Florida Workers' Compensation Lawyers — Since 1982
When you're hurt at work, the employer's insurance carrier has experienced legal counsel working the claim from day one. Barbas Nunez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian has represented workers in Florida workers' compensation matters for more than 40 years. Two of our attorneys are Florida Bar Board Certified in Workers' Compensation Law. We know this system — and we know how to move through it on your behalf.
How Florida's Workers' Compensation System Works — and Why You Need an Attorney in It
Florida operates a no-fault workers' compensation system. That means if you're injured on the job, you're generally entitled to benefits regardless of who caused the accident — whether it was your own mistake, a coworker's error, or a hazardous condition your employer failed to address. You don't have to prove your employer was negligent to file a claim.
What you do have to do is navigate a system that was designed with the carrier's interests in mind. Insurance companies employ adjusters, nurse case managers, and defense attorneys whose job is to minimize what they pay on every claim. Injured workers who handle their own claims routinely receive lower settlements, fewer authorized medical treatments, and shorter benefit periods than those represented by experienced workers' comp counsel.
Florida law gives injured workers real rights. Employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance, report workplace injuries promptly, and provide access to authorized medical care. When they don't — or when their carrier denies a legitimate claim — those failures create legal liability. Our job is to enforce your rights and hold both parties accountable when they fall short.
Benefits Florida's Workers' Compensation System Covers
A successful workers' comp claim in Florida can cover several categories of benefits. Understanding what you're entitled to is the first step toward making sure you receive all of it.
Medical Benefits
Authorized medical treatment for your work-related injury, including doctor visits, diagnostic testing, surgery, physical therapy, and prescription medications. The carrier selects the authorized treating physician, but our attorneys know how to challenge that selection and fight for the care you actually need.
Lost Wage Benefits
If your injury prevents you from working, Florida workers' comp provides temporary disability benefits — either temporary total disability (TTD) or temporary partial disability (TPD) — calculated as a percentage of your average weekly wage. We work to ensure the wage calculation reflects your actual earnings, including overtime and secondary income where applicable.
Permanent Disability Benefits
If your injury results in a permanent impairment, you may be entitled to permanent total disability (PTD) or impairment income benefits (IIB), depending on the severity and nature of your condition. These claims are often the most vigorously contested by carriers — and the most important to get right.
Death and Survivor Benefits
When a workplace injury results in a fatality, the surviving spouse and dependent children may be entitled to death benefits and funeral expense coverage. We represent families navigating these claims with the seriousness they deserve.
What to Do After a Workplace Injury in Florida
Step 1
Report the Injury Immediately
Notify your employer of your injury as soon as possible and always in writing. Florida law requires injured workers to report workplace injuries within 30 days — but waiting creates gaps the carrier will use against you. Report the same day if you can.
Step 2
Seek Authorized Medical Treatment
Your employer's workers' comp carrier has the right to direct your initial medical care. Go to the authorized provider — but document everything, and contact us if you believe the authorized physician is minimizing your injury or limiting your treatment.
Step 3
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement Without Counsel
The insurance adjuster will likely contact you quickly and ask for a recorded statement. You are not required to provide one before speaking with an attorney. What you say in that statement can and will be used to reduce or deny your benefits. Call us first.
Step 4
Contact a Workers' Compensation Lawyer
The earlier we're involved, the more we can do. From the moment you retain our firm, we handle communication with the carrier, fight for authorized medical care, and build the evidentiary record that supports your claim through settlement or hearing.
Workers' Compensation Cases We Handle Across Florida
Our workers' compensation practice covers the full range of workplace injury claims — from the moment of injury through settlement, hearing, or appeal. Whether your case involves a construction site accident, a denied wage benefit, a pre-existing condition dispute, or a mental health claim after a traumatic event, we have handled it before.
Claims, Benefits, and the Florida WC Process
From filing your first claim to understanding what a settlement offer actually means — every stage of the Florida workers' comp process has its own page below.
Workers' Comp Claims
Workers' Comp Process
Workers' Comp Settlements
Medical Benefits
Lost Wages
Lost Wages Benefits
No-Fault Claims
Pre-Existing Conditions
Injury Types
Construction accidents, brain injuries, electrocution, machine accidents, repetitive trauma, PTSD — each injury type carries its own legal and medical considerations. Find yours below.
