Workplace accidents in Lakeland, FL, can often leave the injured employee unclear of what they can do to be made whole again. While most places of business in the state are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, those benefits can only do so much. And, even so, that’s assuming the claim is accepted without dispute.
Depending on the circumstances involved in the situation, a third-party lawsuit might also be an option, which can result in compensation for things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, decreased earning capacity, and more.
An experienced Lakeland workplace accident lawyer with Winters & Yonker, P.A., can provide effective legal services throughout the entire process. Our attorneys have 119 years of combined experience, and we’ve helped our deserving clients collect tens of millions of dollars since our personal injury law firm’s founding.
If you’re ready to get started, just contact our law office in Lakeland, Florida, or give us a quick call today at (863) 251-6196 to set up a free consultation.
How Winters & Yonker, P.A., Can Help After a Workplace Accident in Lakeland
Oftentimes, lost wages and medical bills comprise only a small portion of the damages the victim experiences after a workplace accident. Unfortunately, those are, for the most part, the only types of benefits that the employee can receive via a workers’ comp claim.
If you’ve sustained injuries in this type of accident, you deserve compensation that fully makes up for all of your losses and suffering. If you hire the trusted Lakeland personal injury attorneys with Winters & Yonker, P.A., you’ll be setting yourself up for a favorable outcome. Our award-winning legal team can help in the following ways, to name just a few:
- Exploring and explaining your legal options and the best course of action as your case proceeds forward
- Taking care of all the necessary paperwork, communications, and negotiations
- Ensuring you aren’t taken advantage of by your employer or any other party involved in the matter
- Hiring experts, when necessary, to further enhance your compensation claim
- Filing a lawsuit against a liable third party, if applicable
We’re available 24/7 to speak with you about your claim if you have any questions or would like to begin forming an attorney-client relationship. Your initial case assessment is free of charge, and you won’t be under any obligation to hire us afterward, either.
What Are My Legal Options After a Workplace Accident in Florida?
The first place to turn for compensation after a workplace accident in the State of Florida is generally its workers’ compensation system. Most employers in the state are required by law to carry workers’ comp insurance, with only limited exceptions. If your claim is accepted, in most cases, you can generally receive benefits for your medical bills as well as 2/3rds of your lost wages, among other limited areas of compensation.
One benefit of workers’ comp is that you can receive benefits even if the accident was your fault. However, there are certain circumstances in which it might not cover your injuries, such as if you intended to injure yourself.
In some instances, your employer or its workers’ comp insurance carrier may deny or dispute your claim. In that event, it can become beneficial – if not necessary – to hire a Lakeland personal injury attorney to help protect your rights and ensure your best case is put forward.
Third-Party Claims
Though you can receive workers’ comp benefits even if you caused the workplace accident, you also usually cannot sue your employer for additional compensation – assuming they carry workers’ compensation insurance.
However, depending on the facts involved in your workplace accident situation, you may be able to file a lawsuit against a liable third party. Examples of third parties that you might be able to sue include, but are not limited to:
- Motor vehicle drivers, if you were injured in a crash during the course of your employment
- General contractors
- A governmental entity that is responsible for your injuries
- Owners and managers of property
- Retailers, distributors, and manufacturers of defective products or machinery
In order to receive compensation for a third-party claim, you will be required to prove that the third party was negligent in most cases. Negligence occurs when a person or entity violates a given duty of care, causing harm to someone else as a result.
Importantly, this type of claim can allow you to recover compensation for your non-economic damages, such as your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and decreased enjoyment of life, among many others. You can also receive full compensation for your economic damages beyond what workers’ comp offers.
A seasoned attorney with Winters & Yonker, P.A., can ensure your legal options are fully understood and that your rights are protected at all times. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation and to learn more.
Workplace Accident Statistics in Florida
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 275 fatal workplace accidents in Florida in 2020. This represents a decrease from the year before. Data are not available from BLS regarding non-fatal workplace accidents.
Further numbers are available from Florida’s workers’ compensation system. According to the state’s workers’ comp database, there have been the following numbers of claims in the state in recent years:
- 2022: 49,636
- 2021: 73,474
- 2020: 77,163
- 2019: 64,207
- 2018: 63,835
The vast majority of these claims resulted in benefits to the injured worker, though the severity of the injuries is not mentioned. On average, there are roughly 200 workers’ comp claims per day in the state, based on these figures.
We Can Help You Recover Compensation for Virtually Any Workplace Injury in Lakeland, Florida
Because a workplace accident can occur in any industry, the resulting injuries can vary significantly. The types of injuries our personal injury law firm can help you recover compensation for include the following:
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Illnesses
- Fractures
- Organ damage
- Burn injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries
- Eye injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- The wrongful death of a loved one
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Catastrophic injuries, such as paralysis or amputations
Call us today to discuss your options for compensation after a workplace accident in Lakeland, Florida.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Workplace Accidents?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the three most common causes of workplace accidents are contact with equipment, overexertion and bodily reaction, as well as slips, trips, and falls.
Other prominent causes, as discussed by the National Safety Council, include motor vehicle accidents, exposure to harmful substances or environments, violence, and fire and explosions.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Workplace Accident Claim in Lakeland, Florida?
There are a few different deadlines to keep in mind regarding workplace accident claims in Lakeland, FL.
Regarding a workers’ comp claim, you will have 30 days to report the accident to your employer. From there, you will have two years to petition for benefits.
If you are eligible to file a third-party claim, you will have four years to file as described by the state’s statute of limitations for personal injury. However, if you need to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one, the deadline is two years instead of four.
Contact Our Experienced Lakeland Workplace Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
Workplace accident cases can be much more complex than they might seem on the surface. Workers’ comp is a robust system in Florida, and it offers employees many rights and benefits regardless of whose fault the accident was.
However, employers and their insurance carriers may still have ways to deny a claim based on the facts involved in the situation. And in some cases, the employee may be able to file an additional claim for full compensation against a liable third party.
Hiring Winters & Yonker, P.A., means you’ll have a Lakeland workplace accident attorney on your side who can ensure your rights and options are realized to their complete extent. We also work on contingency, so we will only receive attorney’s fees if we secure compensation for you.
Call us today to set up a free consultation, where we’ll be able to discuss your case and provide legal advice.