Dealing with a work-related injury can be challenging. In addition to worrying about recovering fully from your injuries, you also worry about how to pay bills and what may happen to your job. Most Florida workers are covered by workers’ compensation, which can be crucial for helping an injured employee recover after a workplace accident.

Average Florida Workers’ Comp Settlements

An average for workers’ compensation settlements can be difficult to determine because workers’ compensation settlements are based on several factors. Factors that impact the amount of a workers’ comp settlement include:

  • The type of workplace injuries sustained
  • Whether the worker sustains a permanent impairment or disability
  • The workers’ wages
  • The age and occupation of the worker
  • The cost of medical treatment

Workers’ compensation settlements may total several thousand dollars for minor injuries. The average workers’ comp settlement for severe injuries and permanent impairments can be much higher. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can calculate the correct value for your benefits and disability based on the factors of your case.

What Is Included in a Workers’ Compensation Settlement in Pensacola, FL?

Workers’ compensation insurance is a no-fault program that provides specific benefits to workers injured on the job or suffering from an occupational illness. Most Florida employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employees.

Benefits available for a workers’ compensation claim include:

Benefits for Medical Care

The workers’ comp insurance provider pays for reasonable and necessary medical treatment for work-related injuries or illnesses. You should not be responsible for paying any medical bills that your on-the-job injury caused.

However, if you choose a medical provider not on the approved list from your employer, workers’ compensation may not have to pay the bill.

Temporary Wage Loss

Many work injuries result in temporary disability. If your injury prevents you from working during your recovery, you may receive temporary disability benefits.

Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits are paid if you cannot perform any work during your recovery. You can receive two-thirds of your average weekly wages before the accident. TTD payments are paid up to 104 weeks or until you reach maximum medical improvement.

Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits are paid if you can perform some of your job duties but cannot work enough to earn the same income as before the work accident. In that case, you can receive 80% of the difference between what you can work with your medical restrictions and your average weekly wages before the accident.

Permanent Disability Benefits

After 104 weeks of temporary disability benefits or upon reaching maximum medical recovery, you are evaluated to determine if you sustained a permanent impairment. A doctor determines your impairment level if your injuries cause a permanent condition.

Some workers may have a complete and total impairment. Other workers may incur a partial disability. The amount you are entitled to receive depends on the type and the severity of the impairment. For example, if you are totally disabled, you may receive disability benefits for the rest of your life.

Types of Workers’ Compensation Settlements in Florida

If you are totally and permanently disabled, you could receive lifetime disability benefits. The benefits equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to a weekly cap. The Florida Department of Financial Services provides the current maximum weekly benefits for permanent disability payments based on the year the illness or injury occurred.

You can receive weekly payments, or you may want to negotiate a lump sum payment or other structured payment. It is essential to discuss the pros and cons of each type of workers’ comp settlement. There could be room for negotiation of a settlement.

If you sustain a partial impairment, you can receive a workers’ comp settlement for a permanent partial impairment. A doctor assigns an impairment rating, which determines how many weeks you receive for the partial impairment settlement

Understanding Florida workers’ comp laws can be challenging. Insurance companies work to reduce the amount they must pay to resolve claims. It is always best to meet with a workers’ compensation lawyer for a free consultation before accepting a settlement. An attorney will advise you whether the settlement is fair and lawful.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in North Florida

If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers in Florida at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have five convenient locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview, Milton, and Mary Esther.

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Pensacola Office
803 N Palafox St
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 434-3333

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Navarre Office
9933 Navarre Pkwy
Navarre, FL 32566
Phone: (850) 757-2898

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Crestview Office
1501 S Ferdon Blvd
Crestview, FL 32536
Phone: (850) 407-7726

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Milton Office
6373 US-90
Milton, FL 32570
Phone: (850) 790-7790

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Mary Esther Office
151 Mary Esther Blvd Suite 103A
Mary Esther, FL 32569
Phone: (850) 809-0170