If you were made the victim of a workplace accident caused by your employer’s negligence, it is more than likely that you will have to pursue a workers’ compensation claim. Importantly, workers’ compensation claims may follow a slightly different rule book than personal injury claims. This starts with the requirement of formally reporting the accident and injury to your employer straight away. Well, with that being said, follow along to find out what happens if you don’t report your workplace accident on time or right away and how a proficient Tampa work injury lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you navigate this claims process.
What happens if I don’t report my work injury on time?
In the state of Florida, you must fill out and file a “First Report of Injury” form with your employer within 30 days of your workplace accident and injury. Otherwise, the workers’ compensation benefits you would have received will be denied flat-out. This means that you may be unable to collect the financial compensation necessary to cover your incurred medical bills, lost wages, third-party domestic services, and more.
What happens if I delay reporting my work injury until the last day?
Even though you have 30 days to bring your First Report of Injury form forward, it is best not to wait until the last day. Further, it is best to seek medical attention right away to get a handle on the exact work injuries you incurred. This is because this form will ask you detailed questions, including asking for a detailed description of your affected body part(s), your official diagnosis, your prescribed treatment plan, and more. If you do not have this information readily available, you might not have what it takes to submit a complete report. Again, this may jeopardize your chances at a successful workers’ compensation claim.
What if my work injury is actually an occupational illness?
Say, for instance, that you did not incur a work injury from an isolated workplace accident. Rather, you may have been diagnosed with an illness due to what you have been exposed to in the countless years spent in your occupation (i.e., respiratory disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, hearing loss, etc). Well then, this 30-day deadline for reporting may not work for you. However, Florida civil law may instead observe an alternative deadline, which may be 30 days from the date on which you became reasonably aware of the connection between your illness and your occupation, or even a longer window at that. An extended deadline may be something that you want to bring up and work out with your lawyer.
In conclusion, before you take any further initiative with your claim, we urge you to consult a talented Pasco County personal injury lawyer. Most definitely, the team at Merricks Law Group, P.A. is eager to work with you.
