Workers’ Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries in Florida

How Do Workplace Spinal Cord Injuries Occur?

Back and neck injuries at work are more common than most people realize. When these injuries include significant trauma, the victim may suffer spinal cord damage, up to and including temporary or lasting paralysis.

Our work injury attorneys pursue workers’ compensation for spinal cord injuries in Florida for those who suffered:

• Falls From an Elevated Height: Construction sites, warehouses, and industrial environments may put workers at risk of falling from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, or other elevated heights. These falls can cause serious neck injuries or back injuries, such as fractures or dislocations.
• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Some industries require workers to drive commercial vehicles and be on the road a lot. This includes truck drivers, delivery drivers, and construction workers. So much time on the road could increase the risk of a collision. Car and truck accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries.
• Heavy Lifting and Overexertion: Workers could suffer spinal cord injuries due to repetitive or improper heavy lifting, including those in warehousing, manufacturing, and healthcare.
• Slip and Falls: Slip and falls can occur in almost any environment—from offices to construction sites—and could cause severe neck injuries or back injuries.
• Machinery-Related Accidents: Some types of machinery can cause serious, traumatic injuries that sever or damage the spinal cord. This could include machinery used in manufacturing, agriculture, or logging.

How Common Are Workplace Back Injuries?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workers nationwide suffered 250,830 back injuries at work in 2021-2022. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that, during those same two years, 47 Florida workers were hospitalized for severe back, spine, and spinal cord injuries.

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) estimates that about 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur annually in the United States, both at work and elsewhere.

Florida Workers With Spinal Cord Injuries May Qualify for Compensation

When an accident does occur in a Florida workplace and the worker suffers a neck or back injury, they could qualify to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Most employers in the state must provide this type of coverage for all workers.

Florida workers’ compensation insurance coverage generally includes:

• Medical treatment for the spinal cord injury, other related injuries, and any symptoms or complications
• Up to 66-2/3 percent of your pay while you cannot work
• Vocational support to return to the workforce
• Funeral and burial costs if the injuries lead to death

While workers in Florida cannot sue their employer, another party’s negligence might have caused the accident and injuries. For example, other drivers might cause a traffic accident, or a property owner’s workplace policies might lead to dangerous conditions. 

Our workers’ compensation law firm will review your case for you at no charge to see if this is an option for you. If so, you may be able to recover money in addition to any workers’ compensation benefits you receive. 

This payout could include compensation for: 

• Any long-term care and support costs
• Your full range of lost income and benefits
• Diminished earning capacity if you cannot return to your job
• Pain and suffering and other intangible losses

Call Rosenberg & Rosenberg now so we can get started.

How Can You File a Claim for Workers’ Compensation Based on Your FL Spinal Cord Injury?

As soon as possible after your accident, you must notify your employer about what happened and that you required medical care due to an on-the-job accident. You should do this in writing, such as email. This creates a paper trail and ensures you have proof of the date you notified them. You will want to do this even if your immediate supervisor was at the scene.

If your loved one suffered a spinal cord injury and cannot report the accident themselves, you can contact their immediate supervisor or the human resources department on their behalf.

Once the employer learns about the accident and injuries, they should contact the workers’ compensation insurance company to kick off the claims process. This should happen quickly, usually within a day or two of a serious injury. However, you may need to contact the insurance carrier on your own if your employer fails to do so.

What Should You Do if You Run Into Problems With Your Workers’ Comp Claim?

Workers’ compensation claims do not always go smoothly. Your employer could refuse to file your claim, the insurance carrier could deny your claim, or other complications may arise. If this happens to you, our attorneys can help.

You should be focusing on your injuries and treatment right now, not your family’s financial stability. Our work injury attorneys understand why you need your benefits approved as soon as possible, and we know how to take action to get them approved.

When you realize there is a problem, or if you simply want answers to your legal questions, Rosenberg & Rosenberg is here to assist. We have attorneys who can manage your workers’ compensation claim or build a third-party negligence case if there is evidence available to do so.

How Long Do You Have to File an Injury Claim?

There are three separate timelines that could apply to your workers’ compensation claim. These timelines include: 

• You must get medical care as soon as possible
• You must give your employer official notification of your on-the-job injury within 30 days to preserve your right to file a workers’ compensation claim
• You must file your workers’ compensation claim within two years of your injuries

If you need to file a workers’ compensation appeal or challenge another decision made by the insurance carrier, there are additional deadlines you may need to meet.

If we determine you can pursue a negligence case against a liable third party, we also need to work quickly to develop a strong case and pursue compensation. While Florida Statutes § 95.11 generally offers up to two years to file the initial complaint and begin a lawsuit, it takes time to investigate the incident and preserve evidence.

Why Choose Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers to Handle Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

Rosenberg & Rosenberg has more than five decades of experience handling injury cases in Florida. Our past verdicts and settlements include numerous back injury cases. We understand that living with these injuries and recovering as fully as possible requires compensation and covered medical bills.

We treat every client like we would treat a member of our family. Our firm was founded on hard work, and we will not hesitate to take on even the most challenging cases. Our spinal cord injury attorneys can fight for the money and other benefits you deserve based on the facts of your injury and the circumstances that led to it. 

When you choose to hire our workers’ compensation lawyers, you will receive:

• A law firm partner involved in your case 
• Frequent updates about your case’s progress
• A full legal team to protect your rights
• Resources to help you recover from your spinal cord injuries
• Legal guidance for all cases, whether straightforward or complex
• The attention and support you need and deserve

Our workers’ comp attorneys in Florida have the experience and knowledge you want on your side during this process. We know you are facing one of the most uncertain and difficult times of your life, and we are here to help. 

Rosenberg & Rosenberg does not ask our clients to pay upfront fees, because we do not believe you should have to pay out of pocket for legal representation when you suffered injuries due to no fault of your own. Instead, we work based on contingency, which means we work for a percentage of the compensation we recover for you.

Discuss Your Rights and Options With Our Workers’ Compensation Legal Team

Rosenberg & Rosenberg helps injured workers get workers’ compensation for spinal cord injuries in Florida. We provide free, confidential consultations for injured workers and their families. Our workplace accident lawyers can assess your options and discuss your rights. You may have multiple options for compensation, including workers’ comp and a third-party claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation from our team.