Fort Lauderdale Workplace Injury Lawyer
Workers’ compensation in Florida is a no-fault system, meaning it doesn’t matter wh
o is to blame for the accident. You can be injured because of the carelessness of a co-worker, your boss, or even through your own fault. Many times workers are hurt simply by accident and no one is to blame. Regardless of fault, an
injured worker is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and those benefits do not increase if your boss or a coworker is to blame. You can’t sue your employer for personal injuries when you are injured on the job through your employer’s fault or the fault of a co-worker.
Your benefits can be reduced if your injury was the result of your knowingly violating a safety rule. Insurance companies can reduce wage loss benefits and permanent impairment benefits by 25% for safety rule violations. Frequently, this is done without a hearing, which forces the injured worker to file a petition for benefits to regain full benefits.
If illegal drugs or alcohol are found in an injured workers blood or urine test, the worker can lose all of their benefits. Even if the drugs are prescribed by a doctor, the insurance carrier can still deny benefits and force the injured worker to court to prove that he was taking the medication legally.