Workers Compensation Lawyer Fort Myers, FL
If you suffered an injury at work, a Fort Myers workers compensation lawyer from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you recover the compensation you deserve. We help injured workers file claims and avoid common situations that could lead to denial. If a party other than your employer was partly responsible for your injury, we can help you file a private claim or lawsuit against them and recover compensation. Our workers compensation attorney can help to recover your worker compensation.
Our work injury lawyers give attorneys a good name. As our many client reviews and testimonials show, we value honesty, transparency, communication, and client service above everything else. We know how stressful a work injury can be to our clients, and we want to take that stress off your shoulders and put it on ours while we fight for the money you deserve.
Fort Myers workers compensation lawyer are so confident in the ability to fight for you that we never collect a fee until you get paid. To set up a free case evaluation with a member of our workers compensation attorneys team, call us at (954) 633-8270.
Work Injuries in Fort Myers
No matter how your work injury occurred, our workers compensation attorney can help you file a workers’ compensation claim and get paid. We have helped clients in Fort Myers and all over southwest Florida recover compensation for work injuries suffered in the following ways and more:
- Slip and fall injuries
- Heavy equipment injuries
- Falling objects
- Falls from high places
- Ladder or scaffolding failures
- Exposed electrical wires
- Physical violence
- And much more
Whether your injury appears on the above list or not, we want to hear from you and find out how we can help. Our
Workers compensation attorneys team offers a free case evaluation, at which we will sit down with you, learn the details of your case, discuss your legal options, and let you know what to expect in the days and weeks to come. To speak with a member of our team today and set up a consultation with a workers compensation lawyer in Fort Myers, call us at (954) 633-8270.
What is Workers Compensation Laws in Fort Myers, Florida?
Florida Workers compensation is a mandatory insurance program in which most private employers in Florida are required to participate. Your employer pays premiums on behalf of you and other workers, and when an employee gets injured on the job, they can file a workers’ compensation claim and collect compensation.
In exchange for participating in the program and paying premiums, your employer is largely shielded from lawsuits by injured workers. Only in very limited situations can you file a private lawsuit for an on-the-job injury against an employer who participates in workers’ compensation.
While the program may seem like a win-win—employees have a straightforward way to get paid for on-the-job injuries, and employers receive protection from lawsuits—the program is known for its many imperfections and inefficiencies. Flaws which, no surprise, tend to favor employers rather than workers.
When Workers Compensation Doesn’t Cover Your Expenses in Fort Myers, FL?
Have you been injured at work and told the only compensation you’re entitled to receive is from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance? The purpose of workers’ compensation is to strike an equitable agreement between employers and employees when someone has been hurt or injured at the job. The worker gives up his/her right to sue their employers in court in exchange for the security of workers’ compensation benefits.
While workers’ compensation payments are typically smaller than those obtained from lawsuits, employees are eligible for support during drawn-out court proceedings. However, there are many exceptions to the rule, and you should be aware of them before agreeing to give up your right to sue. Ask yourself these questions and see if your situation counts as a possible exception before giving up any of your rights:
Did you receive an injury due to a defective product?
The manufacturer of the product can be held responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering related to your injury if they knew the product was dangerous and didn’t inform your place of work.
Were you injured or made sick by a toxic substance?
Many work environments use harsh chemicals, such as asbestos, benzene, chromium compounds, silica, and radium that can cause severe injuries and illnesses. There are two main types of toxic injuries: acute and latent. While acute injuries are noticeable right away, latent injuries may take years to appear. Some examples of acute injuries could be chemical burns and poisonings. Cancers and lung diseases are examples of latent injuries. Workers have been successful in latent injury lawsuits involving asbestosis or mesothelioma as well as acute injury lawsuits.
Were you injured because of your employer’s egregious conduct?
In Florida, if your employer does something that’s grossly negligent or reckless, you can sue your employer for damages. Often this will be more than what you would receive through workers’ compensation. Keep in mind that the federal government does not allow its employees to sue in these circumstances. For more help consult with a workers compensation lawyer.
Did your employer fail to carry workers’ compensation insurance?
If your employer is uninsured, you have the right to sue them in civil court for your injuries. This provides the opportunity to get more money than you would with workers’ compensation, but the burden of proof now becomes your responsibility.
Did a third party cause your injury?
If you were hurt at work and it was not the fault of your employer, but the result of a dangerous substance or faulty machine, you may be eligible to sue the third party.
The exception to the rule varies from state to state. To learn whether you are eligible to file a lawsuit for your work-related claim, consult a workers compensation attorney familiar with workers’ compensation in your state who will seek maximum compensation on your behalf.
How Fort Myers Worker Compensation Attorneys Help To Collect The Compensation?
Our workers compensation attorney at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato will fight for you and make sure you collect the compensation you deserve for your work injury. To learn more, and to set up a free, no-obligation case evaluation, call us at (954) 633-8270.
Why Workers Compensation Claims Get Denied In Fort Myers?
Under the rules of workers’ compensation, employers can deny claims only in a few highly specific situations. Even if your own negligence or carelessness caused or contributed to your work injury, your employer cannot deny your workers’ compensation claim unless one of two conditions were present:
One, an employer may deny a claim if they can show that the worker was behaving not just negligently but in a grossly reckless manner at the time of their injury. Because “reckless” is a bit of a nebulous term, employers often take liberties with it and use it to classify all sorts of behavior that is merely careless. As a result, they are often successful at denying claims that should not be declined.
Two, a claim can be denied if evidence exists that the worker was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their injury.
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can fight back against an attempt by your employer to make either of the above claims and deny you workers compensation. For a free case evaluation, call us today at (954) 633-8270.
Third-Party Lawsuits
Many work injuries involve one or more responsible parties that are not the injured worker’s employer. For instance, if you were hurt on a piece of heavy equipment that malfunctioned, the manufacturer may be liable for your injuries.
At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we investigate our clients’ work injuries and identify all responsible parties including, often, those that our clients had not yet considered. In a third-party lawsuit, we can often collect a settlement that goes well beyond what workers compensation pays, so it is worth your time to have an investigation done to determine whether any such party exists. To learn more, call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today at (954) 633-8270.
Contact Our Workers Compensation Lawyer Fort Myers For More Help
If you were injured at work, personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato can help you file a workers’ compensation claim and get paid. A workers’ compensation lawyer Fort Myers will fight for your rights and offer top-notch client service while doing it. For a free case evaluation, call our office today at (954) 633-8270.
We also help the victims of workers compensation and other practice areas:
- Construction accident in Fort Myers
- Wrongful death in Fort Myers
- Medical malpractice in Fort Myers
- workers compensation in Fort Lauderdale
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