Georgia doesn’t require you to work for an employer for a specified period of time in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits. If you work for an employer that has three or more employees, that employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you sustain a work-related injury, you’re eligible to receive benefits.
Even if you’ve been the victim of a workplace injury, you may not feel confident that you have a claim. If you’re not ready to file a claim, but would like more information about your options and Compensable Work Injuries in Duluth, GA, we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition in Duluth, GA if you’d like to have your case assessed by experts.
What Are Compensable Injuries?
The term “compensable” injury describes any work-related injury that qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits. In order for an injury to qualify for benefits, the injured party must be an employee, the injury must be work related, and the employee must be impaired because of the injury.
There are many different types of injuries that are eligible for Georgia workers’ comp, including:
- Strains and sprains
- Fractures
- Contusions
- Cuts
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Occupational illnesses
The definition of the term injury under the Workers’ Compensation Act is fairly broad. The term injury does not just include workplace accidents. It can also include infections, heart attacks, and other health conditions that were caused by your work duties. However, Georgia does not allow workers to collect benefits for mental health injuries.
An injury may not come under Compensable Work Injuries in Duluth if the employee engaged in certain types of behavior that contributed to the injury, such as drug or alcohol use or horseplay. While injuries that occur outside of the workplace may be covered in some circumstances, injuries that occur while commuting in a private vehicle are not covered.
However, you don’t necessarily need to be working when you are injured in order for your injury to be covered. If you are injured while picking up lunch for your co-workers, attending an employer-sponsored social event, or engaging in other activities related to your work duties, you may still be eligible to receive benefits.
Furthermore, an injury doesn’t have to be new to come under Compensable Work Injuries in Duluth. If you aggravated a pre-existing injury on the job, Georgia law allows you to claim workers’ compensation benefits. It’s important to have the support of an attorney when filing workers’ comp claims, especially if the claim involves a pre-existing injury. Insurance companies will fight to deny these claims in order to minimize expenses.
Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition only takes on cases related to workers’ compensation cases, and we know the laws in Georgia very well. If you’re unsure if your injury comes under Compensable Work Injuries in Duluth, or if you want to make sure that you’re able to receive benefits for a claim that involves a pre-existing condition, just reach out to us for assistance.
What Types Of Compensable Work Injuries in Duluth, GA Can You Claim?
There are four different types of benefits that you can collect through your Georgia workers’ compensation claim. Your employer’s insurance company is responsible for covering the cost of all medical treatment related to your injury. These benefits are referred to as “medical benefits.”
If your injury keeps you from working, or if your earnings are impacted because of your injury, you may be able to collect “indemnity benefits. These benefits are designed to replace a portion of the wages that you have lost. These wages are equivalent to two-thirds of a worker’s average income before the injury, with a maximum weekly payment of $675.
There are two categories of temporary benefits: TTD (Temporary Total Disability) benefits and TPD (Temporary Partial Disability) benefits. TTD benefits will be available to you if you are completely unable to work, while TPD benefits are available to you if you are earning less because of restrictions related to your injury. These benefits can be collected for no longer than 400 weeks.
Once your physician believes that your condition will no longer improve with treatment, you will be diagnosed as having reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). After this, your physician will assign you an impairment rating. You may be eligible to receive additional benefits for a period of time.
Lastly, if your employer’s insurance provider disputes your claim, and if a judge finds that their dispute is unreasonable, you may be able to collect assessed attorney’s fees. These fees will be paid directly to your lawyer and are designed to mitigate legal costs because of your injury.
How Long Do You Have To File For Compensable Work Injuries in Duluth, GA?
Your injury will not come under Compensable Work Injuries in Duluth unless it is reported in a timely manner. You will need to report your injury to your employer within 30 days of the date of your injury or within 30 days of the date that your injury was diagnosed by the doctor. It’s best not to wait any longer than necessary when reporting an injury. Acting quickly will allow you to build a stronger claim.
While your injury must be reported quickly, you will have more time to file a workers’ compensation claim. Your claim must be filed within one year of your injury date. That limit could be extended if your employer has provided medical treatment for your injury. The deadline could also be increased if you were able to continue working after your injury.
In many cases, it can be difficult to determine if a claim is within Georgia’s statute of limitations. That makes it all the more important for you to connect with a lawyer if you’ve been injured in the workplace. The team at Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition can take a look at your case and let you know if it’s too late to file a claim.
Many workers wrongly assume that they don’t qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. If you’ve been injured while carrying out work duties, don’t rely on guesswork. Instead, call Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition at 470-518-5026 to find out more about Compensable Work Injuries in Duluth, GA. If you’re entitled to benefits, we’ll make sure you receive them.
