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.

Cómo reportar una lesión laboral en Morrow | Evaluación gratuita de su caso

El éxito de cualquier empresa se traduce en el éxito de una economía; por lo tanto, todo depende del esfuerzo de un equipo de trabajo dedicado. Es por eso que proteger los derechos e intereses de los empleados es vital. La cobertura de Compensación de Trabajadores está diseñada para salvaguardar los derechos de un empleado, protegiéndolo contra las pérdidas atribuidas a un accidente laboral. Es un requisito exigido por el gobierno para todas las empresas con más de tres trabajadores.

También significa que un empleado tiene derecho a reportar una lesión laboral en busca de compensación. Comuníquese con nosotros para obtener ayuda al reportar una lesión laboral en Morrow. Nuestros abogados de compensación de trabajadores de Morrow altamente capacitados y dedicados están aquí para ayudarlo con su reclamo de compensación.

En la Coalición de Abogados de Compensación de Trabajadores, hemos manejado numerosos casos y ayudado a muchos trabajadores a obtener una compensación justa por pérdidas, dolor y sufrimiento ocasionados por una enfermedad o lesión ocupacional. Llámenos hoy al 470-518-5026, programe una revisión de caso gratuitay obtenga más información sobre cómo podemos ayudarlo.

¿Cuánto tiempo tengo para reportar una lesión laboral en Morrow, GA?

De acuerdo con la ley del estado de Georgia, un trabajador debe notificar al empleador sobre cualquier lesión laboral o enfermedades ocupacionales. La ley otorga a los empleados treinta días a partir de la fecha del incidente para emitir a las autoridades respectivas (líder de equipo, gerente, supervisor o dueño del negocio) un aviso informándoles sobre el accidente.

En algunas situaciones, un trabajador puede descubrir la enfermedad o lesión varios días después del accidente. Si su caso es similar, la ley estipula que debe notificar a sus superiores sobre lo sucedido dentro de los treinta días posteriores al momento en que se enteró de la condición y buscó tratamiento.

Sin embargo, hemos descubierto que es mejor reportar el asunto inmediatamente después de que ocurra. Esto mejorará sus posibilidades de obtener una compensación justa, ya que es más fácil recolectar pruebas confiables que respalden su reclamo.

¿A quién tengo que reportar una lesión en el lugar de trabajo?

Se espera legalmente que un empleador proporcione la oportunidad para que un empleado enfermo o lesionado busque tratamiento. Sin embargo, puede ser un momento confuso y desafiante para la mayoría de los trabajadores, especialmente cuando los costos médicos son altos y la lesión o enfermedad no mejora con el tratamiento. Afortunadamente, sabemos que usted podría ser elegible para presentar un reclamo de compensación de trabajadores por una lesión o enfermedad ocupacional.

Pero quisiéramos señalar que debe cumplir con diferentes requisitos legales al presentar el reclamo. De acuerdo con las leyes de compensación de trabajadores en Georgia, el proceso de reclamo comenzará con un informe de incidente, redactado y presentado a las autoridades correspondientes (los encargados en el trabajo) y a la compañía aseguradora de la empresa.

¿Cuáles son las responsabilidades del empleador después de una lesión laboral?

Después de que un empleado inicia un proceso de reclamo de compensación de trabajadores, la ley exige que el empleador cumpla con varias cosas. Algunas de ellas deben tomar efecto inmediatamente después de que el trabajador reporta la lesión o enfermedad laboral. De acuerdo con las leyes de Compensación de Trabajadores de Georgia, el empleador está obligado a cumplir con lo siguiente:

Presentar un informe detallado del accidente a la Junta Estatal de Compensación de Trabajadores (SBWC). El informe debe definir la naturaleza del accidente, el tipo y la gravedad de la lesión o enfermedad que sufrió el empleado, y si amerita un tiempo libre para buscar tratamiento y recuperarse.
Apoyar al miembro del personal lesionado, asegurándose de que continúe recibiendo sus respectivos beneficios de seguro médico, pensión, seguro de vida y contribuciones de empleo.
Garantizar que el empleado conserve el empleo y vuelva a trabajar en el mismo puesto después de recuperarse u otro puesto adecuado considerando las restricciones de desempeño ocasionadas por el accidente laboral.

¿Cuáles son las responsabilidades del empleado después de una lesión laboral?

El proceso de reclamo de compensación laboral también exige que el demandante (el empleado) cumpla con ciertas responsabilidades, las cuales son:

Reportar el incidente a su empleador

Debe ser un aviso detallado presentado dentro de los treinta días posteriores al accidente o después de descubrir que sufrió una lesión o contrajo una enfermedad días después del accidente.

Buscar tratamiento médico

El empleado debe explicar lo sucedido y la naturaleza/extensión de la lesión o enfermedad al médico. El médico tratante debe redactar un informe, del cual el trabajador puede solicitar una copia que respalde su reclamo de compensación.

Llenar el formulario WC 14

Llenar un formulario WC 14, asegurándose de que toda la información contenida sea precisa antes de enviarlo a la SBWC.

Cumplir con las regulaciones

Cumplir con las regulaciones de Compensación de Trabajadores de Georgia, las cuales establecen que hacer cualquier declaración falsa o engañosa se considerará un delito y acarreará consecuencias legales que no se limitan a la revocación del caso de reclamo de compensación.

Solemos aconsejar a las personas que acuden a nosotros en busca de ayuda con su caso de compensación laboral que eviten hacer cualquier cosa que ponga en peligro sus posibilidades de obtener una indemnización justa. Es mejor dar declaraciones honestas sobre lo sucedido y permitir que su abogado supervise el asunto y lo guíe en los pasos para proteger sus derechos e intereses.

Llámenos hoy mismo al reportar una lesión laboral en Morrow, GA

Como trabajador, la ley establece que tiene derecho a la compensación laboral si forma parte de un personal de tres o más personas en una empresa. Reportar una lesión laboral en Morrow no debería ser un trámite complicado si conoce sus derechos. Sin embargo, enfrentarse a su empleador y a la compañía de seguros puede resultar intimidante.

En laCoalición de Abogados de Compensación de Trabajadores, hemos manejado numerosos casos y ayudado a los empleados a obtener acuerdos justos por lesiones/enfermedades ocupacionales y pérdidas posteriores. Por lo tanto, confiamos en que somos su mejor opción si desea proteger y asegurar sus derechos e intereses.

Nuestro experimentado y dedicado abogado de compensación laboral en Morrow, GA, revisará su caso y le ofrecerá la mejor asesoría y representación legal. Por lo tanto, llámenos hoy al 470-518-5026 o complete nuestro formulario de contacto para una consulta gratuita y obtenga más información sobre cómo podemos ayudarlo.

Informar Una Lesión Laboral en Morrow