Florida's Workers' Compensation rules can be found in Chapter 440 of Florida Statutes. The Workers's Compensation rules can be very confusing and difficult to understand.
The main Worker's Compensation rule is that if you are injured on the job in Florida you are entitled to seek Workers' Compensation benefits from your employer. Medical care through Workers' Compensation is free to the employee. In fact, Florida's Workers' Compensation rules allow for an employee to keep their Workers' Compensation claim open for the rest of their life and use the Workers' Compensation insurance coverage to obtain medical care for whatever injury the employee suffered on the job.
What Happens When My Doctor Releases Me?
Once you have finished treating with your authorized doctor, the doctor is required to assign an impairment rating which generally correlates to how severe an injury you suffered and whether you have been left with any permanent restrictions. Workers' Compensation rules states that you are entitled to additional money, called an Impairment Benefit, based upon the impairment rating that you receive. The insurance company is supposed to pay you this money once you finish your treatment with the doctor.
One final rule that many people do not know about in Workers' Compensation is that you can change your doctor while you are receiving medical care through Workers' Compensation. However, you should change your doctor only after careful consideration. Every worker receiving medical care through Florida's Workers' Compensation rules is allowed to change his/her doctor once, and only once. If you are dissatisfied with the doctor you are receiving medical care from, and you request a one time change of doctor, you may get a doctor that you are more satisfied with, or less satisfied. You should consult with an experienced Florida's Workers' Compensation attorney to thoroughly discuss the facts of your case, and status of your medical care, before making that decision. The one time change of doctor is a very valuable Workers' Compensation rule that injured workers need to evaluate carefully.
For more information on Florida's Workers' Compensation rules, contact attorney Joseph M. Maus or call our law office at 1-866-556-5539.
