Yes. You have the right to a one-time change of physician that you may exercise in your case. However, the Employer/Carrier still retains the right to select the new doctor provided that they authorize a doctor within five days of your written request.

Yes. The Florida Workers’ Compensation system is a “no fault” system, meaning that you are covered whether you were at fault for the injury or the employer was at fault. However, there are limits to this principle and accidents caused by “horseplay” are excluded as are injuries due to intoxication. Additionally, there may be a reduction of compensation of 25% if the employee knowingly refuses to use a safety appliance or observe a safety rule required by statute or lawfully adopted by the department, and brought prior to the accident to the employee’s knowledge, or if the injury is cause by the knowing refusal of the employee to use a safety appliance provided by the employer.

Yes. All workers are covered under the law regardless as to whether they are “undocumented”, “illegal” or otherwise.

Yes. Workers’ compensation provides medical benefits and various money benefits for disability or impairment. A “third party lawsuit” is a personal injury action against an entity other than the employer that caused the accident or injury. Personal injury damages may include full lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium and possibly punitive damages.

Yes. Many larger employers are in fact self-insured for workers’ compensation. The same substantive law applies to employees of a self-insured employer compared to an employer that has an insurance company providing coverage. Self-insured employers administer the benefits paid to their employer through a risk management department, servicing agent or third party administrator.

No. There are no benefits for loss of consortium under Florida Workers’ Compensation Law.

Generally, the answer is “no”. Your exclusive remedy is Florida Workers’ Compensation Law and you may not sue your employer in tort. However, there is very limited exception if your employer deliberately intended to injure you, or placed you in a situation where there was a virtual certainty that you would be injured or killed, and the employer deliberately concealed or misrepresented the danger such that you could not make an informed decision about whether to perform the work.

No, you do not have to pay any co-payments, at least initially. Following the date your authorized treating physician places you at maximum medical improvement, you are required to pay a $10.00 co-pay per visit for additional medical treatment for your work-related injury.

Mental or nervous injury due to stress, fright, or excitement only is not covered and not considered an accident arising out of the employment. In order for a mental injury to be covered there must be an accompanying physical injury requiring medical treatment. Additionally, mental or nervous injuries occurring as a manifestation of a physical injury must be demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence which is a higher burden than that necessary to prove a physical injury. Compensation is not payable for the mental, psychological or emotional injury arising out of depression from being out of work or losing employment opportunities, resulting from a preexisting mental, psychological, or emotional condition or due to pain or other subjective complaints that cannot be substantiated by objective, relevant medical findings.

Generally, all settlements are final and cannot be re-opened if they are made in compliance with the workers’ compensation law and in compliance with Florida law regarding contracts. If an employee entering into a settlement agreement is not represented by counsel a different set of rules apply. A Judge of Compensation Claims must consider and enter an order approving any settlement in which the claimant is not represented by an attorney. If the claimant was represented by an attorney at the time of the settlement general principles of contract law will apply. A claimant considering entering into a settlement should do so with the understanding that the case will not be able to be re-opened in the future.