Miami Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

It is important to hire an experienced attorney to represent you in matters involving work-related accidents. At Sadow & Gorowitz, P.A., we understand that times like these can be very difficult for the entire family. We have a highly experienced staff to assist you in getting the medical attention that you need and the compensation that you are entitled to receive under the law. For over 30 years, we have been fighting for the rights of injured workers. We will work diligently to make sure that your rights are protected.

Workers’ Compensation Overview

In Florida, most employers must provide workers’ compensation insurance for employees. The benefits serve partially as wage replacement. Work-related injuries that may be covered include falls at construction sites and equipment failures in factories. Repetitive stress injuries from office jobs are also covered. You can even obtain benefits for diseases caused by toxic exposure in the workplace. Your employer is responsible for compensating you for missed time from work, medical care, and attendant care. Our workers’ compensation attorneys represent Miami employees who have suffered many different types of work-related injuries across many industries.

Brain Injuries

Brain injuries can be invisible yet extremely harmful. They may involve a blow to the head or a penetrating injury in which a foreign object enters the brain. They may result from a fall, blunt trauma, an auto accident, or assault. Symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury can include concentration problems, mood swings, blurred vision, sleep problems, and sensitivity to light and sound. Symptoms of a severe brain injury can include coma, minimal consciousness, vegetative state, dilation of pupils, persistent headaches, slurred speech, and significant confusion. If someone suffers a traumatic brain injury on the job, it may change their life and the lives of their loved ones in a dramatic way.

Burn Injuries

Burn injuries mandate emergency medical attention. There are different degrees of burns. Third-degree burns are the most serious, reaching under the epidermis layer to the subcutaneous tissue underneath. Treatment may require skin grafts. Burns that you suffer at your job can qualify you for workers’ compensation. These burns can involve electrical burns, inhalation of toxic fumes, faulty wiring that catches fire, skin and eye exposure to radiation, boiling water burns, corrosive or chemical burns, and heated roofing tar. Complications of burns can include shock, infections, scarring, respiratory distress, emotional and psychological distress, and disfigurement. Reasonably necessary medical treatment could include surgery, rehabilitation, and therapy.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries include damage to any part of the nerves or spinal cord. These injuries can interfere with messages between the brain and body parts. In most spinal cord injuries, the vertebral column pinches the spinal cord, resulting in swelling, bruising, or tearing. Once the spinal cord is injured, the nerves from the injury site do not send messages between the brain and the parts of the body that are injured as they did previously. Complete injuries occur when almost all motor and sensory functions are lost below the point of damage. Our Miami workers’ compensation attorneys can help victims seek the full extent of benefits for spinal cord injuries on the job.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents usually occur when a person falls as a result of a foreign substance on the floor or ground. You will need to be able to show that the fall caused your injuries and that the fall happened in the course and scope of your employment. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means that you do not need to show that your slip and fall was your employer’s fault or that your employer knew about the condition ahead of time but failed to take precautions or fix the problem. Moreover, your benefits will not be reduced if a slip and fall was your own fault because you failed to notice an obvious spill or slippery surface.

Auto Accidents

Auto accidents usually result from negligent driving. Drivers may cause accidents by failing to use turn signals, failing to obey traffic signals, speeding, weaving, or driving aggressively. If you are injured in a car accident while you are on the job, a workers’ compensation lawyer in Miami can help you seek benefits based on your injuries. You also may have a third-party personal injury claim against a negligent driver. Medical benefits to which you may be entitled for your work-related injuries include hospitalization, medical tests, physical therapy, prescription drugs, doctor’s visits, prostheses, and reimbursement for travel to the pharmacy or doctor’s office.

Repetitive Trauma Injuries

Repetitive trauma injuries (also known as repetitive stress injuries) are those that arise from the repetitive use of a certain part of the body while performing routine job duties. They may take the form of tendinitis, bursitis, trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, or Dupuytren’s contracture. Often, repetitive trauma injuries occur during assembly line work, computer programming, sewing, carpentry, or gardening. When your benefits begin depends on how long your disability lasts. It can be difficult to pinpoint a start date for repetitive trauma injuries, and that can make it more important to consult an experienced attorney. If your disability lasts for less than 22 days, the benefits will not start until the eighth day of the disability. You can receive benefits retroactively if your disability lasts for more than 21 days.

Exposure to Chemicals and Toxic Substances

Employees may be unknowingly exposed to toxic and chemical substances in the workplace. Toxic substances can include mold, lead, asbestos, pesticides, cadmium, beryllium, silica, paint, solvents, and acids. Your employer has a duty to ensure that there is protective gear in the work environment that can protect your whole body from chemicals. It can be challenging to prove that a chemical or a toxic substance was present at the workplace and caused your injury or illness. Insurers may try to claim that the exposure occurred somewhere other than work to avoid paying benefits. It is crucial to retain a seasoned Miami workers’ compensation lawyer for these claims.

Construction Site Injuries

Construction sites are notoriously dangerous places. There are numerous hazards, and workers may suffer injuries due to malfunctioning tools or machinery, falls, cave-ins, falling objects, and other dangerous property conditions. It is crucial to report injuries that you suffer on a construction site to your supervisor right away. You have 30 days from the accident date or the initial manifestation of the injury to report a work-related injury. Usually, you need to file a petition for benefits within two years of being injured.

Retain a Tenacious Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Our firm offers a free initial consultation. You pay no fees or costs if no recovery is made. We offer an in-home or hospital consultation if you are not able to come to our office. If you have been injured on the job in South Florida and have questions about your legal rights, we are here to assist you. Call us at 305-539-9000 or contact us online to discuss your situation with a workers’ compensation attorney in the Miami area.