Employer-reported workplace injuries and illnesses have been on the rise throughout the U.S. in recent years. The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports over 2.8 million American workers face them annually. Many return to work a short time later, while others are forced to hire an employment attorney to represent them during long-term disability cases.
Have you found yourself thrust into the center of a long-term disability case? You might not know what steps you should take next to protect your rights. Hiring the right legal representation can help you make sense of your difficult situation.
Learn how an employment lawyer can help you navigate your way through your long-term disability case below.
Protecting Your Rights Under Florida’s Employment Laws
If you’re currently experiencing a health-related condition that will keep you out of work for at least 180 days, Florida has long-term disability benefits under the state’s employment laws. These laws are designed to provide up to two-thirds of your income and cover expenses like medical bills. They can also provide up to five years of long-term disability coverage, even longer than that in certain instances.
An employment attorney can evaluate your case to see if you qualify for long-term disability benefits in the Sunshine State. They can further explain your rights under Florida employment laws to ensure you understand the protections in place to provide financial stability during tough times. They can even help you wrap your head around the significance of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974.
Preparing Your Long-Term Disability Case
The good news for those with injuries or illnesses that will keep them out of work for long stretches is that they’re often eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or file insurance claims through employer-sponsored insurance plans. The problem, though, is that applying for these benefits can confuse those going through long-term disability cases.
This is another area in which hiring an employment attorney can help you immensely. They can lend a hand with:
- Collecting important medical evidence
- Putting together insurance claims and filing them
- Dealing with a possible insurance claim denial
An experienced employment lawyer can also prevent you from making crucial mistakes as you seek long-term disability benefits. Even minor errors could lead to delays in insurance claim processing and cause denials to occur.
Securing Your Financial Future
If you’re out of work because of a disability for even just six months, it can wreak havoc on your finances and force you to make difficult money-related decisions. An employment attorney can work to secure your financial future by exploring all the different avenues available to you when it comes to your legal options.
Ideally, your employer’s insurance company will set you up with long-term disability benefits, no questions asked. But just in case you encounter roadblocks while attempting to lock down benefits, your employment lawyer can fight back against an insurance company or another entity refusing to allow you to collect the compensation you’ll need while out of work.
In the meantime, you can focus on recovering from an injury or illness or work on adjusting to your new normal with a serious health condition.
Schedule a Consultation With a Trusted Employment Attorney
If you’re involved in a long-term disability case and could benefit from working with an employment attorney, Mark J. Berkowitz, P.A., would love to speak with you. It could change your outlook on your case and help you make sense of it all before you move forward.
Contact us at (954) 527-0570 to arrange a consultation.