If you were injured while working in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers is here to help. Contact (561) 944-4000 today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Palm Beach Gardens workers’ compensation lawyer. We can explain your rights, answer your questions, and help you pursue the workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to receive.
Since we opened our firm, we’ve recovered over $500 million in settlements and verdicts. You may have the right to more compensation than you initially understand.
Why Choose Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to Help With Workers’ Compensation in Palm Beach Gardens, FL?
A workplace injury can affect your health, your finances, and your ability to support your family. Choosing an experienced law firm can make the workers’ compensation process less stressful while helping you understand your rights and the benefits available to you.
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers brings more than 80 years of combined legal experience to injured workers throughout Florida and has recovered over $500 million for clients. Attorney Jordan R. Wagner is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and previously represented insurance companies, giving our team valuable insight into how workers’ compensation claims are evaluated and defended.
Our Palm Beach Gardens personal injury attorneys have earned recognition from respected legal organizations, including:
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- “Superb” rating on Avvo
Our team is committed to providing personalized guidance, clear communication, and experienced representation throughout your workers’ compensation claim. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a Palm Beach Gardens workplace accident lawyer.
What Is Workers’ Compensation in Florida?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that provides financial assistance when you’re injured on the job.
The “no-fault” aspect is important. Getting workers’ compensation benefits is ultimately much faster than pursuing compensation via filing a personal injury lawsuit. For most workplace accident victims, filing a workers’ compensation claim is the first step to recovering compensation.
In exchange for this benefit, your employer is shielded from legal liability. Assuming they carried the required workers’ comp insurance, you cannot sue them for damages even if they caused your injuries.
How Do I Know Whether I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Florida?
Workers’ compensation isn’t automatic in Florida. You must satisfy certain criteria to receive benefits.
Those include:
- You were classified as a common-law employee, not a contractor
- You sustained an injury or developed an illness in the course of employment
- Your employer has at least four employees, or you work in construction
The phrase “in the course of employment” means that you were performing your job duties and doing something work-related. You don’t necessarily have to suffer the injuries while you are on the job site.
What Are Some Common Types of Workplace Accidents in Palm Beach Gardens, FL?
At Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we handle all types of workers’ compensation claims, including those based on:
- Construction accidents
- Industrial accidents
- Scaffolding accidents and falls
- Agricultural accidents
- Landscaping accidents
- Fishing accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Accidents involving heavy machinery
- Slip and fall accidents
- Electrocutions
- Fires and explosions
- Accidents in restaurants and bars
- Hotels and hospitality industry accidents
- Welding accidents
- Manufacturing and warehouse accidents
Even a seemingly minor injury can have stark consequences. If you were hurt on the job, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal assistance. Our experienced Palm Beach Gardens workers’ compensation attorneys are always here to explain your legal rights and options.
What Is My Palm Beach Gardens Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?
The value of your workers’ compensation benefits will depend on:
- The number of days you miss work
- Your average wages prior to the disability
- How much income you are able to earn during recovery
- Whether your injuries are temporary or permanent
Workers’ compensation benefits are limited. Workers’ compensation should cover all medical costs you incur. In 2026, the maximum you can receive in terms of disability benefits is $1,358 per week if you’re totally unable to work.
What Benefits Can I Receive Through Workers’ Compensation in Florida?
Workers’ compensation provides economic assistance to injured workers. Different types of benefits are available, depending on your unique situation.
Workers’ compensation covers:
Medical Expenses
Workers’ compensation covers medical bills even if you can continue working.
That includes:
- ER visits
- Doctor’s visits
- Hospital stays
- Diagnostic tests
- Surgeries
- Medications
- Medical devices
- Physical therapy
- Specialized therapies
Workers’ compensation also reimburses you for travel costs when you visit your authorized doctor or the pharmacy.
Wage Replacement Benefits
Workers’ compensation provides wage replacement benefits if your earnings are reduced due to a disability.
