As an individual working in Georgia, you could be eligible to seek compensation for a workplace injury or illness.
However, not all employees will pursue a claim to recover the benefits they are legally owed, and some will act but have their compensation claim denied or reduced. We are here to help with Norcross workers’ compensation disputes.
You should work with an accomplished and reliable workers’ compensation lawyer in Norcross if you want to improve the odds of recovering all the benefits owed. We are a law firm that takes these cases seriously because we know how difficult the situation can be for the worker while the employer keeps business operations moving on as usual.
We have an experienced team of lawyers that will use their expertise and available resources to fight for your rights and interests when helping you settled the compensation disputes.
Contact the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition today at 470-518-5026 for a free case review and learn how you can recover damages.
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What Are the Causes of Norcross Workers’ Compensation Disputes?
Once the occupational accident is reported, the employer and employee must meet some responsibilities that help determine the owed benefits. It also kickstarts the process of disputing the injury or illness, therein the compensation claim. Given these facts, it is best to take measures to prevent your employer or the insurance carrier from disputing your claim or reducing the settlement.
Some of the issues that can result in a worker’s comp dispute in Georgia include:
Employment Status
Your employment status can play a crucial role in determining your eligibility to recover damages for an occupational injury or sickness. As such, it is advantageous to know your employment status after you leave work, taking some time off to seek treatment and recuperate.
Outside Scope of Employment
At times, disputes can arise when your employer or the insurance provider purports your injuries or sickness are not work-related, that you sustained them outside the workplace. In some instances, the dispute can be centered around the notion that the injury or illness is not associated with your line of work.
Lack of Causation
An employer or insurance company may argue your injury wasn’t caused by your job. You can only claim benefits if your injury or sickness is related to your occupation and sustained while in the workplace.
Missed Deadlines
The fact that the compensation claim is subject to a time limit created a loophole that your employer or the insurance carrier can exploit to dispute your workers’ compensation claim. They can do so by stating that you filed the suit late even when they used some delay tactics that could have or did prevent you from meeting the deadline.
You must report a workplace accident within 30 days and file your claim within one year of the accident.
Inadequate Information
You are legally expected to provide honest statements concerning the occupational accident, which will help prove your claim. However, this is something that can be used to dispute your compensation claim if your employer or the insurance provider says you failed to provide essential information.
While your employer and the insurer might dispute the workers’ comp claim, it is something that you can nip in the bud thus mitigating any loopholes they can exploit. One of the measures you can take is to work closely with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Norcross, Georgia.
We are confident that we are the law firm that has your best interests at heart.
My Workers’ Compensation Claim Has Been Denied. What Do I Do?
If your compensation claim is rejected, that is not the end. You should contact a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney to help you appeal the denial. It can be challenging if you try to go at it alone, especially when you do not know the legal requirements involved.
Appealing the compensation denial entails requesting a hearing with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. The requests are made by filling and submitting a WC-14 form, and the hearing usually takes place within 60 days of when the judge receives the form.
The appeal process is subject to a deadline. You must file the appeal within a year from when your claim was denied.
Since the WC-14 is available online, some individuals opt to handle the matter themselves, going up against their employer and insurer after losing the first round. Such a move is bound to have no favorable results, and that is why it is better to have a lawyer on your side, representing your rights and interests.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Disputes
An injured worker in Norcross, Georgia, can face two types of workers’ compensation disputes.
Medical Disputes
It will be to seek a rehearing regarding denied medical care costs for your occupational injury or illness. Your attorney can help you address an injury management dispute, liability dispute, temporary/permanent impairment dispute, or medical/rehab dispute.
Claim Disputes
We can appeal the denial for a claim and fight to ensure that you recover benefits by addressing things such as premium disputes and performance review disputes.
What’s the Workers’ Compensation Dispute and Appeals Process in Georgia?
Georgia Workers’ Compensation laws also cover benefit disputes, allowing the claimant to appeal the denial. It is a process that we can pursue in two ways, dependent on what we find most suitable for a fast and favorable outcome:
- We can appeal the matter through an administrative law judge, necessitating a hearing before the judge.
- We can appeal through the Workers’ Compensation Board or the appeals court judge, requesting them to review your denial and revise the former decision.
Find a Dedicated Norcross Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Pursuing a workers’ comp case can prove to be overwhelming for some individuals, especially when the claim is denied and they want to appeal the decision. At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition, we can help you address any Norcross workers’ compensation disputes and recover benefits.
We have experienced and dedicated attorneys specializing in workers’ compensation cases. They are familiar with the different legal hurdles surrounding such matters, especially when appealing a denial. The process will entail disputing any allegations your employer or the insurance carrier used to reject or lower the settlement offer.
Get in touch with us as soon as possible to learn more about how we can help you with workers’ compensation disputes, file an appeal, and improve the odds of recovering benefits.
You can call us at 470-518-5026 or use our contact from to schedule a free consultation and get the ball rolling.
