Coral Gables Workplace Accidents

Need a personal injury lawyer in Coral Gables?

A large percentage of the American population spends much of their time at work. According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida had a labor force of 9,347,000 in 2012. Approximately 749,000 Floridians were out of jobs in 2012, and the number of jobs was up 1.4 percent over the course of the year.

Some of the main industry job gains were due to increases in food and drinking places, food and beverage stores, ambulatory health care services, transportation equipment manufacturing, and employment services, and the industry that has the most jobs in Florida is the trade, transportation and utilities industry.

With the majority of our time being spent at the workplace, it is no surprise that workplace accidents happen as often as they do, particularly for those who work in high-risk environments such as farming, construction or manufacturing. The term "work-related injury" is defined by state law as personal injury or death by accident arising out of and in the course of employment, and disease or infection which naturally or unavoidably results from such injury.

When an employee sustains an injury of this kind while on the job, the state will ensure that medical treatment, related forms reports and other required information are provided in accordance with the state government. This, however, is not enough.

Rather than rely solely on the state for the information you need, we urge you to work with a Coral Gables injury attorney from Mesa Law Firm. Together, we can ensure that the appropriate actions are taken to help you seek the compensation that you need and deserve.

After an On-the-Job Accident

If you have suffered injury or illness while on the job, there are a couple of steps that you must take in order to avoid disqualifying yourself from workers' compensation. First, you must immediately inform your supervisor of the injury after it happens. Failure to do so may hinder your ability to file a workers' compensation claim in the future.

Except in emergency situations, you are required to use a medical provide who is part of the Department of Financial Services Division of Risk Management's MCA. Once again, failure to do so may jeopardize your ability to obtain benefits. You are only allowed to change to another Primary Care Physician once, and your new physician must be of the same specialty and within the same provider's network.

Florida state law also has a list of responsibilities that job employers and supervisors must abide by, and these responsibilities include: calling 911 for emergency treatment, making arrangements to transport the injured worker to the nearest medical facility for treatment, and reporting the injury to the correct department.

Generally speaking, employees who suffer a work-related injury will receive workers' compensation disability leave for the first 40 hours of the absence caused by the injury. Employees must obtain a medical work excuse from the medical provider who handles workers' compensation in order to utilize this leave, and supervisors must contact the Human Resource Office if the injured employee does not return to work after the initial 40 hours of disability leave.

Holding Negligent Employers Responsible

There are some cases where an on-the-job accident happened because of an employer's failure to follow the OSHA standards of safety or because of an occupational hazard. When employers fail to provide proper training, safety gear, or well-maintained equipment, workers can suffer injuries that may result in severe injuries or even wrongful death. If you have suffered an injury at work and you suspect that employer negligence or the laziness of your supervisor is to blame, call a Coral Gables injury lawyer at our firm for help. We will work closely with you to investigate your accident and to determine if negligence played a role.

Some of the workplace accidents that may cause injuries and make you eligible for compensation include falling from heights or scaffolding, falling objects or equipment, exposure to toxic chemicals, falls due to unstable flooring or unsafe surfaces, fires due to electrical hazards, slip and fall accidents, heavy machinery accidents, and many more. Construction accidents and employees who work in plants are especially prone to these types of injuries, and our firm can help you recover the compensation you need and deserve.

Unfortunately, there are some times when employers deny injured workers the benefits they deserve for their accident. This can bring about financial hardship for injured workers as they are without a source of income for some period of time. Here at Mesa Law Firm, we are here to fight for the rights of these workers and we know how to seek legal action against employers who deny benefits.

We will take your present loss of income, future loss of income, medical expenses, and pain and suffering into account when we seek compensation on your behalf, so call today and schedule a consultation!