Why do you need an attorney?

There are a few reasons why those injured in a Georgia workplace accident should consider hiring a workers’ compensation attorney to represent them. First, there are an array of deadlines that must be carefully paid attention to. Missing even one may mean that your claim is barred from court and you lose your ability to collect money for your serious injury. Another reason why an attorney can be of use is that some employers look for ways to deprive workers of the full range of benefits they are entitled to. You may think your employer has done all they can to secure you the compensation you need, but only an experienced workers’ comp lawyer will know whether you are missing out on benefits that you would otherwise be entitled to.

When does an employer have to carry workers' compensation insurance?

Georgia law says that any company that regularly employs three or more people are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage. This count includes part-time employees.

What benefits are injured workers entitled to receive?

The Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act contains all the necessary rules and regulations pertaining to those injured in a workplace accident. The law says that anyone who has been injured in a workplace accident and who is unable to work is entitled to receive certain benefits. These benefits include payment of two/thirds of your weekly income (not to exceed $550 per week) for up to 400 weeks. In some especially serious cases, those who have suffered truly catastrophic harm may be entitled to receive income benefits for the rest of their life. Additionally, employers are obligated to pay any and all reasonable medical expenses that result from your workplace injury.

What if you have a preexisting injury?

Some people may worry that a preexisting injury will prevent them from filing a successful workers’ comp claim. For instance, someone who had prior back pain may worry that they will be prevented from collecting in a workers’ comp case because the employer may simply blame any medical problems on the prior injury. The good news is that in Georgia, workers are entitled to workers’ comp benefits even if an injury aggravates or exacerbates a preexisting condition. The reality is that many people have preexisting conditions and to exclude everyone who has ever been injured in their life would mean that almost no workers would have protection under the law.

In most cases involving an injury, it matters a great deal who was at fault. For example, in a personal injury case, the very first thing a plaintiff would have to do is demonstrate that the defendant was in some way responsible for the harm suffered by the plaintiff. If the plaintiff were later found to be responsible for some of the harm suffered, he or she could see their claim disappear or the damages reduced by the percentage of their fault. That is not how it workers under the Georgia workers’ compensation system which operates on a no-fault basis.

What does no-fault mean?

In Georgia, the workers’ compensation system operates on a no-fault basis, meaning that the employee is not required to establish fault on the part of the employer or another coworker to recover benefits. This makes it dramatically easier to bring a successful workers’ comp claim because injured workers do not have to spend time and energy fighting over who was to blame for a workplace accident.

Does it matter if the injury is your fault?

The short answer to this question is, no, it doesn’t usually matter whether you as the employee caused the workplace accident. For example, if you slipped and fell on wet floor after a machine you were working on leaked water, the fact that you were somewhat responsible for causing your injury would not prevent you from receiving benefits under the Georgia workers’ compensation system. The workers’ comp system is designed to protect all workers, even those responsible for causing their own injuries.

Are there any exceptions?

Though the Georgia workers’ comp system operates on a no-fault basis, there are a few exceptions. The Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act clearly states that “No compensation shall be allowed for an injury or death due to intoxication by alcohol or being under the influence of marijuana or a controlled substance.” This means that if a worker is drunk or high at the time of the injury, his or her claim for workers’ comp benefits may be denied. That being said, having drugs or alcohol in your system at the time of an accident is not a guaranteed bar to recovery. If an employee can prove that the accident or injury would have occurred regardless of the intoxication, meaning the intoxication was not the cause of the accident, the claim may be allowed to move forward.

What should you do after an injury?

If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident, the very first thing you should do is seek medical care. Injuries, left untreated, can be made worse, increasing your recovery time and potentially leading to complications. Your health is the most important thing and serious injuries need to be addressed as soon as possible.

What happens after receiving medical care?

If your injuries were not severe and you are able to wait, or you already received medical care, the next thing you need to do is report the incident to a supervisor. It’s unfortunate that those injured in a workplace accident aren’t able to just focus on their recovery, but the law says that speedy reporting is essential to a successful workers’ comp claim. If you’ve been injured, you need to report the incident to your employer as soon as you are safely able to do so. This may mean your boss, your foreman, a supervisor; anyone in a position of authority that can initiate the process.

What happens if you wait to report the injury?

Some people may be unaware of the urgency with which injuries need to be reported. In these cases, waiting can prove very costly. Those who have been injured and wait longer than 30 days to report the injury to their employer may actually lose the ability to collect important benefits, including payments for medical care and lost wages.

