Orlando Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Helping You Get The Benefits You Deserve

If you suffer a work-related injury, you should receive workers’ compensation lost wage and medical benefits to help offset the financial burdens your family is facing and help you pay your bills and get well. Workers’ comp claims are often complex and always unique, whether they involve a construction accident, slip and fall at work, repetitive stress injury, or a motor vehicle crash while on the job. That is why it is important to work with an experienced Orlando workers’ compensation lawyer, so you do not miss out on the benefits you deserve. If you are completely out of work, your first payment should generally be sent to you within 14 days, and our team can make sure your claim is properly documented from day one.

At Wieland & DeLattre, P.A., we dedicate our service to protecting the rights of injured individuals in Orlando and across Central Florida. Our workers’ compensation attorneys handle every stage of the process, from reporting the injury and securing authorized medical treatment to filing Petitions for Benefits and representing clients before Judges of Compensation Claims. Attorney Glen Wieland is board-certified in workers’ compensation by The Florida Bar, and our firm combines deep knowledge of Florida benefits law with a personal approach to client service.

In addition to helping you file for workers’ compensation, our personal injury lawyers can evaluate and pursue a third-party claim if someone other than your employer caused your workplace injury, such as a negligent driver, a subcontractor, or a property owner. We also coordinate benefits when there is a potential Social Security Disability claim, advise on light-duty offers and return-to-work plans, and help you understand issues like Maximum Medical Improvement and impairment ratings. Our goal is to protect your health, your paycheck, and your future throughout Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida communities.

Injured on the job in Central Florida? Put board-certified Orlando workers’ compensation attorney Glen Wieland and Wieland & DeLattre, P.A. on your side. We have recovered millions for injured clients. Call 407-841-7699 for a free consultation. Serving Orlando and Central Florida.

How Can A Lawyer Help You Obtain Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation in Florida benefits employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. While the system aims to protect workers and employers, the reality often involves challenging paperwork and insurance company tactics designed to minimize payouts and delay providing benefits to injured workers.

This distinction means he has demonstrated substantial involvement in workers’ compensation law, passed a rigorous examination and earned positive evaluations from judges and other attorneys. This specialized knowledge allows us to fight insurance company tactics and maximize your benefits effectively.

What Benefits Are Available?

Florida’s workers’ compensation system provides several types of benefits to injured workers depending on the nature and severity of their injuries. These include:

• Medical benefits: Coverage for all authorized medical treatments, medications, hospital visits and rehabilitation services related to your work injury
• Temporary total disability: Payments that replace a portion of your wages while you cannot work during recovery
• Temporary Partial disability: Payments while you are allowed to return to work, but you have restrictions and limitations
• Permanent total disability: Long-term benefits when your injury prevents you from performing any work
• Impairment income benefits: Compensation for permanent injuries even if you can return to work
• Death benefits: Financial support for families who lose a loved one due to a work-related accident, including funeral expenses and dependent benefits

If a loved one dies in a workplace accident caused by someone’s negligence, family members may be able to pursue a separate wrongful death claim against those responsible. Understanding which benefits apply to your situation can be challenging, which is why we scrutinize each case to pursue all available compensation.

How Long Do You Have To Report A Workplace Injury?

In Florida, you must report an on-the-job injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident or risk losing your benefits.  This timeline begins immediately after the incident when you know or think you were hurt, so report even pulled muscles.

However, for conditions that develop gradually, such as repetitive stress injuries, hearing loss or occupational diseases, the 30-day clock starts when you first notice symptoms and reasonably connect them to your job. Even if you think an injury is minor, we recommend reporting it immediately to protect your right to benefits should the condition worsen.

Steps For Filing A Florida Workers’ Comp Claim

Successfully completing the workers’ compensation process requires attention to detail and proper timing. Here’s how to file your claim:

• Report your injury to your supervisor or employer within 30 days – send an email or text to document it
• Seek medical attention from an authorized provider approved by your employer’s insurance company
• Follow all treatment recommendations and attend all medical appointments
• Document everything related to your injury, including pain levels, limitations and conversations with employers or insurance representatives
• If the insurer denies your claim or benefits are insufficient, file a petition for benefits
• Attend any required independent medical examinations
• Prepare for and attend mediation if disputes arise

The litigation and appeals process involves complex procedures and strict deadlines that can overwhelm injured workers. At Wieland & DeLattre, our experienced attorneys understand how to deal with these challenges and have litigated thousands of claims successfully.

Attorney Glen Wieland brings specialized knowledge to your case that can make a significant difference in the litigation of your claim. This demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of legal representation for injured workers in Orlando and throughout Florida.

What Happens If My Claim Is Denied?

