Michles & Booth was recently successful before the Judge of Compensation Claims in Pensacola, FL, regarding an important medical issue. Under Florida law, the workers’ compensation carrier retains the right to select the physician for evaluation and treatment of the injured worker.
This can be frustrating enough for the injured worker, but in a recent case involving our client, Amber Pence, the insurance carrier tried to send her over to Ft. Walton Beach for an evaluation despite the fact that Ms. Pence lives in Pensacola. If the judge had allowed this it would have resulted in insurance carriers potentially sending injured workers’ great distances for evaluations by doctors who are friendly to the insurance or extremely conservative. Thankfully, after a hearing addressing the issues the judge ordered the insurance carrier to authorize a physician in Pensacola on the basis that it was too far for her to travel to Ft. Walton Beach. I applaud Ms. Pence for refusing to bow to the insurance carrier and her willingness to fight for herself and “to ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else”.
It’s extremely important that we fight injustice both when it is enacted upon ourselves and when we see it done to others. I am proud to have been able to help Ms. Pence directly and for the ripple effect this will have upon all injured workers in the Panhandle and throughout Florida.
At Michles & Booth, attorneys Brian Carter and Antonio Bruni represent workers and their loved ones who have been injured on the job. If you have questions about a worker’s compensation claim, or feel that your benefits have been denied, contact our firm today for a free consultation. We have offices in Pensacola, Crestview, and are proud to announce our new office in Fort Walton Beach at 400 Racetrack Road.
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