Workers' Compensation Eligibility in Florida

    MIAMI, FL, July 28, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Workers' compensation laws are set by each state and not subject to federal oversight. In the state of Florida, if you work for an employer with more than four employees, you are most likely eligible to file a workers' compensation claim for any on the job illness or injury. If you work in the construction industry in Florida, your employer must have workers' compensation insurance regardless of the number of employees he has.

Work Related Illnesses and Injury

In Florida, any work related illness or injury is eligible for a workers' compensation claim. To be eligible for workers' compensation in Florida, your injury or illness must be caused during the scope of your employment. This means that illnesses that are no job related or injures that occur while commuting, in the parking lot, or during non-work hours are not eligible for compensation.

However, if you are off-site on work-related business when you sustain an injury, you may be eligible for workers' compensation. Due to the complexity of these regulations, you are best off having an experienced workers' compensation lawyer on your side as soon as possible following your injury.

Filing for Workers' Compensation

To file a workers' compensation claim in Florida, you will need to report your injury or illness to your supervisor or to your employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier. They should supply you with the necessary forms along with a list of approved medical professionals who can evaluate your injuries.

You have 30 days to report your injury following an accident, or 30 days from the date of discovery of an illness. Failure to report your injury in this time will result in a denial of your workers' compensation claim. If your employer does not supply you with the necessary forms, they can be obtained through the Florida Department of Workers' Compensation.

These forms, DFS-F2-DWC-1, DFS-F2-DWC-1a, and DFW-F2-DWC-3 respectively, must be thoroughly filled out. Even the slightest mistake can result in a denial of your claim. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision, but this process can take months, making day to day existence much more trying.

To avoid a denial, you need a workers' compensation lawyer on your side who can help you fill out the paperwork, make sure everything is in order, and help ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to.

If you have been injured on the job, please visit the website of the Miami workers' compensation lawyers at the Cochran Firm South Florida at http://cochranfirmsouthflorida.com for more information on how we can help ensure you are granted the benefits you are due.

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