Workplace accidents happen to the best of us. They can result in severe injuries, lost wages, and other damages. All employers in Georgia are required to cover their employees under workers’ compensation.
After a workplace injury, there are certain terms that you’ll hear relating to workers’ compensation. Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is one of those terms. If your doctor informs you that you’ve attained maximum medical improvement in Jeffersonville, you should immediately speak to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer.
At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, our lawyers can advise you accordingly once you attain maximum medical improvement. We’ve been handling workers’ compensation claims for a long time. Our Jeffersonville workers’ comp attorneys understand how the MMI concept works in Georgia. Call us now at 470-518-5026 to schedule your free case review.
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What Is Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)?
Maximum medical improvement is a term used in workers’ compensation cases to imply that an injured employee’s condition cannot improve any further. MMI means that a person’s injury has gained the best medically possible improvement. This, however, may not mean that an employee has fully recovered from their injuries. MMI will only be declared once all possible treatments have been considered.
An injured employee may experience pain or suffer from disability for the rest of their life. An authorized treating physician can determine whether such an employee has reached maximum medical improvement in Jeffersonville, GA. If you are still having trouble understanding the terms your insurer, employer, or doctor is using, contact a knowledgeable Jeffersonville workers’ compensation lawyer today for legal help.
Who Determines When You Reach Maximum Medical Improvement in Jeffersonville, GA?
Once an injured worker attains maximum medical improvement, their authorized treating physician should assign them a disability rating. In Georgia, this is the only party that can determine maximum medical improvement. Since MMI is a diagnosis you attain after a work-related injury, only an authorized doctor can make this determination. They’ll issue a statement indicating that you have improved as much as possible in relation to your workplace injury.
After a workplace injury, you may feel okay and hope to return to work. However, your view isn’t a recognized professional opinion since you aren’t trained, certified, or authorized as a treating physician. You can’t make an MMI determination on your own. Other medical professionals, such as nurses and physical therapists, cannot legally determine maximum medical improvement in Jeffersonville, GA.
If you disagree with your Jeffersonville maximum medical improvement determination, you can seek a second medical opinion from another doctor. Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition can help you pursue permanent partial disability benefits under Georgia law O.C.G.A. 34-9-263 if you reach your MMI.
Does Medical Treatment Continue After an MMI Diagnosis?
If your authorized treating physician makes a determination that you’ve reached your MMI and assigns a disability rating, you may still be eligible to receive disability benefits. MMI does not restrict you from receiving these benefits in the state of Georgia. You can still receive temporary total disability benefits and temporary partial disability benefits after an MMI diagnosis.
Once you receive your diagnosis, you may be required to visit your doctor for treatment procedures such as CT scans, physical therapy, MRIs, prescription medication, and X-rays. Clinical therapies don’t stop after your MMI. At times, the treatment you receive after your MMI diagnosis by an authorized physician may serve only for pain relief. You may also receive alternative forms of care, including chiropractic treatment, after a maximum medical improvement diagnosis.
If your employer or the insurance company refuses to pay your benefits after an MMI, contact a reliable Jeffersonville workers’ compensation lawyer immediately. Just because you’ve reached maximum medical improvement doesn’t warrant the insurance company to stop receiving payments. You should also receive indemnity benefits for your lost wages.
What If You Cannot Return to Work and Perform at the Same Level After Your MMI Diagnosis?
After a workplace accident, you may suffer severe injuries that alter your entire life. You may become blind, deaf, paralyzed, or even suffer a traumatic brain injury after an accident. A work-related injury may prevent you from performing the same job after your accident.
Your employer may assign you a light-duty job after your injury. A treating physician may also advise for work restrictions to help you fully recover, including desk duties. However, you should note that the insurance company can suspend your benefits if you don’t take up the light-duty job offered by your employer.
If you are partially disabled after an injury, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in Jeffersonville for up to 400 weeks. These benefits are awarded if you can’t get back to work for seven days. The state of Georgia caps these benefits at $575 per week.
After a maximum medical improvement diagnosis, the insurance company may offer to settle your workers’ compensation case. If you decide to proceed, you give up your workers’ comp case for a settlement with the insurer. This settlement is final and cannot be reverted once approved.
It’s best to seek the legal advice of our workers’ compensation attorneys in Jeffersonville before you sign away your rights. Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition will evaluate your case and inform you whether you deserve a better offer from the insurance company.
Call Our Jeffersonville Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Today
Workers’ compensation laws in Georgia can be confusing. There are many terms that you may not understand regarding your case. If you are having any trouble with your case or need sound legal advice, the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition is here to help.
Our seasoned legal team can help you understand how this process works. We will explain what a maximum medical improvement diagnosis means for your Jeffersonville workers’ compensation claim. Our attorneys will discuss your medical treatment and determine the best legal strategy to resolve your claim.
Contact us today to book your free consultation. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions. We are willing and prepared to take on your employer and their insurance provider to secure maximum benefits for your workplace accident.
