Workers’ Compensation

Work related injuries typically covered by workers' compensation include:

• Carpal tunnel / repetitive trauma injuries
• Hearing problems
• Work-related emotional problems
• Work-induced heart attack or stroke
• Occupational diseases such as asbestosis and dermatitis; disfigurement and scarring of face, neck or hands
• Asthma or other work related pulmonary conditions
• Loss of use of limbs
• Eye injuries

When you are hurt while performing your duties as an employee there is a specialized area of legislation that governs from whom and how much you can recover. This differs from other types of injuries. We are devoted to assisting our clients in working through this complicated area of law in order to receive a fair settlement from all possible sources. The issues that arise most often in these matters are:

• Whether you were an employee at the time of the injury?
• Was the injury received while you were on the job?
• Was there an injury?
• What benefits are you entitled to?
• Was the injury permanent?
• Are you entitled to a settlement?
• Should you accept a settlement?

Workers' compensation is a benefit that is available to nearly all employees who suffer an injury that arose out of and in the course of their employment. Firm founder Randy Pelham served as a police officer for the City of Miami for approximately ten years prior to becoming an attorney. During his career, he suffered a serious back injury in the line of duty. This was his first exposure to the Florida workers' compensation system. The adjuster handling Mr. Pelham's case initially sent him to a doctor, who treated him for three months and then released him, indicating Mr. Pelham was not seriously injured.

Fortunately, with much perseverance, Mr. Pelham was able to persuade the adjuster to provide another doctor for a second opinion. The new doctor immediately found the cause of Mr. Pelham's severe pain and scheduled surgery. To make matters worse, the adjuster had underpaid Mr. Pelham his wage loss benefits for several months before it was finally corrected.

Randy Pelham is one of the few workers compensation attorneys in Florida who has experienced the pitfalls of the Florida Workers Compensation law. It is Mr. Pelham's opinion that the Florida workers' compensation law in its current form protects employers and their insurance companies at the expense of the injured workers.

For these reasons, Pelham & Andrews aggressively pursues all benefits to which their clients are legally entitled. It is our experience that most insurance adjusters, either intentionally or due to their heavy caseload, fail to timely and properly provide benefits. Without an experienced attorney representing their interests, injured workers often do not receive the appropriate wage loss or medical treatment, which they need.

Pelham & Andrews handles all workers' compensation cases on a contingency basis for both attorney fees and costs. This means that if a settlement is not reached, the client does not owe Pelham & Andrews any amount of money. Referring attorneys are compensated in accordance with Florida Bar rules.

If you have been injured on the job or while performing duties for your job, please do not hesitate to contact Pelham & Andrews today for an initial case evaluation.