Workers' Compensation Benefits - Workers Compensation Attorney Miami

    MIAMI, FL, April 18, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Workers' Compensation is a system for ensuring workers get compensated for medical injuries that occur while on the job, without resorting to the courts. Instead, employers buy workers' compensation insurance and claims from their workers are paid by that insurance. Although there are some procedures for filing and resolving grievances, the ideal of workers' compensation is that the procedure should take place outside the court system.

Fortunately, the workers compensation system in Florida includes many benefits for injured workers, including:

- Medical benefits
- Lost wages
- Impairment benefits
- Death benefits

The amount of benefits available for each of these types depends on the injury.

Medical Benefits

Workers' compensation authorizes nearly complete medical benefits for injured workers. This includes:

- Doctors' visits
- Hospitalization
- Physical therapy
- Tests
- Drugs
- False limbs and other prostheses

Medical benefits even include compensation for mileage if you have to drive a significant distance to and from the authorized doctor selected by your employer. However, you have to go to a doctor authorized by your employer.

The only exception to going to your employer's doctor is emergency medical treatment. If you go to the emergency room, make sure to mention as asoon as you are able that you injured yourself on the job.

Lost Wages

Lost wages for your workplace injury depend on the type and extent of your injuries. You will begin receiving benefits about 8 days after your injury, although if you are injured for 21 days or more, you will be given compensation for the first 7 days of your injury.

If you are completely unable to work, you will be paid 2/3 your regular wage at the time you were hurt, up to a statewide maximum, although in rare cases severe injury may allow you get up to 80% of your wages for up to 6 months.

If you are able to return to work with partial disability, you may receive supplementary income if you make less than 80% of your wage before the accident.

Impairment Benefits

If you are unable to fully recover from your accident, you can receive impairment benefits based on the degree of your impairment when you reach what is called "maximum medical improvement," the point at which your doctors suspect you will not be getting any better.

Death Benefits

If you lost a loved one in a work-related accident, you are eligible to receive compensation for the death. You can receive funeral expenses up to $7500, compensation to the dependents, and educational benefits for a nonworking or nonsupporting spouse. Compensation for the death is capped at $150,000.

This brief summary of benefits for workers' compensation is only the barest summary. For more information on workers' compensation in Florida, please visit the website of The Cochran Firm South Florida at http://cochranfirmsouthflorida.com.

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