Third-Party Claims: Bridging The Gap Between Workplace Injuries And Workers’ Compensation In Florida

Every year, tens of thousands of Floridians file a workers’ compensation claim after suffering a workplace injury.

With very few exceptions, Florida’s workers’ compensation laws cover every type of injury that occurs while an employee is “on the clock,” even if the injury was sustained because the employee breached company policy or procedure. Even if an employee were 100% at fault for their injury, they would likely be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Workers’ compensation claims are generally straightforward and relatively simple to pursue. They are the first and most obvious route to compensation for employees who need immediate financial relief during the challenging aftermath of an injury, providing an injured employee with coverage for medical expenses, a percentage of lost wages, and legal fees associated with the claim.

However, workers’ compensation claims aren’t without downsides. For example, as soon as an employee signs a workers’ compensation agreement, they give up their right to sue the employer for their injuries. When it comes to serious injuries, workers’ compensation benefits typically cover only a tiny fraction of medical costs and wage loss from being unable to work. Furthermore, workers’ compensation claims do not compensate employees for non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.

This is where third-party injury claims come into play. These claims allow employees to pursue compensation from parties who may have contributed to their injury. They can be an excellent way to bridge the financial gap between a worker’s losses and their workers’ compensation claim benefits. Through a third-party injury claim, workers can receive compensation for pain and suffering, which can be significant.

These claims can greatly benefit injured workers but are more complex than simple workers’ compensation cases. To successfully bring a third-party injury claim, it’s necessary to prove a strong link between the negligent party being sued and the cause of the injury. This requires a much higher level of evidence, investigatory work, and carefully crafted arguments. It also requires a firm grasp of workplace injury and personal injury law. Identifying and fleshing out how and why the negligent party was negligent and how that negligence led to the injury is essential.

An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer is key to building a successful third-party liability case. Although the last thing an injured worker wants to deal with is litigation, it’s often worth it in the end due to the shortcomings of workers’ compensation claims. A good law firm with extensive experience in these cases can help.

Third-Party Injury Claims Can Provide Injured Workers the Following Forms of Crucial Recovery:

• Costs of medical care not covered by workers’ compensation benefits
• Property damage (e.g., a totaled vehicle that was being used at the time of injury while in the course of employment)
• Wage loss from time away from work
• Pain and suffering
• Physical disfigurement
• Wrongful death
• Punitive damages (intended to punish the defendant for particularly harmful or outrageous behavior that led to the injury)

Workplace Injuries In Hallandale Beach, FL And Beyond

Workplace injuries can happen anywhere, but major cities like Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Hollywood, and Fort Lauderdale, FL, can become hotspots for them. Some of the most dangerous jobs in Florida are not the same as those in other states, with many related to logging, fishing, truck driving, and operating mining machines.

Unfortunately, injuries in these industries can have permanent, life-altering outcomes, making additional sources of compensation through one or more third-party lawsuits even more critical.

Third-Party Negligence Lawyers At Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A., In Hallandale Beach, FL

At Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A., we bring considerable experience handling a broad range of personal injury cases to every client who seeks a third-party negligence claim alongside their workers’ compensation claim.

We understand how overwhelming and frustrating it can be to deal with an injury due to someone else’s negligence. We pride ourselves not only on providing excellence at all levels of workplace injury and third-party injury cases but on eliminating as much of the emotional burden on our clients as possible.

At Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A., you’ll never be left in the dark about the progress of your case, and you’ll never feel like just another case number.

We’re here for you, whether in Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Miramar, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, or Jacksonville, FL.

Let us help you get the compensation you deserve so you can move on with your life.

Call Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A., at 800-TELL-ROBERT.