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.

Disputas de indemnización laboral en Newnan | Revisión gratuita de casos

Cuando sufre una lesión en el trabajo, es elegible para reclamar una indemnización laboral en Newnan por sus lesiones a través del seguro de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo. Pero no tendrá derecho automáticamente a recibir los beneficios del reclamo de indemnización laboral tan pronto como se lesione en el trabajo. El empleador o su compañía de seguros pueden denegar su reclamo. Debe contratar a un bufete de abogados de buena reputación y con experiencia para gestionar su disputa de indemnización laboral en Newnan.

Newnan tiene su propia cuota de bufetes de abogados, pero no todas estas firmas son iguales. Hacer la tarea adecuadamente es crucial para elegir al abogado de indemnización laboral adecuado que maneje su reclamo y obtenga los máximos beneficios para sus lesiones. Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition es su bufete de abogados de confianza para manejar su reclamo. Tenemos años de experiencia gestionando reclamos de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo en Georgia. Nuestros abogados saben por lo que está pasando como resultado de su accidente y sus lesiones posteriores.

Siempre lo trataremos como a una persona y no solo como a un número. Es por eso que debe confiar en nuestros experimentados abogados de indemnización laboral en Newnan para reclamar los máximos beneficios médicos y de incapacidad por sus lesiones laborales. Póngase en contacto con The Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition ahora mismo al 470-518-5026 para programar una consulta gratuita y obtener más información sobre cómo podemos ayudarle.

Causas de las disputas de indemnización laboral en Newnan

Su empleador o su proveedor de seguros pueden denegar o disputar los reclamos de indemnización laboral por muchas razones. Por ejemplo, si no ha seguido el debido proceso de notificación y presentación del reclamo, el empleador o su compañía de seguros pueden denegar su reclamo de indemnización laboral.

Estas son algunas de las razones más comunes por las que su empleador o la compañía de seguros pueden denegar parte o la totalidad de sus beneficios de indemnización laboral:

No informar el accidente a su empleador

Solo tiene 30 días a partir de la fecha del accidente para notificar el incidente a su empleador o a su representante. Independientemente de la gravedad de sus lesiones, debe informarlas al empleador o a su supervisor inmediato lo antes posible para evitar que el reclamo sea rechazado por el empleador o su proveedor de seguros.

Las lesiones no ocurrieron mientras trabajaba

Si el empleador considera y demuestra que sus lesiones ocurrieron fuera del ámbito de sus funciones, puede denegar parte o la totalidad de los beneficios de indemnización laboral. Debe trabajar con un abogado de confianza para presentar su caso correctamente y reclamar los máximos beneficios en el proceso.

Información no adecuada

Si el empleador o su proveedor de seguros consideran que la información que proporcionó sobre el accidente es inadecuada, pueden denegar parte o la totalidad de los beneficios. Debe tomar fotos o grabar en video el accidente y las lesiones visibles para demostrárselo a su empleador. Lleve un registro de todos los detalles para probar su caso.

No someterse a una prueba de detección de drogas

Si se niega a someterse a una prueba de detección de drogas solicitada por el empleador, este puede denegar su reclamo. El seguro de indemnización laboral no paga compensaciones a los empleados que estaban bajo la influencia del alcohol o las drogas cuando ocurrieron las lesiones. El empleador tiene derecho a solicitar que se someta a una prueba de detección de drogas o alcohol para demostrar su elegibilidad para el reclamo.

No recibir atención médica

No someterse a tratamientos médicos inmediatos no solo pondrá en peligro su salud, sino también sus posibilidades de ser compensado por sus lesiones. Si no busca atención médica, su empleador puede alegar que las lesiones ocurrieron en otro lugar y no mientras trabajaba.

Tener una afección o lesión preexistente

Si el accidente ha agravado una afección preexistente, el seguro de indemnización laboral debe compensarlo por las lesiones correspondientes. Sin embargo, debe revelar la lesión o afección preexistente en su formulario de reclamo. De lo contrario, el empleador o su compañía de seguros pueden denegar parte o la totalidad de los beneficios.

¿Qué hacer si su reclamo de indemnización laboral es en Georgia?

Su empleador o el proveedor de seguros deben dar una razón válida para denegar parte o la totalidad de su reclamo. Cuando su reclamo de indemnización laboral sea denegado por cualquier motivo y considere que es injusto, puede presentar una apelación ante la Junta Estatal de Indemnización Laboral de Georgia. Un juez administrativo comenzará la audiencia de su apelación dentro de los 60 días posteriores a la presentación de el formulario WC-14.

Tipos de disputas de indemnización laboral en Newnan, GA

Aunque existen diferentes tipos de reclamos de indemnización laboral en Newnan, Georgia, los dos tipos más comunes de disputas que afectan a la mayoría de los empleados lesionados en Newnan incluyen:

Disputas de reclamos

Las disputas de reclamos deben negociarse con el empleador o su proveedor de seguros. Debe trabajar con un abogado experimentado en indemnización laboral en Newnan para manejar las disputas de reclamos. Algunas de las disputas de reclamos más comunes son las disputas de salario semanal promedio, las disputas sobre el alcance de la lesión, las disputas sobre beneficios de incapacidad, las disputas de compensabilidad, entre otras.

Disputas médicas

Puede haber disputas con respecto a las opiniones médicas pertinentes al tratamiento del trabajador lesionado. Un abogado puede ayudar a resolver la disputa médica y agilizar su reclamo.

El proceso de disputa y apelación de compensación laboral en Georgia

Primero, debe presentar un aviso de reclamación para iniciar el proceso de apelación en Newnan, GA. El formulario WC-14 debe presentarse ante la Junta Estatal de Compensación Laboral de Georgia. Debe enviarse una copia de la apelación a su empleador y a su compañía de seguros. Un juez de derecho administrativo debe atender su apelación dentro de los 60 días siguientes a su presentación.

Póngase en contacto con nuestros abogados de indemnización laboral en Newnan

Cuando se lesiona en el trabajo y atraviesa una disputa de indemnización laboral, necesita trabajar con el mejor abogado de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo en Newnan, GA para manejar su reclamo. Siempre puede confiar en los experimentados abogados de indemnización laboral de Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition para reclamar los máximos beneficios médicos y de incapacidad por sus lesiones laborales.

Póngase en contacto con nuestro equipo ahora mismo al 470-518-5026 para gestionar su disputa de indemnización laboral en Newnan y obtener la cantidad máxima de compensación que justamente merece. Su consulta inicial es gratuita.

Disputas de Compensación para Trabajadores en Newnan