Work Injuries And Inclement Weather

Hurricanes in South Florida, and inclement weather like severe thunderstorms outside of hurricane season, can be extremely dangerous. When workers are required to do their jobs during inclement weather — especially people who work outdoors — those workers can suffer injuries due to the conditions. For example, roofers, delivery drivers, truckers, landscapers, and other workers might be harmed while performing work duties in a thunderstorm or hurricane conditions. If this happens, can the worker be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage? Our Sunrise workers’ compensation lawyers want to emphasize that you can indeed be eligible for workers’ compensation when dangerous weather is a causal factor in your workplace injury. We can explain in more detail, and we can discuss your case with you today.

Workers’ Compensation Coverage Generally Includes “Acts of God” 

If you are a homeowner in South Florida, or if you have purchased renters’ insurance or other types of property coverage, you have probably heard the term “act of God” that is commonly used with regard to insurance coverage exceptions or exclusions. That term, “act of God,” in this context generally means natural events over which people have no control, or naturally occurring events that people cannot intervene in, such as hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and flooding. When it comes to many types of insurance, these kinds of “acts of God,” as they are called, are generally excluded (meaning that a property damaged by an “act of God” is not covered by the insurance policy).

However, even though workers’ compensation insurance is also a type of insurance, there are not the same exclusions or exceptions for “acts of God.” To be sure, if a worker is doing their job and suffers an injury because of a hurricane, flooding, a thunderstorm, or a lightning strike, they can still be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation coverage.

What to Do After an Injury Caused by Inclement Weather 

What should you do if you were injured while working in inclement weather? You should follow the same protocol that you would for any other type of injury arising out of your employment.

First, you should report the injury to your employer. Florida law requires you to report the injury within 30 days after the date that you got hurt. Then, you should see a health care provider for treatment. If your inclement weather injury is an emergency, your first doctor’s visit can be to any provider. After an initial visit, your follow-up treatments should be to an approved provider. You should obtain information about approved providers from your employer. Next, you should get in touch with a workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you.

Contact a Sunrise Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today 

Do you have questions about seeking workers’ compensation after being injured during a hurricane or other inclement weather in South Florida? Or do you need general assistance with your workers’ compensation case, or with an appeal? An experienced Sunrise workers’ compensation lawyer at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. to learn more about how we can assist you with your workers’ compensation case and can help you to seek the benefits you need.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440.html