Florida Workers’ Compensation And Slips And Falls

Almost every type of workplace in Tampa has some injury risks, and many places have risks of slips and falls or trips and falls on the job. No matter what type of industry you work in, there is a possibility that some hazardous condition at your workplace could lead to a slip, trip, or fall. This is true of jobs ranging from those in the construction industry to white collar jobs that largely require work behind a desk. Everything in between — including retail work, health care industry work, and delivery driver jobs, and restaurant work — can have slip and fall or trip and fall risk on the job. If you slipped and fell at work, or if you tripped and fell at work, what do you need to know about seeking compensation by filing a workers’ compensation claim? Our Tampa workers’ compensation attorneys can give you more information, and our firm can get started on your claim today.

You Can Seek Workers’ Compensation for Slips and Falls or Trips and Falls at Work 

In most cases of slips and falls or trips and falls on the job, the injured worker can be eligible to seek workers’ compensation benefits. It does not matter if the slipping or tripping hazard resulted from your employer’s negligence or a co-worker’s negligence, or even if you were negligent because you were looking at your phone while you were walking and did not see a tripping or slipping hazard. Since Florida workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, you do not have to prove negligence, and your own negligence is unlikely to limit your ability to receive compensation. One of the only exceptions is if you consumed drugs or alcohol intentionally and were intoxicated at work, and your intoxication caused the slip and fall or trip and fall.

Even in circumstances where you may be eligible to file a third-party lawsuit — such as situations where the trip and fall resulted from defective flooring, and the flooring manufacturer may be liable — you can still seek workers’ compensation coverage first.

You Do Not Need to Be Specifically Engaged in a Work Task to Seek Workers’ Compensation Coverage 

Many slip and fall accidents, or trip and fall accidents, happen at workplaces when an employee is walking to the restroom or walking to another area of the workplace for a short break. It is important to know that you do not need to be specifically engaged in a work task at the time of the slip and fall in order to seek workers’ compensation coverage. To be sure, your injury must arise out of your employment, but if you are taking a restroom break when you trip and fall because of a hazard in the workplace, you can still seek workers’ compensation benefits.

How Slips and Falls or Trips and Falls Happen at Worksites 

There are many different types of situations that lead to slips and falls or trips and falls on the job. The following are just a handful of examples:

• Tripping on damaged flooring or carpeting;
• Slipping on a liquid spill;
• Slipping on ice; or
• Tripping on an object in a walking path.

Contacts  Tampa Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

 Do you need help seeking workers’ compensation benefits? Our Tampa workers’ compensation lawyers at the Franco Law Firm are here to help. Do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440ContentsIndex.html