Port Richey Work Injury Attorney
Workers spend so much time on the job that it isn’t a surprise when they are hurt while working. Although construction and transportation are the most dangerous industries, even teachers and desk workers can suffer a work-related injury or illness. Call a law firm to learn more about what compensation is available. Work injuries are treated differently than other accident cases.
Wendy Doyle-Palumbo is an experienced personal injury attorney who has practiced in this field for more than 30 years. She can meet to discuss your workplace injury or illness and explain more about your legal options. Schedule a consultation with our Port Richey work injury attorney today!
Compensation for Workers Injured on the Job
Any injury will qualify for workers’ compensation if you were working at the time of injury. Your own negligence does not matter in these cases. If you are hurt, you should receive:
- Medical benefits. You should not have to pay for doctor’s visits, testing, surgery, rehab, hospital stays, or other medical care. You can also receive prosthetics and pain medication, so long as care is reasonable and necessary to treat work injuries.
- Disability benefits. Some workers are totally disabled, at least temporarily. You can receive a portion of lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working or force you to reduce hours. Someone who has continued disability after reaching maximum medical improvement can qualify for impairment income benefits or possibly permanent total disability.
- Death benefits. If a worker died, then family members might receive a death benefit.
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits. Seriously injured workers might need additional training to help transition to a new job. Imagine a police officer who is paralyzed below the waist. They would need to transition to a different field, and vocational benefits help with that.
Unfortunately, workers cannot sue their employers in most cases, even if your employer broke safety rules. That is unfortunate, but it’s the law in Florida and has been for some time. Workers’ comp benefits are the exclusive remedy against an employer.
However, you might be able to sue someone who has liability for your injuries. For example, you might be hurt at work by a defective product, in which case we might sue the manufacturer for selling a hazardous item. We might also bring a claim against a member of the public who has injured you.
A third-party claim can increase what you take home for an injury. We might request pain and suffering damages, which are not available in workers’ comp, along with full compensation for lost income.
Contact Attorney Doyle-Palumbo Today
Hurt at work? Call our office. We have helped those who suffered injuries in dramatic accidents, like falls, as well as those who have picked up an occupational illness. Work-related injuries turn mostly on having full medical information and evidence about your injuries. We might need to show that you are not suffering from a pre-existing injury to receive workers’ comp benefits. Contact us if you have questions. We offer free consultations.