Nice to see the City of Orlando finally have to pay my client over $230k, after trial victory was upheld on appeal!!

Another big six-figure trial win for one of our client’s in Marion County! We recovered lost wages, disability benefits and payment for medical bills. I was happy to help this injured tree worker receive the compensation she deserved! I am not afraid to take a case to trial and welcome the opportunity if necessary to secure the maximum recovery.  Of the 100,000 lawyers in Florida…Only 187 of us are Board Certified in Worker’s Compensation Law. Call me if you have been injured on the job, the Consultation is always Free. 407-839-1160.

Potentially Dangerous Jobs For Teens

Many parents this summer will encourage their teenage sons and daughters to seek temporary summer jobs for extra income and valuable life skills. However, these seemingly harmless summer jobs are known by many an Orlando workers compensation attorneys to be the most dangerous. According to the National Consumers League, a teen is injured at work every 9 minutes, and a child employee in the US dies as often as every 14 days. Youthful and inexperienced, teenage employees are often left to perform tasks that more experienced professionals avoid for obvious safety reasons.

Hazardous Jobs for Minors

The chief causes of workplace injuries for teens involved heavy machinery, falls, and exposure to chemicals. Sadly, without consulting with an Orlando workers compensation attorney many young workers are unaware of their rights in the workplace or the enormous risks present in many worksites. The most dangerous jobs for teenage workers, including the highest rates of serious injury and accidental death, were found in these common fields:

• Agriculture
• Construction
• Landscaping
• Traveling Sales

Minors Hiring Workers Compensation Attorney in Orlando

Florida statutes on workers compensation are very clear and even more protections are added to ensure the well being of minors in employment. An Orlando workers compensation attorney will usually only have 2 years to file a claim before reaching a statute of limitations. However, when the injured employee is a minor, the time can be extended until that employee is of age. Furthermore, Florida statute §440.54 specifies drastically serious penalties for employers who are found in violation of child labor laws when a minor is injured. The employer, not the insurer, can be held responsible for as much as double the compensation costs.

The crucial difference between this situation compared to when an adult files are the calculation of long-term benefits. A slight injury that is healed within a few months can be quickly compensated, but if a minor is permanently disabled then he or she is entitled to the full potential of lost wages. Unlike adults, whose compensation would be adjusted according to their current wages, the “future earning capacity” of a minor over the course of a lifetime is more difficult to ascertain and exorbitantly higher in cost. Clearly, the wages one was earning in a part-time summer job would not accurately reflect the eventual income of what one would have earned had an injury not prevented the normal completion of school and an established career. The duty of an Orlando workers compensation attorney is to emphasize the full extent of damages when an employee is injured so early in life. 

How to Stay Safe

The best protection that teenage employees can use when starting a summer job is a full and complete understanding of their rights under the law. Minors are limited in the type of work and the hours they can be expected to work. Any workers compensation attorney in Orlando will encourage a young employee to refuse any work that seems hazardous, offers poor safety training, or requires travel or long periods free of adult supervision. 

Speak with Your Disability Attorney in Orlando about Work

A common difficulty witnessed by disability lawyers in Orlando, FL is the frustration experienced by disabled clients who very much want to work but have trouble finding employment suitable to their physical limitations. Earning disability benefits does not restrict a person to only one income source. It is both acceptable and recommended for people with disabilities to complete at last part-time employment to supplement their existing benefits. Staying independently employed is financially useful while also improving the emotional and mental stability of people who often struggle with fatigue and depression as a result of physical disabilities.

Unfortunately, finding suitable employment in today’s economy can be difficult, worse still when physical disabilities prevent you from most jobs that require standing, lifting, or strenuous movement. Talk to a disability attorney in Orlando about any of these possible careers considered most suitable for people with physical disabilities.    

Accounting and Bookkeeping

Financial institutions are one of the leading employers of workers with disabilities. Accounting, finance management, analysis, and consulting are all high demand fields that require very little physical exertion. Furthermore, many of these jobs can be performed with flexible working hours that will not interfere with any necessary therapy or doctor’s treatments. 

Pharmaceutical Aids

Pharmaceutical companies have shown a growing trend in hiring employees with disabilities for both sales and pharmacy technicians. Again, these jobs are some that require very little physical exertion, and a firsthand familiarity with the medical field gives workers with disabilities a unique advantage. Constant record keeping and medical transcription are also highly in demand in the medical field.    

