Chapter 440, F.S., Workers’ Compensation

Chapter 440 of the Florida Statutes governs the workers’ compensation system in Florida, establishing definitions, coverage requirements, employer liability, benefits for injured workers (including medical treatment, disability compensation and death benefits), time deadlines for claims and payments, and enforcement mechanisms. It also sets out the “no fault” structure in which covered employees are entitled to benefits regardless of employer negligence, and in exchange typically relinquish the right to sue the employer for ordinary negligence. Key features include coverage obligations, medical services limitations, benefit calculation, time-bars for filing, and procedures before the judges of compensation claims.