Most Florida residents depend on wages and salaries from their jobs to provide for their families and pay living expenses. Unfortunately, thousands of employees are injured every year while performing the duties of their jobs. These injured employees often find that they are no longer able to work and earn a living. Fortunately, injured employees may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to help them through this difficult time. Here are the main types of workers’ comp benefits.
Temporary benefits
If an employee is unable to work due to an on-the-job injury, a temporary disability benefit would be awarded. Temporary disability benefits are usually two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly income. The employee may be able to collect disability benefits even if he or she can work, but the weekly income will be reduced because of the injury or illness.
Permanent benefits
An employee may receive permanent injuries from work, which can be either partial or total. When an employee suffers these permanent injuries, he or she is entitled to permanent disability benefits. However, the benefit is determined when the employee has attained maximum medical improvement.
Death benefits
If an employee dies due to injuries that are work-related, his or her dependents may be entitled to workers’ comp death benefits. These types of benefits would cover lost wages as well as end-of-life expenses. The amount of benefits is determined by the number of dependents the employee left behind and his or her income.
A person never expects to be injured or killed while working. Those in Florida who have questions or need help with obtaining workers’ compensation benefits may want to consider speaking with a legal representative. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney can provide guidance and help victims and families obtain the benefits they deserve.