- January 5, 2023
If you get hurt on the job, you should be able to count on your employer to take care of you. If you were legitimately hurt while doing your job, you shouldn’t have to worry about medical bills. Nor should you have to worry about not getting paid.
Atlanta workers’ comp covers this typically. It’s only fair that your employer pays you replacement wages while you’re at home trying to recover. As long as your workers’ compensation claim is approved, you won’t have any problem. And, if your claim is denied, your Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney can help you file an appeal.
One of the questions a lot of our clients have is whether they have to use their personal time to cover the days they miss from work. To a lot of our clients, it doesn’t seem fair that they would have to use their vacation or sick time to cover days missed due to a workplace accident.
Our workers’ comp lawyers in Georgia agree. However, your goal should be to make sure that your medical care is covered and that you receive your workers’ comp benefits. The big picture is a lot more important than whether or not you have to use a few days of your accrued personal time.
Here, we will discuss how the workers’ compensation process works and whether you will have to use your earned vacation or sick time after your workplace injury. If you have any questions or concerns about your own case, feel free to contact our office directly. We do offer new clients a free, initial consultation so you can sit down with one of our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys and have them review your case.
It’s Important That You Report Your Accident to Management Immediately
One of the most important things you need to do after your workplace accident is report your injuries to management. If your direct report is not available, you can go to another supervisor or directly to human resources. The reason it’s critical that you report your accident right away is so that you can receive the medical treatment you need.
Ideally, you’ll be taken out to the emergency room within minutes of suffering your workplace injuries. You will be evaluated by a workers’ compensation doctor that has been approved by the state of Georgia to handle cases like yours. They will determine what kind of care you need and will give you an idea of how long you’ll be out of work.
You need to make sure that your workers’ compensation claim is filed. If you’re afraid that it won’t be done properly by your employer, then you absolutely should call and speak to one of our workers’ comp lawyers in Georgia. They know the law and they know what benefits you are entitled to. They will also make sure that your claim is handled properly from the start.
You’ll Likely Miss a Few Days When You First Go for Medical Treatment
Anybody that suffers a workplace accident is going to miss a couple of days from work. Even if it’s only a minor cut or sprain, there’s a good chance you’ll be out of work for at least a day or two.
As with any other injury or illness, it would make sense to use your personal or sick time to cover these days. You don’t want to go without income for the days that you’re out of work. And, as much as you don’t think it’s fair that you should use your time after a workplace accident, it’s the law.
This is similar to when somebody goes out on disability. You must use all available time before you can receive benefits from the state. As far as workers’ compensation is concerned, the same rules apply. If you have three vacation days left, you will have to use them to cover your first three days out of work.
If you have three or four weeks of vacation time accrued, you may have to use all that time before your benefits kick in. Since each case is separate and distinct, the only way to know for sure is to talk to one of our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys.
Let One of Our Atlanta Workers’ Comp Lawyers Handle Things for You
If you suffered a workplace accident and you’re angry that you had to use personal time to cover any missed days, we understand. However, it’s also important that you think about the big picture. A couple of days here and there is nothing compared to being out of work for months or even a year.
When you sit down with your workers’ comp lawyer in Georgia, they will go over this with you. They can also answer any questions you may have. Most importantly, they will ensure that your claim is handled properly and, if it’s denied, they will help you file an appeal.
Ideally, it won’t come to this. But if it does, make sure you use any available time that you have so that you get paid for as much time as possible. Even if your claim is approved, your benefits will not kick in until you have missed at least seven days from work. It is better to get paid for this time upfront than have to hope it will be paid to you down the road.
Since we do offer new clients a free, initial consultation, you should at least take advantage of that. Sit down with one of our seasoned Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys and let them review your case.
They will look at any medical records that they’ve gotten from your workers’ comp doctor and make sure that your medical care is covered. They will also make sure that you’re not forced to return to work before you’re ready. Since your initial consultation is free, and since we don’t charge anything up front, you have nothing to lose.
