Car accidents are a common occurrence on the roads of Florida, and they can have serious consequences for those involved. If you have been in a car accident in Florida

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Will There Will Be A Car Accident Investigation?

The at-fault party’s insurance company will immediately launch an auto accident investigation to reduce their payout.

This investigation includes taking statements from the parties and witnesses and collecting physical evidence, such as photographs and even the damaged vehicles.

While the insurance company attempts to avoid liability, most auto accident victims are left to deal with the personal and financial effects of the trauma. This reality is why it’s important to have a specialist on your side. We won’t let the insurance company take advantage of you.

Should I Seek Medical Attention After An Accident?

Most people avoid doctor appointments after a vehicle accident. However, after a severe auto crash, it is important to follow medical advice to give yourself the best and fastest chance to heal.

Seek medical care immediately after an injury and avoid missing appointments with your healthcare professionals.

Should I Tell My Doctor About Prior Injuries?

Your auto accident case value is determined by evidence from several places, especially your doctors. Most people who require treatment will get better; however, some catastrophic injuries require lifelong care.

After an accident, document what future needs may be necessary. It is also important to tell your doctors about past issues.

The doctors need to give opinions about new injuries and prior injuries that were possibly exacerbated. Failure to provide your doctors with accurate information may damage your credibility and undermine your doctor’s findings.

What Is A Permanent Injury In Florida?

After Lakeland, FL, car accident, you must demonstrate that your injury is permanent to receive compensation for pain and suffering, disability or physical impairment, deformity, mental anguish, inconvenience, or loss of capacity for enjoyment of life.

To be considered a permanent injury, it must include:

A significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.

Permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement.

An injury that the evidence shows is permanent to a reasonable degree of probability.

What Is "Maximum Medical Improvement?"

Maximum medical improvement is when an injured patient’s condition cannot be further improved or when a healing plateau is reached.

It can mean the patient has fully recovered from their injury, or their condition has stabilized, and no substantial change can be expected. Maximum medical improvement does not mean the patient will not receive future care.

What Is "Palliative Care?"

Sometimes, future care is designed to help with functionality or pain levels and will not cure the condition. This kind of treatment following a car wreck is called “palliative care.” Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to specialized health care for people with severe conditions.

It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptom or pain. Such therapy aims to improve the patient’s quality of life.

How Can A Lawyer Help Me After An Accident?

After getting the care you need, obtaining good advice and counsel is important for your future. Hiring the right personal injury attorneys can make a difference in your case. If you need legal assistance, contact one of our car accident specialists.

If you hire a lawyer on contingency, you will likely pay the same percentage fee whether your lawyer is a first-year lawyer with little or no experience or a board-certified specialist by the Florida Bar.

Per Florida Statutes § 440.02, the following people can qualify for workers’ compensation in Florida if they suffered a work-related injury:

Employees of businesses with at least four employees
Sole proprietors in the construction industry
Independent contractors in the construction industry
Subcontractors
Agricultural workers, including seasonal workers who work 30 to 45 calendar days

If you or a loved one suffered a work-related injury in Sebring, Florida, our legal team at Dismuke Law wants to help you with your case. We can have a Sebring workers’ compensation lawyer represent you and fight for your right to recover damages through workers’ compensation, potentially more through a lawsuit if necessary. We offer the first consultation for free to explain your legal options and our services.

What Kind of Benefits Can You Get Through Workers’ Compensation in Florida?

In Florida, you are eligible to receive the following benefits through workers’ compensation:

Coverage for medical treatment: Provided you seek medical care through an approved physician in your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer’s network, you can receive compensation to cover the costs of your doctor’s appointments, surgeries, and overall treatment for your work-related injury.
Lost wages: Qualifying workers can receive up to two-thirds of their average weekly earnings if their work-related injury or illness prevented them from being able to work. Workers must meet certain eligibility requirements to receive benefits, such as being out of work for 21 days and having a statement by your physician that confirms your medical condition.
Permanent disability: If your injuries are permanent and are not expected to improve, as evaluated by a doctor, then you may receive permanent disability benefits as compensation. Workers may receive these benefits on top of temporary total disability benefits, which they can receive until they reach 75 years of age or indefinitely if they do not qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
Vocational rehabilitation: If your work-related injury prevents you from returning to your job position or work industry in general, you may receive vocational rehabilitation services to help you find new work. These services may also involve new education or training for job positions if necessary.
Death benefits: If a worker does not survive their work-related injury or illness, then the surviving family may receive compensation for loss of financial support and funeral expenses.

