Have you recently suffered a work-related injury in Duluth, Georgia? Are you wondering whether or not you will be compensated for your injuries? If you are working with the best Duluth workers’ compensation lawyers, you will be compensated. Thanks to the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition in Duluth, GA, you are in the best place to receive compensation. Contact us today and talk to the best lawyers who can guarantee your compensation.
What Is Maximum Medical Improvement?
Under workers’ compensation policy in Georgia, Duluth maximum medical improvement (MMI) refers to the situation where you have recovered to the best of your ability such that further medical treatment will not improve your condition. Note that, Duluth Maximum Medical Improvement doesn’t necessarily mean that you have fully recovered. In some cases, you are likely going to experience some degree of impairment, disability or pain due to your work-related injury.
However, your treating physician has established that you can’t improve further than that. Under MMI, you will continue receiving treatment to maintain a certain level of functionality or to manage pain.
Who Determines If You Have Achieved Duluth Maximum Medical Improvement?
Only the authorized treating physician can determine whether or not you have reached Duluth Maximum Medical Improvement. Remember, MMI means that you have improved to a level where no further medical treatment will improve your condition. Your employer can’t make a determination of MMI. If your employer tries to do this, their determination will not have a legal effect on your claim.
On the other hand, physical therapists or nurses can’t determine legally if you have reached MMI. Once your authorized treating physician has made a determination of MMI, they will assign a disability rating. Note that, you can’t make Duluth Maximum Medical Improvement determination by yourself. Yes, you might be feeling better or as good as you will get but this will not be considered as MMI legally.
Just because you might be feeling better, you might still be in a precarious condition that might deteriorate quickly resulting in further injury. The authorized treating physician can try out different treatments that might improve your condition. Therefore, MMI determination should only be left to the authorized treating physician in Duluth, GA.
Does Medical Treatment Continue After Duluth Maximum Medical Improvement Diagnosis?
After an MMI diagnosis, your physician will assign a disability rating. If you are healthy enough, the doctor will release you to handle unrestricted work and in some cases, your employer’s insurer will suspend your income benefits. However, in most cases, medical treatment will continue after an MMI diagnosis to allow you to function properly or to manage pain.
Note that, after an MMI diagnosis, your treating physician can’t try out any alternative therapies that might approve your condition. At this point, they should have tried out everything possible to make sure that you are healed to the best of their ability and knowledge. Any further treatment will not improve your condition.
What Happens If You Can’t Return To Work And Operate At The Same Level After Your Duluth Maximum Medical Improvement Diagnosis?
After your doctor has assigned you a disability rating after an MMI diagnosis, they will determine whether or not you can go back to work at the same level or lower. Also, the disability rating will determine whether or not you can’t go back to work and if there are any restrictions available to make sure that you don’t get worse.
Here, you will receive compensation benefits depending on your level of disability these include:
- Temporary Total Disability Benefits – They will be issued if you have been out of work for 7 days or more. TTD benefits amount to two-thirds of your weekly wages before the injury. They have a minimum payment of $50 and a maximum payment of $675 if you were injured after July 2019. TTD benefits are issued for a maximum of 400 weeks from the date of the injury unless you have suffered catastrophic injuries.
- Temporary Partial Disability Benefits – You will receive these benefits to compensate your income if you have to go back to work but earn less than you did before the injury. They will two-thirds of the difference between your previous weekly wages and your current wages. The maximum amount you can receive for TPD benefits is $450 per week and will be issued for a maximum of 350 weeks.
- Permanent Partial Disability – PPD benefits are calculated at the same rate as the TTD benefits but are only issued for a limited time. They are calculated depending on your disability rating and the weekly maximum depending on the part of your body that has been affected.
- Permanent Total Disability Benefits – PTD benefits are calculated at the same rate as TTD benefits but are issued for the rest of your life. They are issued if you have lost the use of both of your feet, arms, legs or eyes.
Call Us Today To Understand Your Duluth Maximum Medical Improvement
In most workers’ compensation claims, the cases progress fast without the involvement of an attorney. However, it’s a good idea to hire a lawyer, especially if your employer and your employer’s insurer try to falsely deny your compensation benefits. Call WCL today to get in touch with the best Duluth, Georgia MMI experts. We have been around for a very long time during which we have gathered the relevant knowledge on handling workers’ compensation cases in Georgia.
If your employer’s insurance company suggests a settlement hearing, we will negotiate with them to make sure that you receive the best possible compensation. On the other hand, if your case ends up in trial, we have litigation experience. We will present your case to the judge and jury to make sure that your compensation benefits are not denied. If you must appeal your case, we are here to help.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim in Duluth, GA doesn’t need to be so overwhelming. When working with the best attorneys at WCL, you can rest and recuperate as you let us work on the legal side of things. Call us today so we can walk you through the process and how to get the compensation you deserve after suffering a work-related injury.
