim Eligibility
Workers’ compensation insurance providers are for-profit enterprises just like all other insurance companies, and that means they will not hesitate to reject workers’ comp claims filed by workers they do not believe are eligible for benefits. With that in mind, it is vital that you have as much evidence as possible in support of your claim and that you follow all the rules for formally starting the claims process if you want to get the benefits you need.
Support from experienced legal counsel can be essential to prove workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Pensacola. Call Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon to learn how our team can help you with this part of your case.
