Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
It’s an unimaginable nightmare: a loved one goes to work as usual and never comes home. No one expects this to happen, yet a worker is killed by work-related injury every 101 minutes, on average, in this country.
Nothing can take away the grief and pain of losing a loved one, but talking to a Hollywood workers’ compensation attorney is important to make sure you can take care of yourself and your household. You can always contact the compassionate, family-based team at Flaxman Law Group for a consultation to learn more about your specific situation.
Applying for Workers’ Compensation Benefits While You’re Grieving
While you’re processing the death of a loved one, you may not be thinking about the bills. The unfortunate reality, however, is that the decisions you make during this very difficult time can impact your finances for years to come.
Workers’ compensation in Florida does make benefits available to employees’ surviving family members, but you will need to apply. You will also need to meet eligibility requirements.
Most workers in Florida are covered by workers’ compensation, with a few exceptions. In the event of an on-the-job fatality, the worker should be covered. In Florida, surviving family may qualify for death benefits if an employee passed away within one year of a work accident or after five years of disability related to an occupational disease or workplace accident.
Generally, it is a surviving spouse or the dependent parents or children of a worker who can apply for benefits. In some cases, siblings may qualify. Workers’ compensation benefits for these individuals can include:
- Coverage of funeral expenses, up to $7,500.
- Educational benefits, which are payable to the surviving spouse to help them get back into the workforce if they have not been working.
- Weekly, ongoing payments of a portion of the employee’s average weekly wages, payable to qualified surviving dependents.
Sorting out who is eligible for what benefits and how much will be paid will require filing a claim with the employer or their insurance company. This can be a complex process and even eligible applicants are sometimes denied. You may want to work with a Florida workers’ compensation attorney to make sure you have the best chance of getting your rightful benefits. These benefits may be crucial in making sure you give your loved one a good memorial and can pay for final medical bills and other expenses, too.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Being devastated by the loss of a family member is painful enough. Trying to deal with insurance companies and complicated forms at the same time may simply be too much. That’s why many families turn to Flaxman Law Group.
The father-son attorney team at Flaxman Law Group can take care of many of the details for you, so you can focus on family. We can negotiate with insurance companies and seek all the benefits you may be entitled to, so you have the financial resources to start over after a painful loss.
Our clients trust us to advocate for their well-being in Hollywood and across South Florida because our team has more than 60 years of combined experience and we have recovered over $100 million for clients so far. Call us at 866-352-9626 to set up a free accident consultation with a Florida workers’ compensation attorney today and let’s discuss ways you may be able to seek compensation or benefits after your loss.