Important Deadlines for Workers’ Compensation in Florida
It does not take long for a work injury to throw your finances into disarray. In a culture where everyone is overworked, it feels overwhelming to add small tasks to your already busy schedule. For example, once you get diagnosed with a work-related illness, you might feel compelled to get right back to work, and the added task of formally notifying your employer of your diagnosis could easily fall through the cracks. If you are so ill that you are unable to work, you might not even know where to begin to put your life back together. The medical bills piling up can distract you from anything else. If you have just been injured on the job or received a diagnosis of a work-related illness, the time to act is now. A consultation with a South Florida workers’ compensation lawyer can make the process seem intimidating.
When to Seek Treatment for Your Injury: Immediately
If you are injured in an accident at work, you should seek treatment for your injuries immediately. The reasons for this are two: first, getting prompt medical attention is the best way to stop your injuries from getting worse. Second, receiving medical treatment on the day of the accident creates a clear record in your medical history as to when the injury occurred. If you file a workers’ compensation claim, your employer cannot claim that your injury occurred when you were not at work.
When to Notify Your Doctor That Your Injury Is Work-Related: Immediately
Whether you go to the emergency room or to your regular family doctor to receive treatment for your work injury, be sure to notify your doctor that you sustained the injury at work. If the medical visit is not for a traumatic injury, but rather for chronic pain, mental health problems, or another slowly progressing illness that resulted from your work, make sure that your doctor understands this. Your doctor will note it in your medical records that your illness developed as a result of you performing your job duties. Many illnesses can count as occupational diseases in various lines of work, from carpal tunnel syndrome in garment workers to post-traumatic stress disorder in first responders to cancer in people exposed to carcinogens at work.
When to Notify Your Employer of Your Injury: Within 30 Days
If you plan to file a workers’ compensation claim, you must notify your employer within 30 days of the accident or the diagnosis of an occupational disease. If you are able to return to work, then have your supervisor fill out an incident report in your presence. If you are not well enough to return to work, you should notify your employer by email, as soon as possible after your accident or diagnosis.
When to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim: Within Two Years
You have two years from the date of the accident or the diagnosis of an occupational disease to file a workers’ compensation claim. If your injuries are severe, it is a good idea to work with a lawyer to prepare your workers’ compensation claim.
Contact an Attorney Today for Help
Contact a Sunrise workers’ compensation lawyer at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld for help today.
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