When to Hire a Clearwater Workers Compensation Lawyer

A workplace injury can be physically damaging and impair your ability to work, both in the present and in years to come. To address that, Florida workers compensation laws minimize the burden on employees who otherwise would need to litigate against their employers. So why is a worker compensation lawyer sometimes necessary in Clearwater, or elsewhere in Florida?

The truth is that employers and their insurance companies routinely resist providing compensation. This is because they need to be vigilant in preventing undeserving and fraudulent claims, and to watch their bottom line. However, as is the case throughout the Tampa Bay area and Clearwater, most injured employees need worker comp lawyers to get their full and fair share of benefits in legitimate workers comp claims situations. If you need help, contact the Law Offices of Richard W. Driscoll, P.A.

The types of injuries considered legitimate includes all accidental injuries and occupational conditions and diseases. These include the following:

• Workplace accidents: Includes falls due to improper or inadequate safety gear, malfunctioning equipment, and lack of safety processes. Also excavation and trenching injuries, electrocutions, and falling objects
• Repetitive stress injuries (e.g., carpal tunnel): While these can happen over time, an injury from months or years of work can be eligible for compensation
• Auto accidents while working: If you suffer injury in an auto accident while driving on company business, including while traveling out of town, you may be eligible for workers compensation
• Toxic exposure: When exposure to toxic substances (including man-made chemicals as well as fungus and mold), and when clear and convincing evidence indicates that the exposure is the cause of an injury or disease, you are entitled to receive compensation if it limits your ability to work

What are not covered are mental or nervous reactions to stress, fright, or excitement. Also, under worker compensation laws, an injured employee cannot receive benefits for pain and suffering. However, it is possible for the employee to sue the employer with separate litigation to recoup expenses related to mental aftereffects.

An employee who willfully creates the condition that causes the injury, or who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and this was a causative factor in the injury, also cannot collect.

A workers comp lawyer in Clearwater who focuses on employees

The Law Offices of Richard W. Driscoll, P.A. works on a contingency fee basis and only collects fees when you win your case. If you think you have a workers compensation case, please call 813-217-5704 today or contact us online for a free initial consultation with an experienced Clearwater workers compensation attorney.