Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Fields such as design, writing, and the arts are all creative jobs that add to the culture of Florida. While these jobs may not have the same injury rates as industrial work, serious and even life-threatening injuries do occur for creative workers. When they do, many creative workers are eligible for workers’ compensation.
These workers do face some additional challenges when seeking benefits, however, which is why you might want to contact Flaxman Law Group if you’re injured on the job. We can offer a free, no obligation case consultation in our Homestead, Hollywood, or Miami offices. A member of our family-based law firm may even be able to visit you if you’re to injured to travel to us.
Common Injuries With Creative Jobs
Creative jobs can often lead to the following injuries:
- Repetitive tasks such as typing, drawing, and using design software can lead to strains and overuse injuries.
- Long hours of screen time or hours at the easel can cause eye strain, headaches, and discomfort among creative professionals.
- Frequent typing and repetitive hand motions, especially using fine motor motions common with painting, can increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Poor posture during long work hours can lead to chronic back and neck pain.
- The pressure to meet creative deadlines can lead to stress-related conditions, including anxiety, depression, and burnout.
- Exposure to paints, paint thinners, film chemicals, and other dangerous substances can cause irritation, allergic reactions, and even occupational illnesses.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation and Creative Jobs in Florida
Workers’ compensation in Florida is required by law of most employers. Any businesses with eligible employees are required to pay for this coverage for their workers. In the event of a work-related injury or illness, this insurance pays for medical care, covers some wage losses, and provides additional benefits, depending on the injury sustained.
If creative workers are employers and not contractors or freelancers, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Freelancers and contractors may also choose to pay for insurance for themselves. Even if a creative worker is covered, however, they may face some challenges in getting their benefits:
- Common injuries, such as repetitive strain and occupational illness, are challenging to link directly to work activities because symptoms can occur years after the work.
- Creative professionals often work on their own, which means there may not be witnesses to their injuries.
- Insurance companies may try to minimize the injuries of creative workers or allege that workers don’t qualify for benefits because an injury occurred during a break and not during work.
- Some creative workers earn lower wages, and even with wage loss benefits all their costs may not be covered.
- Some insurers try to lowball creative workers, assuming financial pressure will compel them to accept lower offers.
All of these reasons mean it’s a good idea to speak with a Florida workers’ compensation lawyer if you’ve been injured on the job. An attorney can determine if you have a claim and can accurately tally up your likely costs. He or she can negotiate with insurance companies and can gather proof of your injuries, pursuing maximum benefits for you.
Flaxman Law Group is a family-based law firm with offices in Hollywood, Homestead, and Miami. We believe all workers deserve to know the facts about their rights to workers’ comp. If you’ve been injured, we want you to be able to speak with a Florida or Hollywood workers’ compensation lawyer without worrying about cost. That’s why we offer a free, no obligation case consultation to you if you’ve been injured. Just call our compassionate team at 866-352-9626 to set up your appointment to find out more.