Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Fort Lauderdale Workers Compensation Lawyer

At Newman Injury Law, PLLC, we represent workers across South Florida who have been injured at construction sites, warehouses, restaurants, healthcare settings, and office jobs. Our founder has been practicing law since 2010 and brings civil litigation experience to every workers’ comp matter. If you are dealing with denied benefits, delayed medical authorization, or an employer who disputes that the injury happened at work, we would like to hear what happened. Call today to speak with our Fort Lauderdale, FL workers’ compensation lawyer..

Why Choose Newman Injury Law, PLLC for Workers Compensation Cases in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Experienced Civil Litigation Background

Our founder, Jared K. Newman, is an experienced civil litigation attorney who has dedicated his practice to representing clients injured due to the negligence of others or the failures of the workers’ compensation system. He earned his J.D. from South Texas Law in 2009 and his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida in 2006. Workers’ comp claims sometimes intersect with third-party injury claims, and that is where our experience with personal injury cases adds value.

Results That Reflect Preparation

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients facing serious injuries. In workers’ compensation matters, preparation means documenting every medical visit, every wage loss, and every impairment rating with the kind of detail that makes a denial hard to defend.

Familiar with South Florida Industries

Jared is an active member of the Broward County Bar Association and the Dade County Bar Association. Those connections to the local legal community help us work effectively with the compensation judges and carrier-side defense firms we see regularly on South Florida cases.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Jared Newman is hands down the best personal injury attorney I could have asked for. Incredibly responsive, I never had to wait or wonder what was happening with my case. He’s professional, efficient, and always honest, and his staff is just as amazing and on top of things. Jared not only secured enough to cover all my medical bills, but also fought for my mental and emotional wellbeing. If you want an attorney who truly cares and gets results, call Jared Newman!” (Danielle Liberatore)

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Workers’ Compensation Cases We Handle in Fort Lauderdale

Workplace injuries take different forms depending on the industry, and the evidence we need varies from case to case. Our firm represents injured workers across the following categories of claims:

• Construction site injuries. Broward County construction work involves heights, heavy equipment, and tight deadlines. Construction equipment failures are a recurring cause of serious harm, from scaffolding collapses to power tool malfunctions.
• Warehouse and distribution injuries. Forklift accidents, falling merchandise, and lifting injuries account for many claims in the shipping and logistics sector that surrounds Port Everglades.
• Healthcare worker injuries. Nurses, home health aides, and hospital staff suffer back injuries from patient handling, needlestick exposures, and workplace violence. These cases often require coordination with hospital HR and occupational health.
• Restaurant and hospitality injuries. Kitchen burns, knife cuts, and slips on greasy floors produce some of the most common claims in the hotel and restaurant industry along the beach.
• Office and repetitive stress injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff damage, and chronic back problems build up over time. Florida law covers these, but carriers fight them more aggressively than acute injuries.
• Delivery and transportation injuries. Rideshare drivers, delivery riders, and truck drivers often have workers’ comp coverage through their employers, though classification disputes are common in the gig economy.
• Burn injuries in the workplace. Industrial burns from chemicals, electrical equipment, and steam often produce permanent impairment ratings and scarring that affect future employability.
• Amputation injuries at work. Workers in manufacturing, construction, and agriculture face the highest risk of amputation injuries. These catastrophic cases require long-term care planning and often a third-party investigation.
• Toxic exposure claims. Chemical, mold, and asbestos exposures produce delayed-onset illnesses that are difficult to tie to a specific workplace without medical and occupational evidence.
• Repetitive trauma and occupational disease. Conditions that develop over months or years may qualify for benefits when the work substantially contributed to the condition.

Florida Legal Requirements for Workers’ Compensation

Florida’s workers’ compensation system is governed by Chapter 440 of the Florida Statutes. The law requires most employers with four or more employees to carry coverage. The construction industry has a stricter one-employee threshold, and farm operations follow their own rules.

Notice requirements are strict. Under Florida Statute 440.185, an injured worker must report the injury to the employer within 30 days of the accident or within 30 days of the date a doctor connects a condition to the workplace. Late notice is one of the most common reasons claims get denied. In plain terms: tell your supervisor in writing, keep a copy for yourself, and do it quickly.

The statute of limitations for filing a workers’ compensation claim is generally two years from the date of injury under Section 440.19. The window can extend in limited circumstances if medical benefits or indemnity payments were provided within a year of the last benefit.

Florida also restricts physician choice. Under Section 440.13, the employer’s insurance carrier selects the authorized treating physician. You have a one-time right to request a change of doctor, but you cannot simply pick your own doctor and expect the bills to be paid through the workers’ comp system. The Florida Division of WC handles disputes and provides resources for injured workers.

What Damages Are Recoverable in a Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Case?

Florida workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. You do not have to prove that anyone was negligent, but in exchange, the benefits are limited compared to a civil lawsuit. Knowing what is and is not covered shapes your expectations from the start of the claim.

Economic benefits form the core of a workers’ comp recovery. Medical benefits cover all authorized treatment reasonably required to treat the work injury, including surgery, physical therapy, medications, and assistive devices. Indemnity benefits replace lost wages. Temporary total disability pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you are unable to work, up to a state maximum. Temporary partial disability applies when you return to modified duty at reduced hours or pay. Claim delays often have nothing to do with the merits of the injury, and knowing how the process should run helps injured workers push back. According to BLS injury data, private industry employers reported millions of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses each year, underscoring how common the need for benefits really is.

Permanent impairment benefits become available once you reach maximum medical improvement. The authorized physician assigns an impairment rating under the Florida Impairment Rating Guide, and that rating determines how many weeks of benefits you receive. For workers who cannot return to any employment, permanent total disability benefits provide long-term wage replacement.

Pain and suffering damages are generally not available through workers’ comp. That is a tradeoff the Florida Legislature built into the system when it granted employers immunity from most lawsuits by their employees. However, when a third party caused the workplace injury, a separate personal injury claim may allow recovery for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and full wage loss. A delivery driver struck by a negligent motorist, a construction worker injured by defective equipment, or a warehouse worker hit by a subcontractor’s forklift may have both workers’ comp benefits and a third-party claim. Filing workers’ compensation claims while preserving potential third-party claims requires careful handling from the start.

Death benefits provide funeral expenses up to the statutory cap and weekly wage replacement to surviving dependents. Vocational rehabilitation services are available to workers who cannot return to their pre-injury job and need retraining for different work.

Contact Newman Injury Law, PLLC

If you have been hurt on the job in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Broward County, the attorneys at Newman Injury Law, PLLC would like to hear what happened. Consultations are free, and we handle workers’ compensation matters consistent with the fee limits set by Florida law. We will review your notice, medical records, and benefit history, then explain where you stand and what options exist.

The first days after a workplace injury matter more than most people realize. Missing a deadline, giving a recorded statement to the wrong person, or signing paperwork you do not fully understand can reduce what you eventually recover. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer and get your questions answered.