How long do you have to file a workers’ compensation claim?

In Georgia, the law says that injured workers have one year from the date of their accident to file a notice of claim. In some cases where a worker is able to continue working following the injury this deadline can be extended, but this should always be discussed first with an experienced Georgia workers’ comp attorney who can advise you with more specific detail about the deadlines applicable to your case.

How much is your workers’ compensation claim worth?

You may know someone who was injured on the job and have an idea of how the process works. Many people hope that if someone they know received a sizable payment for a workers’ comp claim that means they are entitled to a similar payment. The reality is that workers’ comp claims vary greatly depending on the particular facts of the case. Every claim is unique and must be evaluated on its own facts. Only after an experienced lawyer has reviewed your case file and familiarized him or herself with the circumstances would they be able to provide an estimate of how much you stand to collect.

What about independent contractors?

Under Georgia law, true independent contractors are not considered employees and are thus not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The key word in the last sentence is “true” independent contractors. This means that just because an employer labels a worker an independent contractor doesn’t necessarily make it so. If the employer controls the time, manner and means of employment for the worker, then that person will be deemed an employee rather than an independent contractor and will have the right to claim workers’ compensation benefits in the event of a workplace injury.

Can you file a personal injury lawsuit as well?

The downside to the easy no-fault workers’ comp system in Georgia is that workers are unable to sue the employer even if the employer is at fault. The workers’ comp system is what’s known as an exclusive remedy for employees against their employers and co-workers. That means if the employer was negligent, the employee will not be able to sue for personal injury. The same goes with coworkers, they too cannot be sued in the event of a workplace accident. That being said, workers are allowed to make claims against third parties who are not coworkers or employers. That means if someone from another company came in and their actions resulted in your injury, you could file a third-party claim for damages in addition to your workers’ compensation claim.

Lesiones laborales compensables en Union City

Si se ha lesionado mientras realizaba su trabajo, es posible que tenga derecho a presentar una reclamación por lesiones laborales indemnizables en Union City, GA. El estado de Georgia exige que cualquier empresa que emplee a tres o más trabajadores a tiempo completo o parcial cuente con un seguro de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo. Las empresas deben publicar esta información en un lugar visible dentro de una zona común del centro laboral. Por lo general, se encuentra cerca de las salas de descanso, los baños o incluso junto al área donde los empleados registran su entrada y salida.

También se incluye con esta información una lista de al menos seis médicos autorizados para realizar exámenes de compensación para trabajadores y tratamientos médicos. Los empleados que resulten lesionados tendrán hasta 30 días para notificar a su empleador que se lesionaron mientras estaban en el trabajo. El empleado lesionado debe buscar atención médica de uno de los médicos de compensación para trabajadores autorizados que figuran en el boletín de su lugar de empleo.

Guarde copias de la notificación entregada al empleador (algunos empleadores requerirán que la notificación se entregue en un formulario específico), así como la información y las instrucciones que el médico le dé después de su tratamiento. Es muy importante seguir las instrucciones del médico si planea presentar un reclamo de compensación para trabajadores.

Después de haber consultado al médico, querrá llamar a la Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition al 470-518-5026 y solicitar una consulta gratuita sobre su reclamación de indemnización laboral. Programaremos una cita para revisar su caso. Traiga las copias que conservó de la notificación a su empleador, así como la documentación que le entregó el médico tras recibir el tratamiento. Nuestros abogados de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo en Union City pueden encargarse de su reclamación.

¿Qué son las lesiones laborales compensables en Union City, Georgia?

Lesiones compensables es el término que se da a las lesiones que pueden ser elegibles para reclamos de compensación para trabajadores mientras se está en el trabajo. Es importante tener en cuenta que las lesiones que ocurren mientras está en el descanso para almorzar o en un descanso regular y no está involucrado en una actividad laboral, no están cubiertas por la compensación para trabajadores.

Las lesiones deben ocurrir durante el transcurso normal de la actividad laboral mientras está en el trabajo. Muchos empleados no se dan cuenta de que incluso un simple trabajo de escritorio puede causar lesiones. El hecho de que un trabajo no parezca peligroso no significa que no lo sea. Si la lesión ocurrió mientras estaba en el trabajo, puede ser elegible para la compensación para trabajadores.