A denied workers’ compensation claim isn’t the end of the road. You can appeal the decision and fight for the benefits you deserve. To appeal a denied claim:

• File a Petition for Benefits with the Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims within two years of your injury
• Participate in mandatory mediation to attempt to resolve the dispute
• Present your case at a formal hearing before a judge if mediation fails
• Submit additional medical evidence or expert testimony to support your claim
• Appeal to the First District Court of Appeal if the judge’s decision is unfavorable

The appeals process involves complex procedures and strict deadlines that can overwhelm injured workers. At Wieland & DeLattre, our experienced attorneys understand how to deal with these challenges.

Workers’s comp attorney Glen Wieland brings specialized knowledge to your case that can make a significant difference in appeal outcomes. This demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of legal representation for injured workers throughout Orlando and Central Florida.

Florida Deadlines, Notice, & The Path To A Petition For Benefits

Timely reporting and correct filings can make or break your claim. In Florida, you typically must report a workplace accident to your employer within 30 days, then the insurer evaluates compensability and begins authorizing medical care. When benefits are delayed or denied, our Orlando workers’ compensation attorneys prepare and file a Petition for Benefits and represent you before a Judge of Compensation Claims in Orlando and throughout Central Florida.

We help you gather medical evidence, preserve witness statements, and address defenses such as major contributing cause, pre-existing conditions, or disputes over whether the injury occurred in the course and scope of employment. Early action protects access to medical benefits and wage replacement.

How Wage Loss Is Calculated: AWW, TTD, & TPD

Your Average Weekly Wage drives every indemnity check you receive. We audit AWW calculations for overtime, bonuses, and concurrent employment and confirm the correct compensation rate for Temporary Total Disability when you are taken completely out of work.

Temporary Partial Disability applies when you have restrictions and a real wage loss. Our workers’ comp lawyers help document earnings, job searches when required, and entitlement to retroactive benefits after the seven-day waiting period if disability exceeds 21 days.

We also address the annual maximum compensation rate, potential offsets, and miscalculations by the carrier. Accurate wage loss benefits are essential for paying rent, utilities, and medical bills while you heal.

Your Medical Rights: Authorized Doctors, One-Time Change, IMEs, & MMI

Florida workers’ compensation allows the employer or carrier to direct medical care, but you have important rights. You may request a one-time change of physician, and if the carrier does not respond timely, you can gain the right to select the provider. Our attorneys manage requests, secure referrals to needed specialists, and ensure mileage reimbursement and prescriptions are handled correctly.

Independent Medical Examinations can strongly influence opinions on causation, restrictions, and future care. We prepare you for IMEs, work with your treating physicians, and help you understand maximum medical improvement and impairment ratings so your benefits are not cut off prematurely.

Light Duty, Return To Work, & Retaliation Protections

When a doctor releases you to light duty, an employer may offer modified work that must fit your restrictions. We review offers for suitability, advise on documenting your limitations, and protect your Temporary Partial Disability benefits if reduced hours or pay lead to a wage loss.

Florida law prohibits retaliation for filing a workers’ comp claim. If you face termination, demotion, or harassment after a workplace injury in Orlando or anywhere in Central Florida, our work comp lawyers can pursue remedies and keep your medical and wage benefits on track.

Third-Party Negligence, Personal Injury Claims, & Subrogation

Some on-the-job injuries are caused by a negligent third party, such as a careless driver in a company vehicle crash, a subcontractor that created a hazard, or a property owner that failed to maintain safe premises. In those cases, you may have both a workers’ comp claim for medical treatment and wage replacement and a separate personal injury claim for damages like pain and suffering that are not available in comp.

These dual claims create subrogation and reimbursement issues for the workers’ compensation carrier. Our Orlando personal injury attorneys coordinate both cases, negotiate liens, and structure settlements to maximize your net recovery while maintaining access to needed medical care.

From construction site accidents to delivery driver collisions across Central Florida, we identify all liable parties, preserve evidence, and build claims that seek full compensation beyond basic workers’ comp benefits.

Settlements, Medicare Considerations, & Timing Strategy

Many workers’ comp cases resolve with a lump-sum settlement. We evaluate timing around maximum medical improvement and impairment ratings, estimate future care costs, and explain the pros and cons of closing medical versus leaving it open.

For clients who are Medicare beneficiaries or likely to become eligible, we address Medicare’s interests, including conditional payment resolution and when a Medicare Set-Aside may be needed. Our Orlando workers’ compensation attorneys negotiate comprehensive settlements that account for medical, indemnity, and liens so you can move forward with confidence in Orlando and throughout Central Florida.

Contact Us For Trusted & Experienced Service

You deserve your workers’ comp benefits, and you can count on us to help you get them. Our Orlando personal injury firm is highly respected and recognized for our workers’ comp service.  Contact our firm online or call our office at 407-841-7699 to set up a free consultation.