Depending on the type of work you were performing at the time of your injury, State Workers’ Compensation Law, Federal Workers’ Compensation Law, The Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Act, and/or The Jones Act may be able to help you receive financial compensation for the burdens you have had to ensure since. However, some cases arise in which a workers’ compensation claim gets denied. Read on to discover what you should do if your claim gets denied and how one of the seasoned Panama City workplace accident attorneys at Manuel & Thompson, PA can help you fight back.
What will workers’ compensation cover?
Say, for instance, that you sustained a serious injury in the workplace that makes you incapable of returning to work. In turn, you are left without an income to take care of yourself and your family. This is where workers’ compensation comes into play. Notably, the benefits you may receive with a successful claim include the following:
- Payments for lost wages: this is to make up for your lesser wages than your pre-injury earnings or your lost wages altogether.
- Payments for medical care: this is to make up for your required medical and surgical services to heal your injuries.
- Specific loss benefits: this is if you now have a permanent loss of a body part or permanent disfigurement of a body part.
- Death benefits: this is if you are a surviving dependent of a loved one who died due to their workplace injury.
What happens if my compensation claim gets denied?
Now, say that after filing your initial petition for workers’ compensation, the Florida commission denies your claim. If you believe that this was wrongfully rejected, then you must follow up by filing an appeal.
And in the appeals process, you will need to present your case in front of an administrative judge. In such a hearing, you should prepare to present any relevant evidence (i.e., medical documents, medical bills, doctor’s notes, the testimony of a relevant medical expert, etc) that ensures the administrative judge that you are qualified for workers’ compensation benefits. If the administrative judge still does not believe that you are eligible and your claim is once again denied, then you may take your appeal to higher levels.
It goes without saying that you should not go forward with this appeals process without the legal representation of one of the skilled Panama City personal injury attorneys. Remarkedly, our attorneys have experience to our advantage. We will help you file for an appeal in the right manner, collect the right supporting materials, and overall build a strong case for your eligibility. So, before it is too late, you must schedule your free initial consultation with Manuel & Thompson, PA.