Six Procedural Deadlines Inside a Florida Workers’ Comp Dispute That Are Easy to Miss
Workers’ comp disputes run on short timers, and most of them sit in the statute rather than in any letter. For a worker checking workers’ comp deadlines, these six come up often once a petition for benefits is on file, listed roughly in the order they arrive. If you are searching for answers to these, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyers for guidance.
Six Procedural Deadlines
- 14 days: the carrier’s response. Under section 440.192(8), within 14 days after receiving a petition, the carrier must either pay the requested benefits without prejudice to its right to deny or file a response listing the benefits not paid and why.
- 20 days: an amended petition. If a petition is dismissed for lack of specificity, section 440.192(5) allows 20 days after the order to file an amended one. The same section says specificity objections not raised within 30 days after the carrier receives the petition are waived.
- 30 days: when fees attach. Under sections 440.34(3) and 440.25(4)(j), attorney’s fees chargeable to the carrier do not attach until 30 days after the carrier receives the petition, regardless of when benefits were first requested.
- 24 hours: notice about an exam. For an independent medical examination scheduled by the carrier, section 440.13(5)(d) addresses an employee who does not appear and does not advise the physician at least 24 hours before the exam. The statute links that situation to compensation for the period of refusal and to half of the physician’s cancellation fee. The carrier, for its part, must confirm the scheduling in writing at least 7 days before the exam.
- 15 days: naming the examiner. The party that selects an independent medical examiner identifies the choice to all other parties within 15 days after the date the exam is to take place. The statute says that if notice is not timely, the findings cannot be submitted to the judge.
- 30 days: the order becomes final. Under section 440.25(5)(a), a final order becomes final 30 days after mailing unless it is appealed under the court rules.
Where the Process Leads
Taken together, these dates describe the path from petition to final order: a response, a hearing record built from medical and payment evidence, and a written decision that either side can appeal within the window. Keeping a simple calendar of the dates on each notice and order helps a claim move smoothly through that sequence.
Have Questions? Contact Our Team Today for Guidance
Different disputes carry different clocks, and our workers’ compensation claims attorneys can walk through the ones that apply to a given claim. If you would like to talk, we are available at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. in Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
Sources:
flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/440.192 https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/440.13 flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/440.34 https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/440.25