Severe workplace injuries can lead to a lifetime of challenges. With that in mind, if you’ve been injured on the job, you have the right to compensation under Florida law. Unfortunately, in many cases, workers’ compensation victims receive low payouts or no payout at all.
The good news is that there are ways to increase your chances of a successful workers’ comp claim. This article discusses the top ways to increase your worker’s comp settlement, including steps you should take and avoid.
Contact Schrier Law Group today to discuss the details of your case with a proven worker’s compensation lawyer. Continue reading to learn the best ways to maximize your worker’s compensation settlement value.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
The cornerstone of any worker’s comp claim is workplace injury. Without an injury verified by a credentialed physician, you can’t expect your case to go very far. Generally, it’s recommended that you seek immediate medical attention after sustaining an injury at work.
The longer you wait to seek medical care, the more likely the insurance company will scrutinize your claim, make a lowball offer, or deny your claim.
Ensure Your Workers’ Comp Case is Viable
Workers’ compensation claims require employees to report workers’ comp eligible injuries and present their case in a manner that doesn’t seem fraudulent. With that in mind, the following types of injuries are eligible for work comp in Florida:
- Injuries that happen while on the job or while engaged in work-related activities like car accidents, spinal injuries, loss of limbs, etc.
- Repetitive stress injuries that happen due to repeating the same movements consistently. Common examples include carpal tunnel, tendonitis, and similar.
- Workplace sicknesses occurring to exposure to harmful conditions or chemicals.
If you’re not sure about the legitimacy of your worker’s comp claim, contact us today to speak with a worker’s compensation attorney about your case.
Inform Your Employer of Your Injury ASAP & File Your Claim
A worker’s compensation lawyer at the Schrier Law Group will almost always encourage you to report workplace injuries to employers as soon as possible. At the very least, Florida law mandates that employees report injuries within 30 days.
Further, you must file an official claim in writing. It can help to take a picture of the completed form before handing it to your employer. At that point, they must notify the insurance company to begin the worker’s comp process.
Know The Severity of Your Injuries
Workplace injuries are placed into four workers’ comp disability rating categories. They include:
- Injuries that completely prevent you from working for a temporary period
- Temporary injuries that limit your ability to complete some (but not all) work-related tasks
- Permanent disabilities that prevent you from doing certain work-related activities ever
- Permanent disabilities that prevent you from any work-related activities with your current or future employers
The worker’s compensation benefit you’re eligible to receive depends on your injury severity score (5% – 100%).
Keep Meticulous Records
Proving the value of your claim often requires good record keeping. That means that you should keep detailed notes about the following:
- Medical records
- Cost of healthcare and rehabilitation
- Every document you’ve completed
- Daily journals detailing your injuries, recovery, etc.
- Other out-of-pocket expenses like prescription costs, parking fees at doctor’s offices, and more.
Watch What You Say to Doctors and Insurers
In many cases, the worker’s compensation insurer will request you to get an independent medical exam (IME). That’s true even if your primary care provider has already seen you.
Whether you’re seeing your physician or the insurance company’s doctor, it’s in your best interest to stick to the facts, tell the truth, and give details. Anything you say to the physician can potentially harm your case, so be careful.
Similarly, you should be aware of what you share with insurance adjusters, especially if you give them a recorded statement. In our experience, it’s best to contact your worker’s compensation lawyer before giving any recorded statements to the claims adjuster.
Understand That You’re Being Watched
Once you’ve filed a worker’s compensation claim, you can expect the insurance company and their lawyers to keep a close eye on you. In some cases, insurers hire a private investigator to catch you committing worker’s comp fraud.
Generally, it’s a good rule of thumb to limit physical activity, stay away from social media, and only discuss your case when necessary. That’s because it only takes one picture or ill-timed statement to ruin your chances of getting fair compensation for your injuries.
Contact a Florida Worker’s Compensation Lawyer Today
Worker’s compensation laws are complicated. Working with an experienced lawyer for work comp claims can drastically improve your chances of a successful outcome. At Schrier Law Group, our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in work comp claims.
We’re confident that we can obtain the best possible outcome in your case as well. Contact us today at 1-888-831-2407 to speak with a worker’s compensation lawyer you can trust.
