There are many stigmas and false warnings surrounding worker’s compensation claims. You may believe that filing a claim will make you seem like a bad employee in the eyes of your company or supervisor. This feeling can be worse if the boss chastises you or threatens your job for wanting to file. 

However, your boss has no right to take away your job or punish you in any way for filing for workers compensation. Your company’s insurance will take care of the bills — it won’t come out of anyone’s paycheck and it certainly shouldn’t affect your employment status. That insurance is there for you, and you should take advantage of it to help pay for medical bills while you’re out of work.

Some companies will use scare tactics to convince you to not file a worker’s compensation claim. They may delay filing to encourage you to give up. They may try to force you to come back to work early or convince you to use your health insurance to cover the costs. However, you don’t have to fall for any of these tactics. You have a right to receive compensation, and here’s why you should take it: 

  • You can’t sue an employer for a work injury, so the only way to get any compensation is through worker’s compensation.
  • If your claim is approved, all of your medical bills will be paid for. You won’t have copays like you would if you went through health insurance.
  • You may be able to receive a portion of your weekly pay to help you survive financially while you are recovering from your injury.
  • It is against the law for an employer to harass, discriminate, or threaten you due to a worker’s compensation case. If they do anything to threaten you or your job in response to your case, they could face serious penalties. You will not. 
  • If you don’t file a claim immediately, you may lose the chance to receive benefits at all. Workers’ compensation claims have windows for you to report your injury, or else your employer may not be required to pay.
  • You won’t know until you try. You may not qualify for worker’s compensation benefits, but you won’t know until you ask. 

Filing for worker’s compensation can seem like too big of a burden to take on. However, Katherine Stone and her staff at Injury Florida Law want to make your worker’s compensation case as easy as possible. We work hard to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve and feel confident when filing your claim. Don’t hesitate to look into worker’s compensation options while you’re recovering and seeking medical care. You can contact Katherine at [email protected] or call our office today to learn more.