Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that’s meant to cover workers against workplace injuries. The cover essentially provides benefits and medical care to workers when they get injured or become sick while at work. At the same time, it is designed to protect employers from being sued by injured employees for negligence.
While workers’ comp protects workers’ rights, there are still several gray areas that might prove problematic to workers, especially when it comes to determining which injuries or ailments are compensable.
As an injured worker seeking compensation for damages, it’s vital that you first take the time to determine whether your injuries or ailment are compensable or not. This is essential as it’ll help you know if your injuries are worth pursuing a claim for, and how much you should demand in compensation.
However, it’s worth noting that insurance companies and employers often try to deny a claim by questioning the authenticity of a worker’s injuries. For this reason, workers are advised to retain the services of a professional workers’ compensation attorney. An attorney can help you determine if your injuries are compensable and will use their legal skills to protect your right to compensation for injuries sustained.
If you have sustained any type of work-related injury, consider getting in touch with a qualified Villa Rica workers’ compensation attorney from the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition. Our attorneys can help you determine if you have compensable work injuries in Villa Rica, how much you should seek in compensation, and when you should file a claim.
Call us today at 470-518-5026 to schedule a free consultation with our experienced workers’ comp attorneys for professional and dependable legal counsel.
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What Are Compensable Work Injuries in Villa Rica, Georgia?
According to Georgia workers’ compensation laws, workplace injuries are considered compensable if they satisfy one of two conditions — or both.
Injury Was Caused by Your Job
The injury was caused by an accident that’s related to what you do or the nature of the job you do and has a cause-and-effect association. In short, there has to be a relation between your job and the injury you sustained.
The Injury Occurred While You Were Working
The injury occurred as you were performing/executing your duties as a worker; in short, for your injury to be considered compensable, it must have been sustained during work hours. Injuries sustained during off-work hours aren’t considered compensable.
In conclusion, to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, your injuries must have either been sustained during work hours or caused by the work you do. To know if your injuries are compensable, consider getting in touch with an attorney that specializes in Georgia workers’ comp laws for advice and counsel.
What Are Common Workplace Injuries?
Accidents in the workplace can occur at any time without warning. And while workers in some occupations are more susceptible to injuries, it’s worth noting that work-related injuries and illnesses can happen in virtually any job — and that even includes a desk job. With that being said, some injuries are quite common amongst workers in almost all occupations. These injuries include:
Neck, Head, and Back Injuries
Neck, head, and back injuries are quite common in practically every occupation and with causes ranging from slip and fall and car accidents to being struck by an object.
Slip/Trip and Fall Injuries
Slips and falls are some of the most common accidents that happen in places of work, with the main causes being wet/slippery floors, unstable walkways, poor lighting, scattered debris, uneven or hanging cords, etc. Common injuries people sustain after a slip/trip and fall accident include head, back, and neck injuries, broken limbs, fractured bones and disks, spinal injuries, etc.
Amputations
Dismemberment in the workplace isn’t that common in most lines of work but tends to happen a lot in environments where heavy machinery and equipment are used.
Hearing Loss
Injuries involving loss of hearing are commonplace in jobs where extreme and loud noises are common, such as in the aviation and construction industries. A common injury sustained by workers in such industries is a ruptured eardrum.
Construction Accidents
Construction is one of the riskiest occupations as workers are constantly at risk of being injured. Furthermore, the injuries sustained in construction sites tend to be quite severe, and even fatal in some cases. Common injuries sustained include broken bones, skull fractures, sprained ankles, amputations, electrocution, cuts, burns, etc.
Joint Pain
Workers whose job involves lifting things are more susceptible to experiencing joint pain, with common injuries ranging from ankle pain and back pain to neck pain.
Burns
Since some occupations involve working with/around harsh chemicals, fire, and extreme heat, those who work there are always at risk of sustaining serious burn injuries.
Fractures
Fractures are another common injury sustained by workers in almost all lines of work. Common injuries include broken limbs, fractured skulls, broken ribs, etc.
What Compensation Can I Claim in Georgia?
Georgia’s workers’ comp laws state that employees injured while performing their duties are entitled to pursue the following benefits through a workers’ compensation claim:
- Medical treatment (this covers all medical expenses from hospital stay costs to ambulance fees)
- Physical therapy
- Prescription medication
- Vocational rehabilitation
For you to qualify for these benefits, there are several legal requirements that Georgia’s workers’ compensation act requires you to fulfill. For this reason, it’s best that you hire a reputable and experienced lawyer that specializes in workers’ comp laws and compensable injuries and have them help determine the best strategy to pursue a claim.
How Long Do Injured Workers in Villa Rica Have to File for Benefits?
In Georgia, injuries workers have one year from the day the injury-causing accident happened, or they were diagnosed with a work-related illness, to file a compensation claim. One year is a very short time if you consider the different legal requirements that you are required to meet, most of which you’re unfamiliar with. It’s for this reason, we recommend that you get in touch with a professional workers’ comp attorney for legal counsel and representation.
Let Our Villa Rica Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Help You
The legal team at our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition is made up of reputable, highly accomplished, and experienced attorneys who specialize in workers’ compensation laws. Our lawyers are skilled professionals with the experience and the drive to aggressively pursue a workers’ compensation claim and ensure you receive the benefits you deserve for your compensable work injuries in Villa Rica, GA.
Therefore, if you got injured while at work, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We can help you determine if your injuries are compensable, how much you should pursue as compensation, and the benefits you’re entitled to as an injured worker. To speak to a workers’ compensation attorney, call 470-518-5026 now and schedule a sit-down with our legal team for a free case review. Get in touch today for help with your case!
