Workers’ Compensation & Transportation Costs

Workers’ compensation coverage is meant to cover medical bills for employees injured on the job. What many are unaware of, however, is the other expenses that insurance will also cover. One of the most forgotten is transportation costs, which can make an enormous difference for an injured worker. If you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits in Florida, it is important that you are aware of exactly what those benefits are meant to cover.

Specific Types At Specific Times

Workers’ compensation in Florida is meant to cover any medical care required to get a worker back on the job, but also unforeseen costs like lost wages and transportation costs – after all, being injured has a way of creating expenses. Florida’s Division of Workers’ Compensation states that among other expenses, workers’ compensation is meant to cover travel expenses “to and from authorized medical treatment” or a pharmacy. However, there are limits on this grant.

In general, there are specific types of travel expenses that will be covered – namely, tolls, mileage, gas, parking fees, and most public transportation fees. That said, there is a limit to the amount you can be reimbursed; as of this writing, the amount is set at $.445 per mile. In other words, you can receive slightly less than half of your transportation costs back, but only if you are traveling to obtain certain types of medical treatment.

Information Is Key

It may not feel like much, but if you keep a record of your expenses, you will generally receive the appropriate reimbursement for your transportation costs. It is a good idea to make cost-conscious choices; for example, if you are able to take public transit instead of an expensive taxi or rideshare, it can affect your benefits for the better. If your employer can provide transit, this may be an even better choice if possible to take it.

If you encounter issues with receiving reimbursement, it is generally a good idea to involve an attorney. Being injured at work throws a significant wrench into a person’s daily life, and it is not unreasonable to expect the process of receiving benefits to work appropriately. An attorney can help ensure that you have all the information you require, and that your claim has been filed properly.

Contact An Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Being injured on the job is at best frustrating, at worst frightening. You deserve to receive the benefits to which you are entitled – transportation costs included – and an Orlando workers’ compensation attorney from the Hornsby Law Group can help ensure that happens. Call our office today at (407) 871-6375 for a free consultation.

Source:

myfloridacfo.com/docs-sf/workers-compensation-libraries/workers-comp-documents/employees/english-injured-worker-informational-brochure.pdf?sfvrsn=3c033ff5_2