Vocational Counseling

It is no surprise that many who succeed in creating independent and financially stable careers despite physical disabilities later wish to share the knowledge they have gained. Physically disabled adults are often stressed by the confusion of doctor’s visits, medications, insurance paperwork, and hiring disability lawyers in Orlando, FL. Counseling helps provide resources, support, and advice the ease of burden of living with a disability.    

Call Center Staffing

Many call center companies provide excellent insurance benefits and are more than willing to provide specialized seating and other amenities for employees in need. Some employers even offer work-from-home settings that provide added convenience for workers whose disabilities make it difficult to leave the house.

Legal Aid or Physician’s Assistant

As the assistant position, such as paralegal or doctor’s aid, would mostly be responsible for data entry and other clerical duties that require very little physical work. Some of these jobs require only a 2-year degree or an easily obtainable certification. Disability lawyers in Orlando, FL are often pleased to employ assistants with firsthand experience in order to better serve their clients.

Computer Programming and Software

The increased demand for computer programming and coding has created employment opportunities for a variety of skill levels across the globe. Coding can be learned quickly through numerous training programs often provided by employers themselves. Living in the fast-growing digital era means that computer jobs are widely available with opportunities to work from home with very little inconvenience.   

“Herbert M. Hill, P.A. is a law firm located in Orlando, Florida, whose practice focuses on Short and Long Term Disability Claims and Appeals.”

Not Every Injury is Covered

Florida workers compensation laws are set in place specifically to protect both employees’ right to a safe work environment and the employer’s need to bear the financial burden of potential medical costs. Through the purchase of workers compensation insurance, employers can care for the well being of workers without the fear of litigation from an Orlando workers compensation attorney. In a no-fault state, where insurers are responsible regardless of most circumstances, workers are further protected from the event of inevitable mistakes and accidents. However, not every work-related injury or illness is necessarily covered by workers compensation law. Furthermore, specific incidents may require further investigation to determine if your claim is valid at all. Bear in mind the particular incidents where your guarantee of workers compensation may fall short or require the attention of an experienced workers compensation attorney in Orlando. 

Injuries Requiring Simple First Aid Treatment

Not every nick and cut is deserving of a run to the emergency room. In many cases, if your injury is minor enough to be treated with minor first aid then workers compensation is deemed unnecessary. Of course, some injuries can appear minor at first, and even small cuts can become dangerously infected if not properly treated. Your employer should always keep a well-stocked first aid kit, and you should report all injuries to your employer immediately.    

Injuries Caused Outside the Scope of Employment

Your workers compensation claim will be promptly denied if you are found to be guilty of any of these circumstances:

• Working under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Acting unlawfully or committing a crime
• Self-inflicting injuries
• Fighting and horseplay
• Violating company policy

An Orlando workers compensation attorney works specifically to protect your rights as an honest employee. Dangerous errors that are shown to portray negligent behavior are not the obligation of your employer. Thusly, if you are intoxicated or being criminally irresponsible then you will be obligated for your own medical costs. Events that fall within the scope of employment can sometimes be debatable. If you are injured while traveling or returning to work from a break, a claim for workers compensation may or may not be admissible. Furthermore, if you are assaulted by a co-worker or supervisor, your Orlando personal injury lawyer may pursue your attacker and not your employer.

Heart Attacks

If you suffer a heart attack or stroke while on the job, it may be difficult to prove that your injury was a result of your work. Heart attacks are often brought on by a variety of harmful factors, including weight, diet, genetics, stress, and more. However, excessive temperatures and physical exertion can also cause a myriad of health problems that are job-related. Additionally, if such an unexpected health failure caused you to fall or hit your head, it may be difficult to assess how much medical care your employer should cover.   

When to Call an Orlando Workers Compensation Attorney

Volunteers, independent contractors, and various other employment types are not necessarily held to the same standards of workers compensation law. For your safety, always speak to your employer about the exact sort of protection you can expect. No employment of any sort has a right to put you at unreasonable risk for health and safety, so do not hesitate to contact an Orlando workers compensation lawyer if you feel you are unfairly treated.