Find out when and where to file your Florida workers’ compensation claims.
Employees who are injured on the job in Florida are entitled to workers’ compensation payments. Workers may be eligible for medical care, pay replacement, and other financial aid. To get benefits, you must complete certain standards, including notifying your employer of your accident within a particular time limit.
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How Does the Workers’ Compensation System in Florida Work?
Most companies in Florida are required to have workers’ compensation coverage, either by buying a workers’ compensation policy from a commercial insurance carrier or by obtaining state certification to self-insure. All workers’ compensation claims in Florida are overseen by the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC).
Florida, like all other states, has a no-fault workers’ compensation system. To get benefits, you do not need to demonstrate that your employer was negligent. You will usually be eligible for benefits if your injury occurred on the job or was caused by your work activities.
Eligible employees may be eligible for a range of perks, including:
benefits for temporary disability (payments for wage loss)
advantages of deterioration (for amputations or permanent limitations)
Medical treatment that is appropriate and essential, as well as vocational rehabilitation (training or education for a new line of work).
How Do I File an Injury Report?
The first step in filing a workers’ compensation claim is to notify your employer. Most injuries in Florida must be reported within 30 days. If a sickness or illness develops over time, you must report your employer within 30 days of learning of its connection to your job. If you do not tell your employer within these timeframes, you may forfeit part or all of your benefits.
When notifying your employer, provide as much information as feasible, such as:
When the accident occurred, how you were injured, and what symptoms you are experiencing.
Your employer should refer you to an occupational doctor when you report an accident. Unless you need emergency care, your employer in Florida has the right to pick your treating doctor. It is critical to offer precise information to the doctor regarding the origin of your injuries and the severity of your symptoms.
What Happens After I Report a Personal Injury?
When you tell your employer, it has seven days to disclose your claim to its insurance carrier. You may contact the insurance company directly if it refuses to report your injury. Your eligibility for benefits will then be determined by the insurance company. Its inquiry might include:
examination of your medical records
examining your employment history, education, and earnings
scheduling a medical checkup to evaluate your health and referring you for a functional capacity assessment (an assessment of your ability to perform work duties).
According to Florida law, the insurance company must either approve or refuse your workers’ compensation payments as soon as possible. If your claim is accepted, you will begin collecting disability and other benefits. Unfortunately, many workers’ compensation claims are denied by insurance companies.
Appealing a Worker’s Compensation Claim Denial
Unless your insurance carrier declines your claim, you do not need to submit any documentation with the DWC. To appeal a refused claim, you must normally submit a Petition for Benefits within two years of your accident or one year of your most recent income loss or medical expense, whichever comes first.