Homestead Workers’ Compensation Benefits

When you’re injured at work, the financial and emotional stress can take a major toll on your quality of life. You may be worried about medical bills, lost income, and how you’ll support your family while recovering from your injuries. The good news is that Florida’s workers’ compensation system is designed to provide benefits that ease these burdens. However, understanding what you’re entitled to and how to get your claim for compensation and medical benefits approved can be challenging. The dedicated Homestead workers’ compensation lawyers at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada are here to help you pursue the benefits you need to recover and move forward.

Workers’ compensation benefits are meant to provide financial support to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work. In Florida, nearly all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, providing a safety net for employees when accidents occur in the course and scope of employment. These benefits help cover the following:

• Medical expenses
• Partial wage replacement
• Disability support for long-term or permanent injuries
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Death benefits for surviving family members in fatal cases

Whether your injury is temporary or life-altering, workers’ compensation can provide critical support. However, successfully bringing a claim that fairly compensates you can be challenging so it is important to work with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer with office in Homestead.

Florida’s workers’ compensation program offers several categories of benefits, depending on the nature and severity of your injury:

One of the most immediate concerns after a workplace injury is paying for medical treatment. Workers’ compensation covers all necessary and reasonable medical expenses related to your injury, including:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays
• Surgeries
• Physical therapy
• Prescription medications
• Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs or braces
• Professional and nonprofessional attendant care

These benefits also include mileage reimbursement for travel to and from medical appointments. However, it’s essential to seek treatment from an authorized workers’ compensation provider to ensure these expenses are covered fully.

If your injury prevents you from working temporarily, you may qualify for temporary disability benefits. These benefits replace a portion of your lost income—typically around 66% of your average weekly wage typically calculated based on earnings during the 13 weeks (91 days) prior to date of accident. There are two types of temporary disability benefits:

• Temporary Total Disability (TTD): Provided when you’re completely unable to work while recovering as indicated by the treating doctor.
• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): Offered when you can return to work with restrictions as per the treating doctor, but your injury reduces your earning capacity.

These benefits continue until you reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI), which is the point in your recovery where your doctor determines that your condition is unlikely to improve with further treatment and care.

If your injury results in long-term or permanent limitations, you may be eligible for permanent disability benefits. These benefits are based on your impairment rating, which your doctor will assign after reaching MMI. Permanent disability benefits can be:

• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): For workers who can return to work in some capacity but have permanent impairments.
• Permanent Total Disability (PTD): For workers who are unable to return to even sedentary employment within a 50 mile radius of their home due to their injuries.

Permanent disability benefits are critical for ensuring financial stability when your earning potential is permanently impacted on account of your work related injury.

If your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job, workers’ compensation may cover vocational rehabilitation services. These services include job training, career counseling, and assistance finding employment in a new field that accommodates your physical limitations.

In tragic cases where a work-related injury or illness results in death, workers’ compensation provides financial support to the worker’s dependents. Death benefits include:

• Up to $7,500 in funeral expenses
• Compensation for lost income, distributed to the surviving spouse and dependents
• Educational benefits for the spouse

While no amount of money can make up for such a loss, these benefits can help ease the financial strain on grieving families.

While Florida’s workers’ compensation laws are designed to protect injured employees, accessing the full range of benefits isn’t always straightforward. For example, some of the most common challenges injured workers face include:

• Claim Denials: Insurance companies may deny claims for various reasons, such as missed reporting deadlines, lack of medical evidence, or disputes over whether the injury is work-related.
• Insufficient Compensation: The insurance company may argue that your injury is less severe than it truly is, offering benefits that don’t fully cover your losses.
• Pressure to Return to Work: Employers or insurers may push you to return to work before you’re ready, jeopardizing your recovery.

If you’re facing any of these challenges, Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada can help. We’ll advocate for your rights, ensuring you receive the maximum benefits you need and deserve.

The workers’ compensation system can be confusing and frustrating, especially when you’re already dealing with the pain and stress of a workplace injury. The Homestead workers’ compensation attorneys at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada have decades of experience helping injured workers in Homestead secure their benefits. You don’t have to face the workers’ compensation process alone. We’re here to guide you through every step and fight for the maximum benefits you need to recover and move forward with your life. To learn more and schedule your free consultation, call us at 305-448-8585 or connect with our staff by completing our secure online contact form. We do not get paid unless and until there is a financial recovery secured for you.