Workers’ Compensation for Leg Injuries in Florida

How Do On-the-Job Leg Injuries Occur in Florida?

Leg injuries can happen to almost any worker regardless of their industry or setting. Some common causes include:

• Slip and Falls: Slippery surfaces, uneven flooring, and poor lighting can cause fall injuries in almost any environment.
• Lifting and Carrying: Heavy, repetitive lifting, especially when done incorrectly, can put a strain on the legs, causing injuries.
• Repetitive Strain: Continuous walking, standing, or repetitive movements can lead to chronic injuries and pain.
• Industrial Accidents: Working with heavy machinery or in manufacturing could cause fractures, crush injuries, amputations, or serious lacerations.
• Vehicle Accidents: Traffic collisions often cause leg injuries, including fractures or crush injuries.

What Types of Leg Injuries Occur at Work in Florida?

Some common types of on-the-job leg injuries include:

• Fractures and breaks
• Sprains and strains of muscles, ligaments, and tendons
• Knee injuries, including meniscus tears, ACL injuries, or bursitis
• Contusions and lacerations
• Amputation or loss of use injuries caused by severe trauma

Which Industries Have a High Risk of Leg Injuries?

While our Florida lawyers are prepared to seek workers’ compensation for leg injuries sustained by any worker in any industry, some industries are higher risk than others because of physical demands or other circumstances. This includes:

• Construction: Falls, heavy machinery, and hazardous surfaces can lead to leg injuries. 
• Manufacturing and Warehouse Work: Repetitive lifting and working closely with forklifts and other heavy machinery could cause strains and crush injuries.
• Transportation and Delivery: Long hours on the road increase the risk of being hurt in a traffic accident.
• Health care: Health care facility workers may experience leg strain from lifting patients, long hours on their feet, and handling other on-the-job tasks.
• Retail, Food, and Hospitality: Slip and fall risks are high in areas where spills and leaks are common. Wet floors and trip hazards often lead to time missed at work in the service industry.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation for Florida Leg Injuries

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), over 320,000 United States workers experienced days away from work, work restrictions, or job transfers because of leg injuries from 2021 to 2022. This number does not include knee or foot injuries. Falls, slips, and trips were the most common cause of injury.

In Florida, most injured workers should have workers’ compensation coverage available through their employer. These benefits cover:

• Medical treatment for the leg injury
• Up to 66-2/3 percent of the worker’s usual take-home pay
• Vocational support to help the worker return to the workforce after permanent injuries
• Funeral and burial costs and other death benefits for the families of fatally injured workers

Some injured workers might also qualify to pursue a third-party personal injury lawsuit. While you cannot sue your employer in Florida, you can hold a third party legally responsible if their negligence caused your injuries. One common example is when a property owner fails to address an obvious hazard, leading to your serious injuries.

Our Florida workers’ compensation lawyers can review your case to determine your legal options and how our team can help you. We provide free consultations. Contact Rosenberg & Rosenberg today.

How to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim for Leg Injuries in Florida

The process of filing a leg injury workers’ compensation claim does not always work as it should. Problems in the claims process and with your employer or insurance carrier can make it difficult to secure the compensation you deserve. 

Immediately after your injuries, see an approved doctor and receive a diagnosis. They will likely begin treatment right away. Even if your supervisor witnessed your accident or the aftermath, you should still officially notify them of your injuries. This official notification is the first step in the claims process.

Your employer should then alert the workers’ compensation insurance company, allowing the insurer to:

• Gather information about the accident
• Determine whether you qualify for benefits
• Calculate your lost wages benefits
• Communicate with you and your employer about your benefits

It is at this point that problems may arise. Your employer might refuse to report your leg injury, or the insurer might delay your claim, say your injuries are not as bad as you reported them to be, request additional information about your accident, or deny your workers’ comp benefits.

If you run into any issues with your workers’ compensation case, let our team know right away. We can help you fight for the money you need and deserve to treat your leg injury and get your mobility back as much as possible.

Filing an Appeal to Get the Workers’ Comp Benefits You Need

The workers’ compensation appeals process is the only way for some workers to get the benefits they are entitled to. Rosenberg & Rosenberg can guide you through this process by:

• Filing your appeal within the deadline
• Representing you at hearings with a judge
• Disputing the insurer’s version of events by presenting the strongest available evidence
• Negotiating with the insurer if they are open to providing a fair settlement

Whether your leg injury is temporary (e.g., a broken bone) or permanent (e.g., amputation), there is no reason you should be denied fair compensation for your workplace accident. You deserve help as you recover. Our legal team wants to provide that help.

Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Can Help With Your Florida Leg Injury Case

Our injury lawyers from Rosenberg & Rosenberg have worked to recover compensation for our clients for more than 50 years. We have the experience and knowledge necessary to pursue the money you deserve based on your leg injuries and the facts of your case. This could include workers’ compensation benefits, a workers’ comp settlement, or a payout based on a third-party lawsuit. Some injured workers could qualify to recover all three.

When you choose to work with our team, you become part of our family. We take the time to listen as you explain what happened, what you need, and what, if anything, has gone wrong in the workers’ compensation claim process. We can jump in immediately to help with a customized legal strategy.

In every case we handle, our workers’ comp attorneys aim to help our client recover physically, emotionally, and financially from their injuries. No matter how your leg injury has altered your life, we can make it easier for you to move forward.

How Much Will It Cost to Hire Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers?

Our attorneys represent injured workers based on contingency. You will not need to pay anything out of your pocket for us to handle your case. We get our attorneys’ fees from the compensation we secure for you in your case. That means you only pay us if and when you get your benefits.

You can learn more during your initial consultation with our team. We will evaluate your legal options, explain your case, and answer your questions during this free consultation.

When Should You Contact Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers?

There are numerous deadlines you must meet when filing for workers’ compensation in Florida, challenging a denial, or taking other steps to get the benefits you deserve. First, you should notify your employer of your accident and leg injury as soon as possible. You have up to 30 days to officially notify them.

You have up to two years to file your workers’ compensation claim but only a very limited time to challenge a denial or provide any additional information the insurer requests when reviewing your claim. If you run into problems, our legal team can fight for the benefits you deserve and protect your rights by meeting all applicable deadlines.

If you are working with our Florida personal injury lawyers to pursue a third-party case, deadlines apply, too. Generally, Florida Statutes § 95.11 only offers victims up to two years to file the complaint in court and officially sue the liable party. These cases require extensive investigation, and evidence can fade quickly, so getting started as soon as possible is a good idea.

Talk to Our Workers’ Compensation Team About Your FL Leg Injuries

Our lawyers help accident victims secure workers’ compensation for leg injuries in Florida. Rosenberg & Rosenberg provides free, confidential consultations for workers who are struggling to get the benefits they deserve after a leg injury reduces their mobility and ability to work. Let us investigate your on-the-job injuries and fight for the money you deserve.

Contact us today to learn how our workers’ compensation lawyers can help you get justice.