Work is of fundamental importance to most human beings. After all, work provides the means to live life. It also gives individuals a sense of identity. If you sustain an on-the-job injury, you may be unable to provide for yourself and your family. To help you with short-term income replacement, long-term disability benefits and reimbursement for medical care, Florida has a workers compensation insurance system.

While a workers compensation lawyer in Ocala can best help you identify whether you qualify for Florida workers compensation coverage, you can do a quick analysis yourself. If you meet the following four criteria, you may be eligible for workers compensation benefits in Florida.

1. Your Employer Has More Than Four Employees

In Florida, only employers with more than four employees must carry workers compensation insurance. Therefore, you must check that your company meets this threshold before moving on with the analysis.

2. You Are Not an Independent Contractor

To qualify for workers compensation benefits in Florida, you must be an employee and not an independent contract. Note, however, that your classification may depend on a complicated legal analysis. A workers compensation lawyer in Ocala can likely help you determine if you are an employee or an independent contractor.

3. You Have a Work-Related Injury or Illness

Workers compensation insurance does not cover all injuries and illnesses. On the contrary, injuries must be because of work. If your injury or illness did not happen at work but is the result of work-related activities, a workers compensation lawyer in Ocala can probably help you with your claim.

4. You File a Claim on Time

In Florida, you must file your workers compensation claim as soon as possible. If you wait longer than two years, though, you may be barred from filing at all.

While many workers file claims without the assistance of an attorney, complicated matters usually require legal assistance. If you have a pre-existing condition, have received a claim denial, have a serious injury or have other unique circumstances, call J.W. Chalkley III, P.A. for a free-consultation today at (866) 629-7511. You can also fill out the online contact form for convenience and we will call you directly.