Florida Unsafe Workplace Lawyer

Every worker deserves to feel safe when they clock in for their shift. Unfortunately, many Florida employees still face dangerous conditions daily. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in an unsafe workplace, don’t wait to seek legal help. Call Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A. at (863) 688-7766 to schedule your free consultation with a trusted Florida unsafe workplace lawyer who will fight for maximum recovery for your losses.

Why Choose Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A. to Be Your Voice?

At Smith, Feddeler & Smith, P.A., we’re committed to helping people in Florida seek justice and rebuild their lives after workplace accidents. We understand firsthand the physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial strain that unsafe working conditions can cause you and your loved ones. Our firm exclusively represents injured individuals and their families—never insurance companies—because we believe your recovery and well-being should always come first.

Experienced Legal Representation

Our firm brings over five decades of experience representing injured workers throughout Florida in both workers’ compensation and personal injury claims. Our track record speaks volumes about our dedication to holding negligent employers and insurance companies accountable for the harm they cause, recovering tens of millions of dollars for our clients.

Compensation In Florida Unsafe Workplace Cases

When you suffer injuries due to unsafe workplace conditions, Florida law provides multiple avenues for seeking compensation depending on the circumstances of your accident. Understanding your options helps ensure you pursue the maximum benefits available. Our Florida unsafe workplace attorneys can guide you through each potential path to recovery.

Workers’ Compensation Claim

Florida’s workers’ compensation system offers a safety net for workers hurt in unsafe conditions by providing benefits to employees injured on the job, regardless of fault. Under Florida Statute 440.09, covered employees can receive the following benefits through workers’ comp:

• Medical expenses for all necessary treatment.
• Temporary disability benefits during recovery.
• Permanent disability benefits for lasting impairments.
• Death benefits for surviving family members.
• Vocational rehabilitation services and job training costs.

While workers’ compensation provides relatively quick access to benefits, it also limits your ability to sue your employer directly in most cases. However, our workers’ compensation attorneys know how to maximize these benefits and identify situations where additional legal action might be possible. We’ll ensure your claim includes all available benefits and fight any attempts by insurance carriers to minimize or deny your rightful compensation.

Personal Injury Lawsuit

If a negligent third party caused your workplace injury or falls outside the workers’ compensation system, you may have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. These claims can often lead to greater compensation than workers’ comp alone because they cover losses that workers’ compensation does not. In a personal injury case, you can recover damages such as:

• Past and future medical costs.
• Lost wages (overtime, tips, commissions, bonuses)
• Lost employment benefits (retirement and healthcare)
• Diminished earning capacity or lost future earnings.
• Pain and suffering.
• Emotional distress.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence.

Personal injury lawsuits require proving negligence. Our attorneys investigate every angle of your accident to identify all potentially liable parties beyond your employer. We have a long-standing history of helping others secure substantial settlements and verdicts in complex workplace injury cases.

What Are Florida Employers Required to Do to Keep Workers Safe?

Florida employers must maintain safe working environments under both state and federal regulations. Specific requirements vary by industry and workplace hazards. Employers who fail to meet these safety standards can face severe penalties and may be liable for resulting injuries:

• Providing proper safety equipment and training.
• Maintaining machinery and equipment in a safe working condition.
• Following OSHA Guidelines for workplace safety.
• Posting required safety notices and warnings.
• Conducting regular safety inspections.
• Reporting serious injuries to the appropriate authorities.
• Maintaining workers’ compensation insurance coverage.

Florida Statute 442.012 requires employers to provide reasonable safeguards for employee health and safety, establishing a legal duty of care. When employers cut corners on safety to save money or boost productivity, they put your life and livelihood at risk. Our firm holds these negligent employers accountable and fights for the compensation you need to recover from preventable workplace injuries.

Employer Liability In an Unsafe Workplace Claim

While workers’ compensation generally shields employers from direct lawsuits, several exceptions exist where employers can face personal liability for workplace injuries. Understanding these exceptions helps determine whether you have grounds for additional legal action beyond a workers’ comp claim. Situations where employer liability may exist:

• Intentional harm or gross negligence by the employer.
• Failure to carry the required workers’ compensation insurance.
• Dual capacity situations where the employer acts in another role.
• Fraudulent concealment of workplace hazards.
• Retaliation for filing safety complaints or workers’ comp claims.

Proving employer liability requires a thorough investigation and strong legal arguments to overcome workers’ compensation immunity. At Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A., our experienced Florida unsafe workplace attorneys know how to identify and pursue these exceptional cases where direct employer liability exists. We won’t let employers hide behind workers’ compensation laws when their egregious conduct causes your injuries.

Types of Hazards That Create Unsafe Workplaces in Florida

Workplace hazards come in many forms, and recognizing these dangers helps workers understand their rights when injuries occur. Florida’s diverse economy means workers face varied risks depending on their industry, but certain hazards appear across multiple workplace settings. Common workplace hazards include:

• Slip, trip, and fall hazards from wet floors or cluttered walkways.
• Exposure to toxic chemicals or hazardous materials.
• Inadequate machine guarding or safety devices.
• Electrical hazards from faulty wiring or equipment.
• Ergonomic hazards causing repetitive stress injuries.
• Heat exposure and inadequate hydration provisions.
• Violence or threats from customers or coworkers.
• Insufficient lighting or ventilation.

