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.

Máxima Mejoría Médica en Norcross

Cuando se ha lesionado en el trabajo, se va a concentrar únicamente en mejorarse. Esta será su máxima prioridad. Lamentablemente, hay situaciones en las que mejorarse no va a ser tan sencillo como quisiera. Esto incluye no volver a tener el 100% de salud jamás.

Cuando esto sucede, va a terminar lidiando con un diagnóstico de máxima mejoría médica en Norcross, Georgia. En Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, podemos ayudarle a comprender los aspectos legales de este proceso. Llame a nuestros abogados de indemnización laboral de Norcross al 470-518-5026 para programar una evaluación gratuita de su caso.

¿Qué es la Máxima Mejoría Médica (MMI)?

La mejoría médica máxima es un diagnóstico que se da a los pacientes cuando ya no se puede hacer nada más para mejorar la afección subyacente.

A menudo se trata de un diagnóstico que se da cuando una persona se enfrenta a una incapacidad permanente. La incapacidad no va a desaparecer independientemente del tratamiento que se esté utilizando.

En una situación como esta, querrá agotar todas las opciones para asegurarse de que no se puedan realizar mejoras. Este diagnóstico lo realiza un profesional médico calificado en Georgia.

Para obtener más información sobre lo que conlleva este proceso y por qué es importante, llame a Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition al 470-518-5026.

¿Quién determina cuándo alcanza la máxima mejoría médica?

La máxima mejoría médica es un diagnóstico oficial que recibirá de un profesional médico. Debido a esto, tendrá que asegurarse de que lo realice un profesional certificado reconocido en el estado de Georgia.

Con la ayuda de Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, es posible atravesar todos los procesos legales involucrados en un reclamo. Sin embargo, solo tendrá la oportunidad de presentar un reclamo por incapacidad permanente con un diagnóstico como este en mano.

Es por eso que nos tomamos el tiempo para ayudar a nuestros clientes a atravesar el proceso con sus profesionales médicos. Se recomienda encarecidamente hacer esto tan pronto como se realice el diagnóstico.

Estamos aquí para ayudarle a presentar su reclamo de indemnización laboral en Georgia. Para obtener más información sobre lo que Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition puede hacer por usted y por qué somos un buen bufete de abogados, llámenos al 470-518-5026.

¿Continúa el tratamiento médico después de un diagnóstico de MMI?

Los tratamientos médicos son difíciles de entender en el mejor de los casos. Va a tener días que sean fáciles y días que no.

Esto puede incluir llegar al punto en que se emita un diagnóstico de máxima mejoría médica. Cuando se encuentra en una posición como esta, se preguntará si es posible o no seguir trabajando en los tratamientos.

Sí, es posible seguir recibiendo tratamiento incluso si ha recibido este tipo de diagnóstico. En general, tendrá que demostrar que la causa subyacente no va a mejorar. Esto puede incluir una incapacidad permanente que se haya provocado debido al incidente.

Cuando esto se demuestra, puede continuar trabajando en los síntomas que acompañan a la incapacidad o lesión.

¿Qué pasa si no puede volver a trabajar y ofrecer resultados al mismo nivel?

Volver al trabajo es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo cuando está lidiando con una lesión existente. Es por eso que la mayoría de los empleados luchan por volver a sus niveles deseados.

Para aquellos que se encuentran en este tipo de situación, resulta importante saber qué sucede si los resultados no están a la altura de lo que era posible antes. ¿Tendrá la opción de recibir el mismo pago? ¿Tendrá una forma de obtener beneficios?

Sí, dado que tiene el diagnóstico de máxima mejoría médica en mano, tendrá la oportunidad de avanzar con un reclamo de indemnización laboral. Este reclamo puede ser una forma de asegurarse de recibir suficiente dinero para mantenerse financieramente saludable.

Para obtener más información sobre lo que podemos hacer durante este proceso, lo mejor es comunicarse con nosotros al 470-518-5026. En Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition, nuestro objetivo es ayudar a nuestros clientes a fortalecerse financieramente.

¿A quién puede ayudar un abogado si recibo un diagnóstico de MMI en Georgia?

Cuando esté luchando por manejar una situación que involucra una lesión laboral, querrá asegurarse de que el proceso de recuperación sea lo más fluido posible.

Lamentablemente, este podría no ser el caso para la persona promedio. Nuestros clientes provienen de todos los ámbitos de la vida y es importante saber cuáles son sus derechos después de un diagnóstico de máxima mejoría médica en Norcross.

Querrá recibir asesoramiento legal inmediato sobre qué hacer y cómo hacerlo correctamente. Es por eso que comunicarse con un equipo legal como Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition es imprescindible.

We are more than happy to assist with this part of the process and illustrate what should happen when it comes to your particular case.

Llámenos al 470-518-5026 para obtener más información.

Llámenos para comprender la máxima mejoría médica en Norcross, GA

Cuando se toma el tiempo para seguir un plan de tratamiento detallado, a menudo se asume que va a mejorar. Este no es siempre el caso, especialmente para quienes enfrentan una incapacidad.

En la Coalición de Abogados de Indemnización Laboral, sabemos que esta es una situación difícil. Conllevará un proceso de recuperación arduo y requerirá determinación para superarlo. Si ha recibido un diagnóstico de máxima mejoría médica, es momento de ver qué se puede hacer para presentar una reclamación de indemnización por accidentes laborales en Norcross.

Nuestro bufete de abogados se tomará el tiempo para analizar lo que debe suceder con su reclamación y cómo presentarla de inmediato. Nuestra experiencia y pasión por ayudar a los clientes garantizarán que todo se desarrolle sin problemas.

Si desea asistencia de inmediato, tómese el tiempo para llamarnos al 470-518-5026.

Compensación de Trabajadores Máxima Mejora Médica en Norcross