If you are hurt on the job, your first priority is to get the medical care you need. You should, as soon as possible, alert your employer or manager about the incident. There is no benefit to you, as the hurt worker, to wait to alert your employer and report your have a workplace injury. You legally must report the workplace injury to your employer within 30 days. Failing to do so could limit your right to compensation.
If you were hurt at work, get medical care, report the accident to your employer, and then call a workers’ compensation lawyer in Jupiter, Florida, for the hands-on support you need. At Ara Work Injury Law, our legal team is here and ready to fight for you to receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Understanding Florida Workers’ Compensation Law
Under Florida’s workers’ compensation law, those hurt on the job must tell their employer about the injury within 30 days of it occurring. If, for some reason, you do not know of the injury right away, you have 30 days from the initial manifestation of the injury. It is generally best to take action prior to this to ensure the employer maintains evidence of the accident.
If you fail to report a workplace injury to your employer within that timeframe, you are unable to file a claim. There are four potential exempts to this rule that could apply in your case:
- The employer or a person working on behalf of the employer as their agent acknowledges they knew of the injury.
- A medical opinion was necessary to determine the cause of the injury, and you alerted the employer within 30 days of obtaining that medical opinion.
- The employer failed to tell you that they employ fewer than four employees and, therefore, do not have to obtain workers’ compensation under the law. There must be a written and posted notice of this and access to any workers’ compensation benefits available.
- There are some types of exceptional circumstances that led to the impossibility of informing the employer of the injury within the 30-day timeframe required.
Take Steps to Report Your Workplace Injury to Your Employer Right Away
As an injured employee, it is typically better to inform your employer right away of the incident. This involves providing a statement about what occurred when it happened and details of what you did after, such as getting medical care. There are a few key reasons for this, but the most important reason not to wait is that you do not want to draw any potential suspicion in your case.
If you are hurt weeks before you let the employer know about it, they may try to claim you were hurt otherwise. For example, an employer may use your social media account to prove that your injuries may have come from an activity you engaged in and not from a work-related incident.
What to Do After Being Hurt on the Job in Florida
After an injury occurs, seek medical care immediately if you are facing a life-threatening situation. Call 911 and focus on your health.
In most other situations, you should alert your employer of your injury. Then, several things should occur:
- Your employer should have you complete a First Report of Injury form. You have the right to complete this form even if your employer says you did not suffer an injury.
- If you need medical care due to the injury, your employer should provide you with information, including the name of their workers’ compensation carrier.
- Your employers should tell you where you can seek authorized treatment for your injuries.
When you report the accident to your employer, they are obligated to inform you of your ability to get medical care and how to do so.
If your injuries are not fully understood at the time of the accident, you still have the right to request medical care. For example, you may have fallen at work and suffered a hit to the head. Initially, you felt okay. A few hours or even a few days later, you have serious concerns. At that point, report the incident to your employer and get medical care.
What to Do If Your Employer Refuses to Help After a Workplace Injury
Under Florida law, employers must provide employees with information about where they can get care as soon as they request it. If your employer fails to do so and, for some reason, you believe they are trying to deter you from reporting the accident, do not wait to contact a work injury attorney in South Florida for guidance.
In situations where you report the accident to your supervisor or Human Resources and they will not provide you with the information you need, do not hesitate to document what occurred and then call Florida work injury lawyer Ara Gechijian for immediate help and guidance.
What to Do Now: After You Are Hurt on the Job
If you are hurt on the job for any reason, you may have the right to workers’ compensation. If you find that your 30-day reporting window is closed, contact your employer right away to file your statement to document the incident. You should also contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in South Florida for immediate help.
If it is beyond 30 days and you know you were hurt at work, contact our attorney anyway. There are some exceptions to this rule, and if your situation qualifies, our legal team can help you build your case.
Set Up a Consultation with a Workers’ Compensation Law Firm in Jupiter Now
It’s critical to your worker’s compensation claim to report a workplace injury to your employer as soon as possible. At Ara Work Injury Law, our highly qualified and dedicated professionals are ready to fight for you. If you were hurt, and your employer did not take action to document the incident or provide you with guidance, reach out to us now. Call us for a free consultation at 561-445-0232 if you have been hurt in a Florida work-related injury. Let our workers’ compensation lawyer in Jupiter, Florida, go to work on your case right now.