Aquí hay una lista de los tipos de lesiones más comunes en el trabajo y sus causas:

Accidentes en sitios de construcción: Cualquier lesión que ocurra mientras se trabaja en un sitio de construcción.
Relacionados con máquinas: Lesiones que pueden ocurrir debido a maquinaria defectuosa o mal funcionamiento de la máquina, etc. Accidentes o fallas de automóviles o equipos (montacargas, etc.) que resulten en lesiones.
Resbalones y caídas: Pisos mojados, etc.
Objetos que caen: Objetos que pueden caer de estantes u otros lugares.
Quemaduras térmicas o químicas (incluida la inhalación): Quemaduras causadas por el uso de calor o productos químicos, incluida la inhalación de productos químicos.
Accidentes industriales: Lesiones que ocurren en cualquier profesión.
Fracturas: Fracturas causadas mientras se está en el trabajo.
Lesiones de espalda: Lesiones de espalda por levantar objetos pesados o una caída, etc.
Lesiones de cuello: Lesiones de cuello que ocurren mientras se está en el trabajo.
Lesiones al viajar por negocios: Esto se aplica a los viajes de negocios, sin incluir el trayecto de ida y vuelta al trabajo.
Lesiones por movimientos repetitivos: Túnel carpiano, etc.
Lesiones articulares/Dolor articular Pueden ser causadas por movimientos repetitivos u otras condiciones mientras se está en el trabajo.
Pérdida de audición: Maquinaria ruidosa y no usar protección auditiva, etc.
Amputación: Cualquier pérdida de una parte del cuerpo mientras se está en el trabajo.
Sobreesfuerzo: Uso excesivo de una parte del cuerpo o de las articulaciones.

¿Qué tipos de compensación puede reclamar?

La ley de Georgia establece que los empleados pueden ser elegibles para recibir compensación para trabajadores si se lesionaron durante el transcurso del trabajo. Dependiendo de las lesiones, los empleados pueden recibir hasta dos tercios de su salario semanal. Los empleados también pueden recibir compensación por facturas médicas, reembolso por cualquier medicamento que se requiera para el tratamiento de sus lesiones, terapia física, reentrenamiento laboral si es necesario, y más, dependiendo de los detalles de sus lesiones.

Dependiendo de la evaluación del médico, los empleados pueden recibir una incapacidad permanente o temporal, o incluso una incapacidad parcial. El médico evaluará la condición y le entregará la documentación requerida para presentar su reclamación ante los tribunales.

¿Cuánto tiempo tiene para solicitar la compensación de trabajadores en Georgia?

De acuerdo con la ley en Georgia, un empleado que se lesiona en el trabajo tiene exactamente un año a partir del día en que se lesiona para presentar su reclamación de compensación para trabajadores. Si un empleado no presenta su reclamación de compensación para trabajadores dentro del límite de tiempo de un año, lo más probable es que se le niegue la reclamación de compensación para trabajadores.

Anyone who suffers compensable work injures in Union City, GA should call the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition at 470-518-5026 and ask for a free consultation for filing their workers’ compensation claim.

Llame hoy mismo a nuestros abogados de compensación para trabajadores de Union City

Si se ha lesionado mientras estaba en el trabajo, puede ser elegible para recibir beneficios de compensación para trabajadores. Notifique a su empleador sobre su lesión según el formulario requerido o el proceso de notificación. Busque atención médica a través de un médico aprobado por la compensación para trabajadores.

Guarde copias de toda la documentación, incluida la notificación enviada a su empleador. Póngase en contacto con la Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition en Union City, GA al 470-518-5026 y programe su consulta gratuita para presentar su reclamación de indemnización laboral. Revisaremos la documentación que traiga a su cita y le ayudaremos a presentar su solicitud de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo.

Usted merece una indemnización por sus lesiones. Recuerde que cuanto antes llame, antes podrá empezar a trabajar en la recuperación de sus lesiones. No está solo, llámenos al 470-518-5026 y permita que la Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition en Union City, GA le ayude a presentar su reclamación de indemnización laboral hoy mismo, antes de que venza el plazo legal para hacerlo. Dedique su tiempo a recuperarse y no a preocuparse por cómo va a pagar sus gastos.

Lesiones Laborales Indemnizables en Union City

¿Qué son las lesiones laborales compensables en Union City, Georgia?

¿Qué tipos de compensación puede reclamar?

¿Cuánto tiempo tiene para solicitar la compensación de trabajadores en Georgia?

Llame hoy mismo a nuestros abogados de compensación para trabajadores de Union City

Obtenga su revisión de caso GRATIS

Obtenga su revisión de caso GRATIS