Different hazards require specific safety measures and protocols to protect workers from harm. When employers ignore known hazards or fail to implement proper safety measures, they create unnecessarily dangerous conditions. Our legal team investigates all contributing factors to your injury, ensuring no safety violation goes unaddressed in your claim.

Cases Our Florida Unsafe Workplace Lawyer Team Confidently Navigates

Our attorneys handle every type of unsafe workplace case, from simple workers’ compensation claims to complex multi-party litigation. With experience representing clients across Florida’s major industries, we understand the unique challenges each case brings and fight to protect your rights.

Workplace Injuries

Physical injuries from unsafe working conditions can range from minor cuts to catastrophic disabilities that forever change your life. We fight for full compensation that accounts for both immediate medical needs and long-term consequences of your injuries. Common workplace injuries we handle:

• Traumatic brain injuries from falls or being struck.
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
• Amputations from machinery accidents.
• Severe burns from fires or chemical exposure.
• Broken bones and crush injuries.
• Respiratory diseases from toxic exposure.
• Hearing loss from excessive noise.
• Repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Every injury case requires careful documentation of medical care, lost wages, and the impact on your daily life. Our workplace injury lawyers work with medical experts to establish the full extent of your injuries and future care needs. Insurance companies know that we’ll take the case all the way to trial, which we leverage during negotiations to secure maximum settlements for our clients.

Wrongful Death

Florida’s wrongful death laws allow certain family members to seek compensation for their losses when unsafe workplace conditions lead to fatal accidents of a loved one. We handle these sensitive cases with compassion while aggressively pursuing accountability from those responsible for creating or allowing dangerous conditions that caused your family member’s death.

Hostile Work Environments

Workplace safety extends beyond physical hazards to include protection from several forms of hostile treatment. These toxic environments can cause severe emotional distress and even physical health problems when left unaddressed. Forms of hostile work environments:

• Sexual harassment or unwanted advances.
• Racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination.
• Bullying or intimidation by supervisors or coworkers.
• Retaliation for reporting safety violations.
• Age or disability discrimination.

Federal and state laws protect workers from hostile work environments, but enforcing these rights often requires legal intervention. Our attorneys document patterns of hostile behavior and build strong cases for compensation. We stand up to employers who allow toxic workplace cultures to persist, fighting for both compensation and workplace changes that protect other employees.

Whistleblowing

Workers who report unsafe conditions or illegal activities often face retaliation from employers trying to silence them. Florida and federal whistleblower laws protect employees who speak up about safety violations, fraud, or other illegal conduct. Our firm represents brave whistleblowers who risk their careers to protect coworkers and the public from dangerous practices, ensuring they receive both protection and compensation for any retaliation they suffer.

Are You Hurt? Contact a Reputable Florida Unsafe Workplace Lawyer Now

Don’t let unsafe workplace conditions or a workplace injury derail your future—you have legal rights, and we’re here to protect them. You can trust our team to aggressively pursue a fair settlement. We’re passionate, not quick flippers, IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL when it comes to fighting for injured workers and their families. Contact Smith Feddeler & Smith, P.A. at (863) 688-7766 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Florida unsafe workplace lawyer today.

Office Location

Lakeland

832 Florida Avenue South
Lakeland, FL 33801

(863) 688-7766

Brandon

202 E Brandon Blvd. Suite 107
Brandon, FL 33511

(863) 688-7766

Kissimmee

1101 Miranda Lane
Ste1331, Kissimmee, FL 34741

(863) 688-7766

Tampa

100 S Ashley Drive
Suite 600, Tampa, FL 33602

(863) 688-7766

Orlando

4700 Millenia Blvd
Orlando,FL 32839

(863) 688-7766

Clearwater

13575 58th St North #200
Clearwater, FL 33760

(863) 688-7766

$1,200,000.00
Workers’ Compensation

Claimant worked as a tree guy and a giant limb fell on him. Claimant developed CRPS and ended up wheelchair bound. Our firm was successful in obtaining many benefits to the Claimant prior to settlement, including multiple home modifications, wheelchair ramps, authorization of medical specialist, and implantation of a spinal cord stimulator.

$350,000.00
Workers’ Compensation

Claimant worked as a bus driving and during an evacuation she jumped off the bus causing her to fall resulting in a serious back injury.

$269,671.00
Workers’ Compensation

Claimant worked performing clerical type job in an office. She was asked to carry a box down stairs when she slipped and fell down the flight of stairs injuring her head, neck and lefts arm / wrist / hand.

$220,100.00
Workers’ Compensation

Claimant worked for a temp service. He was helping to unload a trailer when his foot went through a board on the floor of the trailer causing his to fall, shattering his pelvis, and causing serious injury to his back, hip and head.

$1,223,423.00
Workers’ Compensation

Claimant worked as a selector / forklift driver. This case involved a specific injury to her right leg / knee. She continued to work which resulted in repetitive and cumulative trauma to the right knee and CRPS.

$630,000.00
Workers’ Compensation

Claimant worked for a transport company. One day he was forced to get under a trailer and while he was lifting and twisting, the Claimant injured his back and knee, which was left untreated until he retained representation and filed Petitions for Benefits. Unfortunately, the severity or the injury coupled with the delay in treatment caused the Claimant to developed CRPS.