When you get into a work-related accident or get sick because of exposure or repetitive activities on the job, you may worry about not being able to support your loved ones while you heal. Through the workers’ compensation insurance system, you may access fault-free benefits if you are a qualifying employee and your condition arose during the course of employment. These entitlements exist to help relieve your financial worries stemming from having a disabling condition that keeps you from earning money.
At Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon, our team of professionals fights for those who need help accessing fair workers’ compensation settlements in Pensacola. Throughout our years of service to Floridians, we have learned the tactics that unscrupulous insurers and employers may use to try to wrongly deny people’s work injury claims. We welcome the chance to partner with you and advocate for your right to receive supplemental wages, medical expenses, and more.
What Types of Compensation Packages Can You Get if You Are Hurt at Work?
As an injured worker in Florida, you may be entitled to several types of benefits depending on the severity of your condition and how long it is expected to interfere with your ability to function. Potential settlement schemes, outlined in Florida Statutes § 440.15, include the following:
- Permanent total disability
- Temporary total disability
- Permanent impairment benefits
- Temporary partial disability
- Subsequent injury
Each of these categories has different criteria the worker must meet to be eligible. For example, before someone can receive permanent total disability payments, they should prove that they have a permanent condition that keeps them from performing even sedentary work within 50 miles of their current employer. Conditions that might meet these requirements include:
If the worker succumbs to their injuries, Fla. Stat. § 440.16 provides a pathway for eligible relatives to receive death benefits, which might include weekly wage replacement benefits and reimbursement for the costs of burying and holding a funeral for their loved one.
If you have questions about what might be included in your workers’ comp settlement, our skilled Pensacola attorneys can help you by investigating the situation and brainstorming appropriate ways to proceed.
If Your Employer or Their Insurer Will Not Give You a Fair Settlement, What Can You Do?
Ideally, the insurance company will accept valid work accident claims the first time they receive the request; however, for financial reasons, the agency may push back against justified demands for disability payments because of an employment-related incident. If your employer or their insurer rejects your compensation claim, you have the right to appeal this decision. Addressing an initial denial may involve negotiating with the insurance company to reach a fair resolution or submitting or correcting any paperwork they need to see to accept the request.
Filing a formal appeal with the Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims under Fla. Stat. § 440.192 may be appropriate if you cannot reach a reasonable agreement and compensation is past due. To initiate this process, you or your attorney would need to file a petition for benefits, which gives the judges information about:
- You
- How you were hurt
- The timeline for submitting a claim
- Other important details
Your dedicated lawyer can help you prepare and submit this document to bring you closer to securing the settlement you deserve after your work injury in Pensacola.
Our Pensacola Attorneys Can Help You Fight for a Comprehensive Workers’ Comp Settlement
If a job-related disabling condition or disease is keeping you from working, obtaining full, fair, and swift benefits can equip you with what you need to cover your mounting medical bills and lost wages. Getting the assistance you deserve can go a long way toward restoring your dignity and a sense of purpose after an injury uproots your life.
The distinguished professionals at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon are here to fight for and guide you during what might feel like a tumultuous and confusing time. We have many years of experience helping others secure workers’ compensation settlements in Pensacola, and we look forward to doing the same for you. Reach out today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
