What to Do If Your Employer Won’t Report Your Work Injury or Provide Workers’ Compensation Insurance Information in Florida
If you’ve been injured on the job in Florida, you have rights under the state’s workers’ compensation law. But what happens if your employer refuses to report your injury or won’t give you the workers’ compensation insurance information you’re entitled to?
Unfortunately, this happens more often than it should. Here’s what you need to know and what you can do to protect your rights.
🏢 Your Employer’s Legal Duty in Florida
Under Florida law (Chapter 440, Florida Statutes), employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance (with limited exceptions) and report a workplace injury to their insurance carrier within seven (7) days of being notified.
They must also provide you with the name of their workers’ compensation insurance company and the claim contact information.
If your employer fails to do this, they are violating Florida law, and you still have the right to pursue your claim directly.
Step 1: Report Your Injury in Writing
Always notify your employer as soon as possible about your injury and ideally in writing (email or text). Florida law requires you to report within 30 days of the accident or of discovering your injury.
Having written proof that you reported your injury protects you if your employer later claims they “didn’t know.”
Step 2: Contact the Insurance Company or the Division of Workers’ Compensation
If your employer won’t tell you who their insurance company is, you can find out directly:
Visit the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation’s “Proof of Coverage” database https://dwcdataportal.fldfs.com/ProofOfCoverage.aspx.
Enter your employer’s name to find their insurance carrier.
Once you identify the carrier, you can contact them directly to file your claim.
If no coverage appears, it’s possible your employer is uninsured which triggers different remedies.
Step 3: If Your Employer Has No Insurance
Employers who are legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance but fail to do so can face serious penalties, and you may still be eligible for benefits.
In these cases, injured workers can file a claim with the Florida Uninsured Employers Fund (UEF) or pursue a civil lawsuit against the employer for damages. An attorney experienced in Florida workers’ compensation law can help you evaluate these options.
Step 4: Get Legal Help Early
If your employer refuses to cooperate or doesn’t report your injury, it’s a strong signal that you may need an attorney to protect your rights.
A workers’ compensation lawyer can:
Contact the insurance carrier directly,
File your claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation,
Ensure you receive medical treatment and lost wage benefits, and
Take legal action if your employer retaliates or lies about coverage.
You should never be left in the dark about your workers’ compensation claim.
If your employer refuses to report your injury or provide insurance information, you still have options and legal rights. Don’t let employer neglect or intimidation prevent you from getting the benefits you deserve under Florida law.
If you’ve been injured at work and your employer isn’t cooperating, call attorney Juan Lucas Alvarez today for a free consultation. He has been representing injured workers throughout Florida for over 28 years, and he will make sure your rights are fully protected.
