Sarasota Lost Wages Benefits Lawyer
Nobody leaves for work with the expectation of getting hurt on the job. Yet workplace accidents happen much more often than they should in and around Sarasota, Florida, and workers can suffer life-altering injuries. Depending upon the particular kind of injury and how serious it is, a worker may be unable to return to work on a temporary basis, while other workers may be unable to return to work ever again. In many situations, workers suffer permanent injuries that result in disabilities, and they can only return to work in a partial capacity. When an employee suffers injuries at work, regardless of how the accident happened, that employee may be eligible to receive a variety of benefits through the Florida workers’ compensation system.
One important type of workers’ comp benefit is compensation for lost wages. If you missed days at work as a result of your injury, you may be able to receive compensation for the money you would have earned if the accident had not happened. An experienced Sarasota lost wages benefits lawyer at our firm can get started on your claim today.
What Are Lost Wages in Sarasota?
The workers’ compensation system in Florida includes many different types of benefits. One of these forms of benefits is lost wages, or wage replacement benefits. Under the Florida workers’ compensation system, a person can begin earning benefits once she or he has been unable to work for seven days. An injured worker can be eligible for wage replacement benefits if she or he has a total or a partial disability. A partial disability will result in a lower benefit amount.
How are lost wages calculated? In Florida, injured workers can be eligible to receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage prior to the injury if they have a temporary total disability. In other words, an injured worker who cannot return to work in any capacity can be eligible for a workers’ compensation benefit of two-thirds of his or her lost wages, up to a certain amount. Each year, the maximum amount is increased to adjust for inflation. In 2020, the maximum weekly amount is $971. If two-thirds of your average weekly salary prior to the injury would be more than $971, you cannot obtain the full two-thirds. Instead, you will receive $971. If two-thirds of your average weekly wage is less than $971, that lesser amount will be your wage replacement benefit.
In some cases, a catastrophic injury will result in higher wage replacement benefits, or lost wages. For example, if a workplace injury left you blind or paralyzed, you may be eligible for 80 percent of your average weekly wage prior to the injury for a total of six months, and without the cap of $971 per week.
Contact a Sarasota Workers’ Comp Lawyer Assisting with Lost Wages
If you were injured on the job and need assistance seeking compensation for lost wages, one of the dedicated Sarasota workers’ compensation lawyers at our firm can help with your claim. Contact Barbas Nuñez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian today.
