Work injuries are a common occurrence in most workplaces. Employers in Georgia are mandated to have workers’ compensation insurance in place to compensate any employees who have been injured at work. If you have suffered a work-related injury, you need to file a workers’ compensation claim to get your benefits. You may be wondering, “What are compensable work injuries in Athens?” If you are new to this, you might feel a little overwhelmed about the process of filing a claim.
Fortunately, if you have the best workers’ compensation lawyers in Athens, Georgia by your side, the process should go smoothly. At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, we are experienced and knowledgeable about the law regarding Athens compensable work injuries. Therefore, if you have been injured at work, we are ready to start working on your case. Call us today and get a free initial consultation so we can start working on your case.
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What Are Compensable Work Injuries In Athens, GA?
Not all injuries suffered at work will be covered by the workers’ compensation policy. In Athens, GA, compensable work injuries are those that arise out of or during the course of your work. It means there should be a causal connection between the condition of your work and the resulting injury. The injury must be related to your work and not independent of it for you to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
If it is an accident, it must have been caused by your job and during the course of your job and where you perform your duties while you are doing your duties. Some of the compensable injuries in Athens, GA include the following.
- Electrocutions
- Eye, dental and facial injuries
- Burns, exposure to toxic chemicals and respiratory illnesses
- Cuts, disfigurement and lacerations
- Long-term exposure to poisons such as asbestos or carcinogens
- Amputations, paralysis and death
With regard to preexisting conditions, if there is a causal relationship between your employment and the illness, you can file a compensation claim. You are not covered for any illnesses acquired or developed during your job but are not related to the type of job that you do. If a preexisting condition is aggravated because of your job and the aggravation prevents you from working, it might be compensated.
However, if the aggravation stops and you have returned back to your previous level of health, you will stop receiving benefits.
On the other hand, catastrophic injuries include the loss of limbs, blindness, severe burns or any other injuries that prevent you from working.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, your employer will appoint medical professionals who have expertise in handling catastrophic cases to allow you to recover and possibly get back to work.
Note that heart attacks and strokes are not work-related injuries so they are not covered by workers’ compensation. However, if there is credible evidence like the testimony of a medical expert that proves that your heart attack or stroke was related to the work you performed, you can file a workers’ compensation claim.
Note that, if you are an employee who works at a fixed location and doesn’t have to travel unlike truckers, taxi cab drivers, pizza delivery people and many more, you are not covered for injuries sustained during your commute. However, there are some exceptions to this regulation as follows.
- If you are commuting using transportation furnished by the employer
- If you are running a beneficial errand for your employer while commuting to and from work. For instance, if you get an accident while dropping off your employer’s mail while going home
- When you are on call
- When you have been reimbursed for transportation costs
- When the injury happens in the parking lot as you arrive or leave work
If you have suffered any type of injury as mentioned above, you need to notify your employer in writing or orally within 30 days after the accident or within 30 days after a death from the work-related incident. However, there are some exceptions, especially if you have suffered physical or mental incapacitation thereby preventing you from giving notice or if you are prevented from giving notice because of the employer’s deceit or fraud.
What Types Of Compensation Can You Claim In Athens, GA?
If you have suffered any of the compensable work injuries mentioned above, you can claim the following benefits under the workers’ compensation policy.
Medical Benefits
You will receive benefits for medical treatment from a work-related injury for the rest of your life. However, these benefits will not be issued if there is a settlement of the claim or if there is a subsequent non-work-related aggravation of the work injury. Even if you have reached maximum medical improvement, you should continue receiving medical treatment benefits to prevent the injury from getting worse.
Disability Benefits
You should also claim compensation for your degree of disability which will be categorized into:
- Permanent partial disability benefits
- Temporary total disability benefits
- Temporary partial disability benefits
- Permanent total disability benefits
These benefits will be calculated depending on your degree of disability and are usually two-thirds of your weekly wage up to a maximum amount depending on the period when you were injured at work.
Death Benefits
If someone has died as a result of a work-related injury, the next of kin will receive death benefits. Fatalities can occur immediately after the accident or later due to the accident. If the death of an employee was caused by the aggravation of a pre-existing condition, the next of kin will also be compensated.
How Long Do You Have To File For Compensation In Athens, GA?
If you are the victim of a work-related injury, you have a year after the date of the accident to file for workers’ compensation benefits. If you let the year lapse, you are not eligible to receive benefits.
To Learn More About Compensable Work Injuries in Athens, Call Our Expert Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Whatever injuries you have suffered at work, you need to make sure that you are compensated accordingly. If you are not sure whether or not your injuries are compensable in Georgia, Workers Compensation Lawyer Coalition can help. We will look for the relevant evidence to make sure that you receive the compensation you need to recuperate properly.
Call us today so we can start working on your case immediately.
