Fort Walton Beach Workplace Accident Lawyer

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private-sector employers reported 2.7 million workplace injuries and illnesses in 2020.

Fatal workplace injuries across the country were up by 2% in 2019 over the previous year.

More people died from injuries on the job in 2019 (5,333) than any year in more than a decade.

In Florida, 306 people lost their lives in job site accidents in 2019. Workers in the private construction industry are most at risk—its 91 deaths were the highest in any single category.

In 2020, there were 926 workers’ compensation claims filed in Okaloosa and Walton counties combined.

There are a couple of different ways your case might play out. In many cases, your workplace injury may be covered by workers’ compensation. Benefits include coverage for medical treatment and approximately 2/3 of your wages based on the 13-week period before your injury.

If you’re eligible to file a lawsuit to recover damages (such as if your injuries were caused by a third party), then other factors come into play.

In either case, the value of your award could depend on:

• The severity of your injury
• How long you are prevented from working
• Whether you can return to the same job
• Whether your injury caused a disability
• Whether you were following all safety protocols

We generally see higher awards for accidents that cause catastrophic injuries and death. Our experienced Fort Walton Beach workplace injury lawyers will be able to give you a better idea once we know the specifics of your case.

Workers’ compensation will likely cover your job site injuries. Benefits should provide coverage for your medical treatment and two-thirds of your average weekly wages calculated in the 13-week period prior to your injury (not counting the week you were injured).

Even if you’re relying on insurance benefits, your employer’s insurance might refuse to pay the full extent of your medical bills. We can help you navigate this process and make sure your claim is handled fairly.

If workers’ comp covers your injury, that’s your exclusive remedy for damages. You can’t sue your co-workers or your employer.

If you do need to pursue legal action, then you can seek damages just like in any other personal injury claim—generally for economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages compensate you for monetary losses, such as:

• Medical bills
• Loss of wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation
• Property damage

Examples of non-economic damages are:

• Anxiety and stress
• Loss of enjoyment of life activities
• Loss of reputation
• Loss of companionship

For the best chance to get all of the damages you’re rightfully due, contact a reputable Fort Walton Beach personal injury attorney who routinely handles workplace accidents.

Most likely, yes. Under Florida’s workers’ compensation laws, you can still recover compensation even if you were at fault.

If you’re filing a lawsuit to recover damages, you should be able to recover compensation as long as you weren’t mostly at fault for the accident.

Florida’s modified comparative fault statute governs how parties share liability. If you’re at fault, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.

If you were involved in a car accident on the job, Florida’s insurance laws might also affect your compensation.

Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers will stand up for you if you’re being blamed. Even if you were somewhat at fault, you don’t deserve to take the blame for any more than is fair.

While certain jobs may carry more danger than others, you can get hurt in any place of employment. Our Fort Walton Beach personal injury law firm serves clients in nearby Destin and throughout the Panhandle.

Work accidents can include:

• Construction accidents
• Scaffolding accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Electrocution
• Drowning
• Entanglement accidents
• Falls from heights
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Overexertion
• Ladder accidents
• Being struck by an object
• Exposure to heat or cold
• Equipment failures
• Workplace violence

Getting injured where you go every day to earn a living can be devastating. The possibility that you might not be able to return to your chosen profession can leave you filled with anxiety and fear. Let Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers fight to bring stability to your future. Our father-son team has been trusted in Northwest Florida for more than three decades.

You could be suffering from excruciating pain with uncertainty about when you might recover. Medical bills and the expenses associated with a long recovery can be overwhelming. We can help fight for the money you need.

Workplace injuries can include:

• Brain injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Catastrophic injuries
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Amputations
• Crushing injuries
• Cancer
• Torn ligaments
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Lung damage
• Loss of eyesight
• Loss of hearing
• Nerve damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Permanent disabilities
• Wrongful death
• And more

We’ll coordinate with your medical providers to make sure we understand the extent of your injuries.

Most accidents are the result of mistakes or negligence. Many accidents are avoidable, whether it’s an individual error or a company policy that overlooked essential supervision of a dangerous process.

If you’re injured at work, it could be the result of:

• Improper training
• Faulty equipment
• Violation of OSHA rules
• Negligent supervision of employees or subcontractors
• Trip and fall hazards
• Failure to provide proper safety equipment
• Faulty ventilation
• Hiring unqualified people
• Negligent maintenance of facilities or equipment
• Fatigued/overworked employees

Accidents on the job are rarely simple. Often, they involve multiple parties. It’s important to narrow down the precise cause of your accident so that the proper parties can be held responsible. Our experienced Fort Walton Beach personal injury attorneys leave no stone unturned to determine what caused your accident.

Negligence is the legal basis of most avoidable injuries.

To prove negligence, you must prove its four elements:

1. Duty: the defendant owed you a duty of care to not cause you harm
2. Breach: the defendant breached that duty
3. Causation: the defendant’s breach of duty caused the accident
4. Damages: you suffered damages as a result

Evidence used to prove negligence could include:

• Eyewitness testimony
• Video from security cameras
• Maintenance records
• Supervisor’s testimony
• Co-worker’s testimony
• Photographs of the worksite

We have years of experience litigating complex accident cases. We know what it takes to build a strong case.

You must file a lawsuit for injuries within two years. You also have just two years to file a wrongful death case.

If you are filing a workers’ compensation claim, you must report your injuries to your employer within 30 days.

Workplace accidents are complex. There may be other deadlines depending on the facts of your case. For example, if a government entity is responsible, you have three years to file your claim. It’s not uncommon to have several different types of claims as part of your case.

Consult a knowledgeable Fort Walton Beach worksite injury lawyer to make sure you don’t miss critical deadlines.