Construction Injury
Workplace Injury
Brain Injury
Electrocution Injury
Machine Injury
Repetitive Trauma
PTSD Workers' Comp
Worker Categories
Your industry and employment classification affect how your claim is built and what benefits apply. Find your worker category below.
Contractors & Subcontractor Injury
Crane Operator Injury
Cruise Ship Worker Injury
Dock Worker Injury
First Responder Injury
Longshoreman Injury
Professional Worker Injury
Denied Claims Don't Have to Stay Denied
Insurance carriers deny workers' compensation claims for a range of reasons — some legitimate, many not. Common denial grounds include disputes over whether the injury is work-related, allegations of pre-existing conditions, missed reporting deadlines, or IME physician opinions that contradict the treating doctor.
A denial is not a final answer. Florida's workers' compensation system provides a formal appeals process, including petitions for benefits, mediation, and hearings before a Judge of Compensation Claims. Our attorneys have litigated denied claims at every stage of that process for more than 40 years. We know which denials are worth fighting, how to fight them, and what evidence turns a denial into a recovery.
If your claim has been denied or your benefits have been reduced, contact us before you assume the answer is no.
No Fee Unless We Win — Here's What That Means
Workers' compensation attorneys in Florida are paid on contingency. That means:
- You pay nothing to start your case
- There are no hourly fees or retainers
- We only get paid if we recover compensation for you
- Our fee is a percentage of your recovery, governed by Florida law
If we don't win, you don't owe us anything for legal fees. The free consultation costs nothing and obligates you to nothing. If you've been hurt at work and you're not sure whether you have a case, the only way to know is to ask — and asking doesn't cost you a cent.
Answers to the Questions Injured Florida Workers Ask Most
Do I need a lawyer for workers' comp in Florida?
You're not legally required to hire one, but the data is clear: represented claimants consistently recover more than those who navigate the system alone. Insurance carriers have experienced defense attorneys working every claim from day one. A workers' compensation lawyer Florida levels that playing field — and on contingency, hiring one costs you nothing upfront.
How does workers' compensation work in Florida?
Florida's system is no-fault, meaning you're entitled to benefits for a workplace injury regardless of who caused it. Your employer's carrier provides medical treatment and wage replacement benefits while you recover. If the carrier disputes your claim, denies benefits, or offers a settlement, you have the right to challenge those decisions through formal legal proceedings.
What should I do immediately after a work injury in Florida?
Report the injury to your employer in writing the same day if possible. Seek authorized medical treatment and document every appointment, diagnosis, and restriction. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney. Contact our firm — the earlier we're involved, the more options we have.
How long does a workers' comp claim take in Florida?
Straightforward claims with clear liability and cooperative carriers can resolve in a few months. Disputed claims — involving denied benefits, IME conflicts, or litigation before a Judge of Compensation Claims — typically take longer. We keep every client informed throughout the process and work to move cases forward efficiently without sacrificing recovery value.
What if my employer says I wasn't hurt at work or disputes my claim?
Employer disputes are common and rarely the end of the road. Florida law requires employers to report workplace injuries regardless of whether they agree with the claimant's account. If your employer is disputing the claim, contact us immediately. We've handled employer and carrier disputes for four decades and know how to build the evidentiary record that supports your version of events.
Can I be fired for filing a workers' comp claim in Florida?
Florida law prohibits employer retaliation against workers who file workers' compensation claims. If your employer fires you, demotes you, cuts your hours, or creates a hostile work environment after you file, that may constitute unlawful retaliation — and we handle those cases as well.
What happens if my workers' comp claim is denied?
A denial triggers your right to file a Petition for Benefits with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings. The process includes mandatory mediation and, if unresolved, a hearing before a Judge of Compensation Claims. Our attorneys have litigated denied claims at every stage of this process. Denied doesn't mean done.
Do you handle workers' comp cases outside Tampa?
Yes. We represent injured workers statewide through our offices in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Land O' Lakes, and via virtual appointments for clients throughout Florida — including Clearwater, Lakeland, and communities across the state.
Hurt at Work in Florida? The Consultation Is Free.
Forty years of claimant-side workers' compensation experience. Board Certified specialists. Bilingual attorneys. And a contingency fee structure that means you pay nothing unless we win. If you were injured on the job anywhere in Florida, the next step is a free conversation with an attorney who has handled cases like yours before.