Disability benefits might include:
- Temporary total disability benefits if you’re unable to work during your recovery
- Temporary partial disability benefits if your disability impairs your earning abilities, but you can earn some income
- Income impairment benefits if your earning capacity remains impaired even once you recover to the extent possible
- Permanent total disability benefits if you cannot work again
You qualify for workers’ compensation disability benefits if you cannot work for at least seven days. Disability benefits cover 66 ⅔% of your lost wages, subject to the weekly maximum.
Temporary benefits last for a maximum of 104 weeks. Once you’ve exhausted your temporary benefits, you may qualify for more permanent relief, depending on your injuries.
Death Benefits
For survivors of fatal work accidents, death benefits are available. If your loved one died within one year of a workplace accident, you may claim benefits. Benefits may also be available if they died within five years of a disability.
Can I File a Florida Personal Injury Claim in Addition to a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
In some situations, yes. While Florida’s workers’ compensation system generally prevents employees from suing their employers for workplace injuries, you may have a separate personal injury claim if someone other than your employer contributed to the accident.
These are known as third-party claims. Unlike workers’ compensation, a personal injury claim may allow you to recover damages that are not available through workers’ compensation benefits, such as pain and suffering.
Examples of situations where a third-party claim may be available include:
- A negligent driver causes a work-related vehicle accident
- A defective tool, machine, or piece of equipment causes your injury
- A property owner’s negligence creates unsafe conditions at a job site
- A contractor or subcontractor causes a workplace accident
- A manufacturer produces a defective product that leads to an injury
In some cases, an injured worker may receive workers’ compensation benefits while also pursuing a third-party personal injury claim. Because these cases can involve complex legal and insurance issues, it is important to have an attorney evaluate all potential sources of compensation.
What Compensation Can I Recover Through a Third-Party Lawsuit in Florida?
Unlike workers’ compensation benefits, a third-party personal injury lawsuit may allow you to recover a broader range of damages. If someone other than your employer caused or contributed to your workplace injury, you may be entitled to seek compensation for both your financial losses and the personal impact the injury has had on your life.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage, when applicable
The amount of compensation available depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, the extent of your financial losses, the available insurance coverage, and the strength of the evidence supporting your claim. An experienced attorney can evaluate your case and help determine whether a third-party lawsuit may provide additional compensation beyond your workers’ compensation benefits.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Florida?
Many workers’ compensation attorneys in Florida handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you generally do not pay upfront attorney’s fees. Instead, the attorney’s fee is typically paid only if benefits or compensation are recovered, and fees are subject to Florida law and, in many cases, court or administrative approval.
A contingency fee arrangement allows injured workers to seek experienced legal representation without adding to the financial strain that often follows a workplace injury. During your initial consultation, an attorney can explain how fees work, answer your questions, and discuss what to expect throughout the workers’ compensation process.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Workplace Accident in Florida?
In many cases, yes. Florida’s workers’ compensation system is generally a no-fault system, which means you may still be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits even if you were partly responsible for your workplace accident. Unlike a personal injury lawsuit, you typically do not have to prove that your employer was negligent to qualify for benefits.
If you also have a third-party personal injury claim, different rules may apply. Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system for most negligence claims. If you are found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident, you generally cannot recover damages from the third party. If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Because workers’ compensation claims and third-party lawsuits involve different legal standards, an experienced attorney can explain how these rules may affect your case and help you pursue every available source of compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Florida?
Florida law sets important deadlines for reporting a workplace injury and pursuing workers’ compensation benefits. In most cases, you must report your injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident or within 30 days of discovering that your injury or illness is work-related. Failing to report your injury on time could affect your ability to receive benefits.
Additional deadlines may apply depending on the circumstances of your case. For example, Florida law generally provides a two-year statute of limitations for filing a petition for workers’ compensation benefits after the date of your injury, although certain events may extend or shorten that period.
Florida generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible third party.
Because different deadlines may apply depending on the facts of your case, and missing a filing deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation, it is important to speak with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible after a workplace injury.
Contact Our Palm Beach Gardens Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Call Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers anytime if you were injured on the job. You deserve to understand your legal rights. Without that knowledge, the insurance company may take advantage and pay less than you deserve. Call today to schedule a free consultation to learn how our Palm Beach Gardens workers’ compensation attorneys can advocate on your behalf.
