Port St. Lucie Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Located on Florida’s Atlantic coastline, Port St. Lucie has experienced rapid growth in the past decade. The region features many tourist attractions like golf courses, horse riding facilities, and environmental preserves, and it is home to spring training for a major league baseball team. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the primary occupations for Port St. Lucie residents include office and administrative support, sales jobs, and food service. As the city continues to grow and demand for these occupations rises, so does the risk that residents will suffer injuries on the job. For sales representatives, this may mean being involved in a car accident on the job, while office workers may face back injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other painful conditions. At Donaldson & Weston, our Port St. Lucie workers’ compensation lawyers are prepared to help you understand your rights and pursue the benefits that you deserve.

If you have been injured on the job, it is critical that you understand Florida’s workers’ compensation laws that govern benefits for lost wages and medical expenses. The workers’ compensation laws were created to ensure that injured workers would receive the financial assistance that they need for an on-the-job accident. In lieu of suing the employer in a civil action, an injured employee is entitled to receive a certain portion of their average weekly wage during the time that they are injured and unable to work. The employee is also entitled to receive reimbursement for any medical expenses that they incurred as a result of the injury. There are some very narrow situations in which the employee can bring a civil lawsuit against the employer, such as when the employer engaged in intentionally dangerous conduct that caused the employee’s injury. A dedicated workers’ compensation attorney in Port St. Lucie can assist you with determining the appropriate course of action for your claim.

If you have been injured, it is critical that you notify your employer promptly. The employer will then notify its insurance carrier. Under Florida law, employers that maintain four or more employees, including part-time workers, must have a workers’ compensation insurance policy. There are different rules that apply in other industries. In the construction industry, for example, employers with any employees must maintain an insurance policy.

After your employer notifies the insurance company, a claims adjuster will be assigned to your file. The first thing that this person will do is ask you to undergo a medical examination from an approved physician. During this medical examination, the doctor will assess whether your injury is a partial injury or whether it is a total injury. Partial disability benefits are provided to employees on a limited basis until they are able to return to work. In some instances, you may be required to accept light duty work while your injury heals. The doctor will also determine whether your injury is temporary or permanent. While temporary injuries are expected to heal, permanent injuries present serious challenges for the victim, who may never be able to return to their usual occupation. The amount of weekly benefits that you are entitled to receive and the duration of the payments are calculated according to a statutory schedule. Temporary and partial disabilities usually receive lower payments, while permanent and total disabilities garner larger and more long-term payments.