If you decide to work with a Sebring workers’ compensation attorney from our firm, our legal team can review your employer’s insurance policy to see what kind of coverage they offer. We can then compare the coverage to your overall damages to determine whether you might need to pursue other legal routes for compensation.

What Injuries Are Not Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Florida?

Workers’ compensation does not cover all types of injuries. For example, the following damages do not receive benefits coverage:

Mental injuries, including emotional distress (unless you receive a diagnosis for a psychological disorder caused by your work)
Pain and suffering
Work-related conditions that cause prejudice or dislike toward another employee

Additionally, if the work injury occurred because an employee was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or due to horseplay at the workplace, they may be denied benefits since the employee violated other aspects of their employment contract. If the employee committed suicide or intentionally caused harm to others at their workplace, this would also disqualify them from workers’ compensation.

Let a Sebring Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help You with Your Case

Filing for workers’ compensation can be complex if you are unsure what rights you have and how the process works. By working with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Sebring, Florida you can gain insight into how to navigate the claims process and have someone advocate for your financial recovery.

Our team at Dismuke Law, offers the following services to our clients:

Reviewing your employers’ workers’ compensation insurance policy
Preparing paperwork for your claim
Responding to communications on your behalf, such as phone calls from insurance adjusters
Attending hearings and other legal appearances on your behalf to petition for compensation
Organizing efforts to collect evidence for your case, such as getting testimony from medical professionals
Preparing your case for a lawsuit if you decide to take further legal action

Our team is available for questions if you have them at any point in your case.

You May Qualify to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit to Pursue Additional Damages

Employees cannot sue their employers for work-related injuries. However, if a third party contributed to the accident, they may have legal grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover additional damages they would not recover through traditional workers’ compensation benefits.

For example, if a construction vehicle malfunctioned and caused you to suffer a spinal cord injury, you may qualify to sue the manufacturer of the construction vehicle for its faulty design or build. While your employer would be liable for workers’ compensation since you were injured while working, the manufacturer may be held strictly liable for their faulty product. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you could pursue compensation for:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Reduced earning potential
Physical disfigurement
Diminished quality of life
Out-of-pocket costs, such as having to pay for travel to medical appointments if you could not drive because of your injuries

Our law firm will confirm whether this route is viable for your case.

Keep Track of Key Deadlines for Your Case

If you decide to file for workers’ compensation, Florida sets the following deadline:

Florida Statutes § 440.19 mandates that you have up to two years after the work-related accident to file for workers’ compensation benefits.
In some cases, a toll on the statutory deadline may extend it up to one year after the last payment on indemnity benefits.

If you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, Florida Statutes § 95.11 sets a filing deadline of up to two years from the date of the accident. Wrongful death cases have up to two years from the victim’s death to remain legitimate in court.

Call Dismuke Law Today to Get a Free Case Review

If you or a loved one was injured while working in Sebring, Florida, you may qualify to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Whether you want to file a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit, our workers’ compensation attorneys at Dismuke Law are prepared to help you navigate litigation. We can assign a Sebring workers’ compensation lawyer from our team to your case and guide you through the claims process.

Contact us for a free consultation with a member of our team. We can discuss more about our legal services, including what we can do for you. Let us start fighting for your compensation today.

Take The Next Step

We Care About Your Recovery

Seriously injured? Have no coverage? We want to talk to you and we can help. We have two convenient office locations in Lakeland and Tampa and can even come to you if you are unable to travel due to your injuries. When you’ve been hurt in Florida, 1-800-ASK-DAVE is the only number you have to remember.

WHAT IS MY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT CASE WORTH?
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