Were you injured on the job in St. Petersburg, Florida? You may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, and you might also have the possibility of filing a personal injury lawsuit for additional money damages. An experienced St. Petersburg workers’ compensation lawyer can help you evaluate (and follow through with) your best course of action.
Since the day we were founded, workers and families in St. Petersburg have trusted Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group to get them winning results. As passionate, skilled, and experienced civil litigators with over 50 years of combined experience, we’ve been instrumental in helping clients win hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits, settlement agreements, and jury awards.
Now, we’re prepared to help you take a stand and force your employer’s insurance company to make things right, too. We offer a free consultation. Contact us online or call our St. Petersburg law office at (772) 569-8155 today.
How Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group Can Help You Win Your Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in St. Petersburg, FL
Workers’ compensation benefits can be an essential lifeline when you’re injured or become sick on the job. Even if you have paid time off (PTO) to help soften the financial blow a workplace injury can cause, they’ll only offer minimal protection. Workers’ compensation, on the other hand, can pay for your medical expenses and provide long-term financial assistance until you can return to work.
Insurance companies – including your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier – will always prioritize profits over all else, however. So, you’ll need to be aggressive and force their hand when you’re fighting for the benefits you need and deserve. Hiring an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer to represent you can make all the difference in the world.
Choosing Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group puts top-rated and Board Certified Florida trial attorneys who’ve dedicated their careers to fighting on behalf of injury victims in your corner.
We’re here to handle all aspects of your claim for workers’ compensation benefits, including:
- Investigating the underlying cause of your work-related injury or illness
- Gathering key evidence needed to build and support your claim
- Evaluating other potential options for recovering compensation, such as filing a personal injury lawsuit
- Enlisting expert witnesses to lend additional insight and support to your case
- Helping you with an Independent Medical Examination (IME), if necessary
- Advocating for your best interests throughout the workers’ compensation claims process
- Forcing your employer’s insurance company to make a good-faith effort to resolve your claim fairly
- Representing you during any claim-related hearings and negotiations
- Filing a Petition for Benefits with the Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims if the insurance company denies your claim or offers an unreasonably low benefits package
Take the time you need to focus on recovering from your workplace injuries. Count on our Florida workers’ compensation attorneys in St. Petersburg, FL, to get you the benefits you deserve. We’ll take your case on a contingent basis, which means you pay nothing in attorney’s fees unless we successfully handle your case.
How Do I Know if I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Not everyone will qualify for workers’ compensation if they get hurt on the job in Florida. Certain requirements must be met.
You Suffered Injuries in the Course of Your Employment
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you must suffer an injury while performing tasks or responsibilities within the scope of your employment. In other words, you were hurt while doing what was expected of you in your role at your company.
You don’t necessarily have to have been hurt at work to qualify. For example, injuries sustained in a legitimate work-related car or truck accident could allow you to receive benefits successfully.
You’re an Employee
Workers’ compensation benefits are exclusive to employees. You will not qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if you were hired as an independent contractor.
It’s important to know that some employers attempt to misclassify employees as contractors for a multitude of reasons, including avoiding having to cover them through their workers’ compensation insurance policy.
Your Employer Is Required To Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Florida requires almost every employer with at least four employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance. There are some exceptions. For instance, construction employers are required to have workers’ compensation if they have at least one employee.
So, as long as you work for an employer who is legally obligated to have workers’ compensation and satisfy all of the other requirements, you can successfully recover benefits to help you navigate life after your workplace accident.
Can I Get Workers’ Compensation If I’m Partly To Blame For My Workplace Injuries?
Yes. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. As such, benefits can be paid to you even if you’re partly or primarily responsible for your workplace accident or injuries. There are only rare exceptions, such as if you hurt yourself on purpose.
However, Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule will apply to related civil tort actions. If you file a personal injury lawsuit against a third party, your shared responsibility for your workplace injuries will affect your ability to recover compensation. In these situations, damages can be paid on a reduced basis as long as you’re not more than 50 percent responsible for your workplace injuries.
Can I Sue My Employer After I Recover Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Not in most cases, though there are rare exceptions here as well. Workers’ compensation effectively gives you an accelerated path to recover benefits to reduce the stresses of getting hurt on the job. In theory, it removes the stress and headache of having to file a lawsuit and navigate the civil tort system. In exchange, your employer is protected against lawsuits when employees get hurt on the job.
You can, however, potentially seek additional compensation from a third party, such as a property owner, a co-worker, or a manufacturer. It is important to look into whether you have this option, as you can recover full economic and non-economic damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
What Benefits Does Workers’ Compensation Pay?
Florida’s workers’ compensation system can pay limited economic benefits to soften the financial costs of getting hurt on the job.
This can include money for:
Medical Expenses
All costs related to necessary and reasonable medical treatment should be covered by your employer’s insurance company. This might include hospitalization, medical transport, surgery, diagnostic tests, rehabilitation, medical devices, and even chiropractic care.
Costs are only covered when you seek treatment from a plan-approved healthcare provider. This can limit your choices when seeking care and your ability to make decisions about your treatment plan.
Temporary Total Disability
If your injuries prevent you from working for more than a week, you can qualify for Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits. These equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage (AWW), which is calculated using your pre-injury income. Benefits are paid from the 8th day of missed work on. If you can’t work for more than 21 days, you can receive benefits for the first 7 days of missed work.
Temporary Partial Disability
If you can return to work but aren’t able to earn the same amount of money because of your injuries, you might qualify for Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits. TPD helps to bridge the gap between what you earned prior to getting hurt and what you can earn now. If you can’t earn 80 percent of your pre-injury wages, you can expect to receive 80 percent of the difference between your pre- and post-injury incomes.
Impairment Income Benefits
Impairment income benefits (IIBs) can be paid if you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) but still can’t work at full capacity because you’ve been permanently injured in some way. Benefits are directly related to the severity of your injuries. The more serious your injury, the higher your impairment rating. The higher the impairment rating, the higher the rate at which you can receive IIBs once you return to work.
Permanent Total Disability
Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits can be available if you cannot return to work at all because your injuries or illness are so debilitating.
Wage replacement benefits are subject to statutory caps. For 2025, the maximum weekly wage benefit is $1,295. So, if you are a high-earning employee and get hurt on the job, there’s a chance that you might not be able to recover the full two-thirds of your average weekly wage when you receive a benefits check.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim for Workers’ Compensation in St. Petersburg, Florida?
You have 30 days to report your injury to your employer. As long as you’ve notified your employer, you’ll have the right to request workers’ compensation benefits within two years of getting hurt.
A claim for workers’ compensation benefits must be filed before the statute of limitations runs out. If you miss the filing deadline, you’ll give up the right to receive monetary benefits that could offer tremendous support during your time of need.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Petersburg Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Call Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group if you’ve been injured on the job in St. Petersburg, Florida. You may have the right to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Our St. Petersburg workers’ compensation attorneys have the knowledge and experience you’ll need to maximize your recovery.
Backed by over 50 years of combined legal experience, our award-winning Florida trial lawyers have helped clients win hundreds of millions in compensation.
Discover what it means to have us take charge of your claim for workers’ compensation benefits by calling our law office in St. Petersburg today. Your first case evaluation is free.
