Were you injured in a workplace accident in Vero Beach, FL? If so, you could experience medical bills and lost pay due to the accident. A workplace accident can be sudden and shocking, leaving you with serious injuries. After being hurt at work, you might not know where to turn for help.
Proving liability and collecting damages after a workplace accident can seem intimidating. An experienced Vero Beach workplace accident lawyer can help you navigate the process. The personal injury lawyers at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group can work on getting you the financial help you deserve while you focus on your physical recovery. Call our law office at (772) 758-1966 to schedule your free consultation today.
How Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group Can Help After a Workplace Accident in Vero Beach, FL
Workplace accidents are unique because they happen in a place where you are supposed to be protected from hazards and danger. When we go to work, we don’t expect to get hurt on the job. Experienced workplace accident lawyers know what your legal rights are in the situation and will seek justice from your employer or whoever is responsible for your injuries.
Your Vero Beach work accident attorney will analyze your incident and take any of the following actions and more:
- Talk about your claim during a 100% free consultation
- Answer your questions and communicate with you throughout your case
- Investigate the facts of your accident and identify who would be legally liable
- Collecting evidence, such as surveillance recordings, workplace incident reports, police reports, eyewitness statements, and expert reports
- Negotiating with insurance companies if a claim is involved
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party
- Handling each step of your lawsuit, all the way through a trial
At Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group, our Vero Beach personal injury attorneys will work hard to fight for your legal rights and obtain the financial recovery you deserve after a serious workplace accident.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Workplace Accident Lawyer in Vero Beach?
Personal injury lawyers–including workplace accident lawyers–will often work on a contingency basis. Through this arrangement, you only pay attorney’s fees if you win your claim. If your case is unsuccessful, you owe us nothing.
Your Vero Beach workplace accident lawyers will advance the costs involved with your workplace accident claim so you do not pay out of pocket for filing fees and other costs. You should not hesitate to meet with a workplace accident lawyer. We know costs are a concern for you and do not require you to pay fees upfront.
How Common Are Workplace Accidents in Florida?
Workplace accidents happen every day in Florida across all industries. Over 2 million workplace injuries happen in the United States each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Florida, over 50,000 workplace accidents happen each year that cause employees to take time off work. Top occupations experiencing workplace injuries in Florida include:
- Building and cleaning workers
- Commercial drivers and truck drivers
- Laborers (such as factory workers, construction workers, plumbers, and electricians)
- Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides
- Law enforcement officers
Florida workers have important rights and protections under state and federal labor laws. If you or a loved one have been hurt in any type of workplace accident, you should get legal help.
What Causes Workplace Accidents?
Common causes of workplace accidents in Florida can include:
- Overextension
- Slips and falls
- Being struck by objects and equipment
- Overexposure to high temperatures
- Trips over objects, materials, and hazards
- Repetitive movements
- Being required to lift heavy objects
- Being caught by machinery and equipment
Workplace injuries are more common than we realize and are not limited to any one type of industry. Those working in the nursing field, for example, are often subject to repetitive motions and lifting heavy weights in the same way a factory worker might experience. Injuries at work can happen suddenly, such as a fall from a ladder, or over time, such as the development of carpal tunnel syndrome and back injuries.
What Are Common Workplace Injuries?
Injuries at the workplace frequently include:
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Head injuries and skull fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Ligament damage to knees, elbows, and ankles
- Soft tissue damage
- Internal bleeding
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Lung damage due to inhalation of chemicals.
These are just some of the more common examples. Workers can be injured in almost any way imaginable when workplace conditions are not safe. Employers have an obligation to keep the workplace free of hazards and follow all safety regulations that apply.
Physical injuries caused at work can lead to high medical bills, missed pay, and reduced future income, along with serious effects on you and your family. A Vero Beach workplace accident lawyer will pursue all damages you are entitled to under the law.
What Is My Vero Beach Workplace Accident Case Worth?
Florida law allows two main ways to obtain financial compensation after a workplace injury. Workers’ compensation is the first and most common way to recover financially from a workplace accident. Workers’ compensation covers most employees across Florida.
Workers’ compensation can cover approximately two-thirds of your average weekly pay before the accident. However, these benefits are subject to limitations under Florida law. There are strict procedures and steps to follow when seeking workers’ compensation in Florida.
The second option could be to pursue damages through a personal injury claim against a third party. You can’t sue your employer or a co-worker due to a workplace injury. However, you can sue a third party if they were responsible for your injuries on the job. Third parties can include:
- Negligent drivers
- Negligent property owners with unsafe conditions
- Manufacturers of defective equipment
- Third-party contractors and suppliers.
In a third-party claim, you might obtain damages unavailable through workers’ compensation– such as pain and suffering, mental distress, and reduced quality of life.
Important factors affecting the value of your claim after a workplace accident will include:
- Your income prior to the accident
- The length that your recovery takes and how long you miss work
- Whether the accident caused partial or full disability.
An experienced workplace accident lawyer in Vero Beach, FL, can investigate the facts of your accident and determine which approach will be best in your case.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Florida Workplace Accident Victims?
In a Florida workers’ compensation claim, benefits can cover:
- Medical bills for required treatment, hospitalization, and medication
- Temporary and permanent disability aid
- Impairment benefits
- Death benefits for surviving family after a fatal workplace accident.
Through a third-party claim, you could seek compensation for:
- Medical costs not covered by workers’ compensation
- Lost wages and reduced future earning ability
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of companionship with a loved one.
In a third-party claim, you can seek economic damages and non-economic damages. An experienced Vero Beach workplace accident lawyer can help you determine the damages you might be eligible for.
Proving Negligence in a Workplace Accident Case
Third-party claims after a workplace injury involve a legal theory called negligence. Negligence is when another party does not use the reasonable care and caution they should have, and you are injured as a result.
Plaintiffs in a Florida personal injury case have four elements of negligence they must prove:
- Duty: Did the other party have some duty of care to others in the situation?
- Breach of duty: Did the other party fail to follow their duty of care?
- Causation: Did the defendant’s actions cause your injuries?
- Damages: Did you suffer damages, such as medical bills or lost work?
Your lawyer can discuss these elements further with you and outline how to prove each.
Can I File a Claim if I Was Partly At Fault For the Accident?
In a workers’ compensation claim, you can file a claim even if you were at fault for the accident. This is because workers’ compensation operates under a no-fault system.
If you are filing a third-party personal injury claim, you can seek damages even if you shared fault for the accident. Florida’s modified comparative fault system allows you to recover damages as long as your fault was 50% or less. However, your payment will be reduced according to your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% responsible, you won’t be able to recover.
What is the Deadline to File A Workplace Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida’s statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident in most cases. While this might seem like a long time, you should move quickly to get the most out of your claim. Evidence can be lost, and witnesses can become hard to find if you wait too long. It is best to contact a Florida workplace accident lawyer as soon as possible after a workplace injury.
Contact a Vero Beach, FL Workplace Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured at work in Florida, you could have important legal rights. You can seek financial recovery through a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury claim. The experienced Vero Beach workplace accident lawyers at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group are here to answer your questions. Call our dedicated injury lawyers to schedule your free consultation today.