Workplace Accident Attorney in Tallahassee

More than 30 Years of Experience for Injured Tallahassee Workers

After a workplace injury or occupational illness, medical treatment, lost wages, employer injury notice, and claim deadlines can all require prompt attention. Depending on the facts, a work accident may involve Florida workers’ compensation benefits, a claim against a negligent third party, or both.

At Shapiro Law Firm, P.A., Attorney Paul Shapiro and our team assist injured workers throughout Leon County with workers’ compensation and third-party work injury claims. We bring more than 30 years of personal injury experience to evaluating these claims and explaining the available legal options.

Injured at work? Give our Tallahassee workplace accident attorney a call at (850) 629-7226 or contact us online to set up a free, confidential consultation to discuss your legal options.

What Benefits Are Available after a Florida Workplace Accident?

Florida workers’ compensation is generally a no-fault system for covered job-related injuries and illnesses. The benefits available can depend on the injury, medical restrictions, disability status, wages, and applicable Florida rules.

Available Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation benefits may include:

• Medical care coverage
• Temporary total disability
• Temporary partial disability
• Impairment income benefits
• Permanent total disability
• Death benefits

Workers’ compensation pays reasonable and necessary medical expenses associated with a job-related injury or illness. It provides only partial wage replacement for temporary or permanent disability, and temporary total disability and temporary partial disability benefits are subject to time limits.

When a worker dies because of a work-related injury or illness, eligible surviving family members may recover death benefits through the state’s workers’ compensation system. These benefits may include funeral expenses, payments to eligible dependents, and educational benefits for surviving spouses, subject to statutory limits and eligibility requirements.

Who Is Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Florida?

In Florida, coverage can depend on whether a worker is classified as an employee rather than an independent contractor, as well as the employer’s industry and structure. Non-construction employers generally must carry workers’ compensation coverage when they have four or more employees, while construction employers generally must carry coverage when they have one or more employees.

Seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees may be covered when the statutory requirements are met. A worker’s title alone does not resolve coverage, particularly when employment classification or a subcontracting relationship is disputed.

Florida Workers’ Compensation Exemptions & Coverage Complications

Some workers and business owners may be excluded from coverage or may elect an exemption under specific Florida requirements. Sole proprietors, business partners, corporate officers, and certain self-employed individuals can raise coverage questions that depend on the business structure and the worker’s role.

Construction corporate officers may be able to seek an exemption when they meet Florida’s ownership and statutory requirements. Construction contractors may also have duties involving workers’ compensation coverage for subcontractors, but whether coverage applies depends on the statutory relationship and the facts of the work arrangement.

Agricultural employers have different coverage thresholds under Florida law. State and local government employers are subject to workers’ compensation requirements, while federal employees may fall under a separate federal compensation system.

Coverage questions can involve:

• Employee or independent-contractor classification
• Industry-specific coverage requirements
• Business-owner and corporate-officer exemptions
• Subcontractor work arrangements

To learn more about what workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to receive, contact our workplace accident lawyer in Tallahassee, FL, at Shapiro Law Firm, P.A. today for a free consultation.

Essential Steps after a Workplace Injury in Tallahassee

After a work-related injury or illness, take these steps to protect your health and your claim:

1. Seek Medical Attention: Seek immediate medical attention if you haven’t yet done so. If necessary, call 911 or go to the emergency room after a workplace accident.
2. Report the Accident: Report the accident to your employer right away. Florida law generally requires notice within 30 days after the injury or initial manifestation, though exceptions may apply.
3. Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions: Follow all treatment recommendations and take time off work if your doctor instructs you to do so.
4. File Your Claim: Florida generally requires a petition for workers’ compensation benefits within two years after you knew or should have known the injury arose from covered employment. Exceptions and tolling provisions can affect the deadline.

Keep medical records, work restrictions, accident reports, witness information, photographs, and communications with your employer or its insurance carrier when available. After an official workers’ compensation claim is filed, you may be notified that it has been accepted or denied. If your claim is denied, you can challenge the decision through the applicable dispute process.

Filing a Third-Party Claim for Workplace Injuries in Florida

In most cases, you can’t sue your employer if you are covered by workers’ compensation. However, there are situations in which it may be appropriate to file a third-party work injury claim.

A third-party work injury claim is a personal injury lawsuit against someone other than the employer who may be liable for a workplace accident or work-related injury or illness.

Common examples include workplace injuries caused by:

• Defective machinery
• Defective equipment
• Defective tools
• Commercial vehicle accidents caused by negligent third-party drivers

If you believe someone other than your employer may be liable for your work-related injury or illness, contact our team at Shapiro Law Firm, P.A.. Our Tallahassee work accident lawyer can determine whether the facts support a third-party work accident lawsuit, investigate what happened, and build your case.

Choose Shapiro Law Firm, P.A. for Your Workplace Accident Claim in Tallahassee & Leon County

Founded in 1997 by Paul A. Shapiro, our firm represents injured plaintiffs and doesn’t represent corporate or insurance interests. We have more than 30 years of personal injury experience and handle serious injury claims involving spinal cord injuries, fractures, and brain injuries.

For a workplace accident claim, we can investigate the injury circumstances, gather evidence, communicate with insurers, and assess whether the dispute involves coverage, medical treatment authorization, disability benefits, wage benefits, or third-party liability. When a fair resolution can’t be reached through settlement, we are prepared to go to trial.

How Florida Workers’ Compensation Rules Apply in Tallahassee

Workers in Tallahassee and Leon County are generally subject to Florida workers’ compensation rules when their employment and injury fall within the statute. The Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation provides statewide information about coverage requirements, benefits, and workers’ compensation administration.

Whether a job injury qualifies for benefits can turn on:

• Employer coverage
• Employee classification
• Timely employer injury notice
• Medical evidence
• The circumstances of the accident

We can use these facts to assess available workers’ compensation benefits and determine whether a third-party claim may also apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can Your Team Assist If My Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?

If your workers’ compensation claim is denied in Tallahassee, we can review the reason for the denial, relevant medical evidence, employer reporting, and disputed benefits. We can provide representation through the applicable appeal or dispute process and explain the next steps based on the facts of your claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Florida Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Florida workers’ compensation deadlines can vary depending on the claim, exceptions, and tolling rules, so it is important to review your situation promptly with our work injury attorney in Tallahassee.

Discuss your workplace injury, workers’ compensation dispute, or possible third-party claim with our Tallahassee workplace accident lawyer. Call our office at (850) 629-7226 or submit an online contact form to schedule your complimentary consultation. We work on a contingency-fee basis and don’t collect attorney fees unless we win your case.