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.

Beneficios de compensación de trabajadores en Rex

Los trabajadores que se lesionan en el trabajo pasan por estrés financiero y angustia mental después de un accidente laboral. A menudo, tienen que hacerse cargo de las facturas del hospital y pasar un tiempo fuera del trabajo para recuperarse. Sin embargo, los trabajadores que sufren lesiones o enfermedades relacionadas con el trabajo tienen derecho a beneficios de compensación laboral en Rex.

Dependiendo de la gravedad y la duración de la lesión o enfermedad relacionada con el trabajo, un trabajador puede recibir varios tipos de beneficios para cubrir sus gastos médicos o la pérdida de salarios. Estos factores también determinarán la cantidad de dinero que se pagará y durante cuánto tiempo se desembolsará. Sin embargo, la ley de Georgia impone límites a los montos de ingresos y a la duración de estos beneficios.

Si se ha lesionado mientras trabajaba y no está seguro de los beneficios a los que tiene derecho, es importante que hable con un abogado. Llame hoy a la oficina de Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition al 470-518-5026 para hablar con uno de nuestros abogados de compensación de trabajadores de Rex sobre sus derechos y beneficios.

Límites de ingresos de compensación de trabajadores en Georgia

Cada estado tiene un conjunto único de leyes de compensación laboral. En Georgia, la Ley de Compensación de Trabajadores impone límites de ingresos a los diversos beneficios disponibles para los trabajadores lesionados. Por ejemplo, si es elegible para beneficios por incapacidad total temporal (TTD), no puede recibir más de $675 por semana. Es más, los beneficios por incapacidad temporal no pueden desembolsarse durante más de 400 semanas desde la fecha de la lesión, a menos que su lesión se considere catastrófica.

También existe un límite para los beneficios por incapacidad parcial temporal: $450 por semana, y estos beneficios están disponibles durante un máximo de 350 semanas a partir de la fecha de la lesión. Para los beneficios médicos, existe un límite de 400 semanas, a menos que su lesión se considere catastrófica según la ley de Georgia.

Otros beneficios, como los beneficios por fallecimiento, también tienen límites; las parejas sobrevivientes no pueden recibir más de $270,000 en beneficios por fallecimiento si no hay otros dependientes. Los sobrevivientes también pueden recibir beneficios para cubrir los gastos de funeral, que no pueden superar los $7,500.

Tipos de beneficios de compensación de trabajadores en Rex

Infografía de beneficios de compensación de trabajadores en Rex

Además de los beneficios médicos, el otro tipo común de beneficios son los beneficios de ingresos. Estos se otorgan según la gravedad de su lesión y generalmente se clasifican como beneficios por incapacidad temporal y beneficios por incapacidad permanente. Estos beneficios se explican a continuación.

Temporary Total Disability Benefits in Georgia Workers’ Comp (TTD)

You may be entitled to temporary total disability benefits if your injury prevents you from working for at least 7 days. As such, these benefits will not be awarded until you’ve been off work for that amount of time. However, payment for the first 7 days can be made if you take 21 straight days off work due to your injury.

Los beneficios por incapacidad total temporal continuarán hasta que alcance lo que se conoce como mejoría médica máxima (MMI). Esto generalmente significa que su condición ha mejorado tanto como su médico espera que lo haga con el tratamiento.

Beneficios por incapacidad parcial temporal en la compensación laboral de Georgia (TPD)

Estos beneficios se otorgan si está lesionado pero puede regresar al trabajo con una capacidad limitada. Esto significaría que gana menos que sus salarios anteriores a la lesión. En la mayoría de los casos, su médico tratante le aprobará un trabajo de servicio liviano antes de que alcance la mejoría médica máxima si establece que aún puede trabajar incluso después de su lesión. Si reanuda el trabajo con un salario más bajo o diferencial (por lo general, menos de su salario anterior a la lesión), recibirá beneficios por incapacidad parcial temporal.

Beneficios por incapacidad parcial permanente en la compensación laboral de Georgia (PPD)

En algunos casos, sufre deficiencias físicas (o pérdida de función) que, aunque permanentes, no limitan totalmente su capacidad para trabajar. Si su lesión laboral da como resultado dicho caso, es posible que esté en condiciones de recibir beneficios por incapacidad parcial permanente.

Beneficios por incapacidad total permanente en la compensación laboral de Georgia (PTD)

Algunas lesiones graves como parálisis, pérdida de extremidades o ceguera en ambos ojos se consideran incapacidades totales permanentes. Tales lesiones limitan por completo la capacidad de una persona para reanudar el trabajo ahora y obtener cualquier tipo de empleo remunerado en el futuro. En tales casos, un trabajador puede recibir beneficios por incapacidad total permanente.

¿Cómo se calculan los beneficios de compensación de trabajadores en Rex?

Las leyes de compensación laboral varían de un estado a otro, y la cantidad que se otorgará también será diferente en cada estado. Es más, el monto y la duración de los beneficios cambian periódicamente y es importante consultar con su abogado o consultar el sitio web de Junta Estatal de Compensación de Trabajadores de Georgia para obtener información actualizada.

Si está programado para recibir beneficios por incapacidad total temporal (TTD), estos se calcularán a razón de dos tercios de su salario semanal promedio anterior a la lesión, hasta el máximo del estado. Si ganaba $600 antes de su lesión, sus beneficios de TTD ascenderán a $400.

Los trabajadores que pueden regresar al trabajo antes de alcanzar la MMI por lo general son elegibles para beneficios por incapacidad parcial temporal (TPD). Estos beneficios se calculan a razón de dos tercios de la diferencia entre el salario semanal promedio anterior y posterior a la lesión. Por ejemplo, si sus ingresos anteriores eran de $1,600 por semana pero ahora gana $700, sus beneficios de TPD serán dos tercios de la diferencia ($900), lo que asciende a $600.

El cálculo de la incapacidad permanente dependerá de casos individuales. Una vez que haya alcanzado la MMI, su médico lo evaluará para establecer si tiene una incapacidad permanente y, de ser así, la extensión. Dicha incapacidad se expresa como un porcentaje, que se utiliza en el cálculo de los beneficios por incapacidad permanente.

Los beneficios por incapacidad parcial permanente se pagan al mismo ritmo que los beneficios por incapacidad total temporal, pero solo por un tiempo limitado. Normalmente, la duración de estos beneficios vendrá determinada por el porcentaje de incapacidad. En el caso de una incapacidad total permanente, un trabajador podría recibir una suma global o continuar recibiendo beneficios con la tarifa de incapacidad total temporal de por vida.

¿Tienen impuestos los beneficios de compensación de trabajadores en Georgia?

Según los códigos del IRS y la ley de Georgia, los beneficios de compensación laboral no se consideran ingresos y, por lo tanto, no están sujetos a impuestos.

Póngase en contacto con nuestros abogados de compensación de trabajadores de Rex

Según la duración y la gravedad de su lesión, puede recibir beneficios por incapacidad temporal o permanente. Si ha sufrido una lesión laboral y no está seguro de los beneficios para los que es elegible, es importante que hable con un abogado.

Nuestros abogados de compensación de trabajadores de Rex en Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition se especializan en la ley de Georgia y pueden ayudarlo a determinar los beneficios a los que tiene derecho. Llámenos hoy al 470-518-5026 o complete nuestro formulario en línea para programar una consulta legal gratuita.

Beneficios de Compensación para Trabajadores en Rex