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.

Notificación de una lesión laboral en Roswell

A lot of employees get injured every year in their workplaces so reporting a work injury in Roswell is important. However, some of these employees do not get workers’ compensation benefits. This is mostly because they do not report their work-related injury in time. It is easy for your employer to deny your workers’ comp claim if you do not report a workplace injury in time.

Puede sentirse confundido y abrumado después de un accidente laboral. Por lo tanto, es posible que olvide notificar inmediatamente una lesión relacionada con el trabajo. Es fundamental comunicarse con un abogado de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo después de un accidente laboral. El abogado se asegurará de que notifique el accidente dentro del plazo especificado.

Si desea notificar una lesión relacionada con el trabajo, comuníquese con nuestros abogados de indemnización laboral en Roswell en Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition. Presentaremos su reclamo a tiempo y nos aseguraremos de que obtenga todos los beneficios de indemnización laboral a los que tiene derecho. Contáctenos hoy al 470-518-5026 para analizar su caso con uno de nuestros abogados experimentados.

¿Cuánto tiempo tengo para notificar una lesión laboral en Roswell, GA?

Tiene 30 días para notificar una lesión relacionada con el trabajo en Roswell, GA. Es mucho mejor notificar a su empleador sobre sus lesiones laborales de inmediato. Su empleador utilizará los 30 días para investigar el reclamo de indemnización laboral. Si no notifica la lesión laboral en un plazo de 30 días, puede perder su derecho a solicitar los beneficios de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo.

¿A quién debo notificar una lesión en el lugar de trabajo?

Si se lesiona en su lugar de trabajo o se enferma mientras realiza su trabajo habitual, debe notificar la lesión laboral a su empleador. Si su empleador no está presente, puede notificar la lesión laboral a su gerente, supervisor o al representante de su empleador.

Al notificar una lesión laboral en Roswell, es fundamental hacerlo dentro del período de tiempo especificado, que es de 30 días en el estado de Georgia. Una vez que su empleador reciba la notificación, podrá remitirlo a los mejores médicos. Y la compañía de seguros de su empleador pagará sus gastos médicos.

Responsabilidades del empleador después de una lesión laboral

Los empleadores tienen la obligación de proporcionar un entorno de trabajo seguro para sus empleados. Por lo tanto, deben asegurarse de que no haya peligros en sus lugares de trabajo. Los peligros pueden dañar la salud de sus empleados.

Es mucho más económico para los empleadores prevenir los accidentes laborales, ya que les resulta costoso pagar los reclamos de indemnización de los trabajadores.

Sin embargo, si uno de sus empleados se lesiona en el lugar de trabajo, el empleador le recomienda los mejores médicos. El empleado lesionado elegirá a uno de los médicos. Luego, el empleador reúne pruebas del accidente laboral y las comparte con su compañía de seguros.

Por lo tanto, el empleador debe asegurarse de que el empleado lesionado reciba el tratamiento médico adecuado y notificar el accidente laboral a su compañía de seguros.

Responsabilidad del empleado después de una lesión en el lugar de trabajo

Muchos trabajadores lesionados no reciben los beneficios de indemnización laboral porque no saben qué hacer. No basta con notificar el accidente laboral a su empleador. Es obligatorio buscar atención médica y mantener seguros los expedientes médicos. Y es imprescindible contratar a un buen abogado de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo.

A continuación se presentan algunas de las responsabilidades del empleado tras una lesión laboral:

Notifique la lesión al empleador

¿Se lesionó en su lugar de trabajo? Esto es lo primero que debe hacer. Su empleador necesita saber sobre el accidente laboral. Una vez que su empleador recibe el informe, le recomienda los mejores médicos, ya que es posible que necesite atención médica. El empleado lesionado es responsable de notificar la lesión laboral a su empleador.

Busque tratamiento médico

Si está lesionado, debe buscar tratamiento médico lo antes posible. Puede perder sus beneficios de indemnización laboral si no cuenta con un historial médico. Su empleador le recomendará algunos médicos. Visite a uno de estos médicos para evitar perder su derecho a recibir los beneficios de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo.

Presente un reclamo

Es difícil presentar un reclamo de indemnización laboral por su cuenta. Su empleador no presentará un reclamo de indemnización laboral en su nombre. Deberá buscar a un buen abogado de indemnización laboral que lo ayude a presentar el reclamo. Completará el Formulario WC-14. Luego, presentará el formulario ante la Junta de Indemnización por Accidentes de Trabajo del Estado de Georgia.

Guarde los registros

Las disputas sobre la indemnización laboral surgen cuando el empleado lesionado no tiene todos los documentos necesarios. Por lo tanto, debe mantener todos los registros seguros. Es por eso que debe contratar a un abogado desde el inicio del proceso. El abogado se asegurará de que tenga todos los registros. No pierda estos documentos.

Mantenga informado a su empleador

Es su responsabilidad mantener informado a su empleador. Si su médico no lo autoriza a regresar a sus funciones laborales normales, debe informárselo a su empleador. Si no sabe cuánto tiempo estará fuera del trabajo, infórmele a su empleador, ya que es posible que deba comunicarse con regularidad.

Estas son algunas de las cosas que debe hacer después de una lesión laboral. Puede perder su derecho a recibir los beneficios de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo si no realiza algunas de estas acciones. Es fundamental contratar a un abogado de indemnización laboral. Su abogado se asegurará de que no haga nada que pueda poner en peligro su caso de indemnización laboral.

Hable gratis con un abogado de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo de Roswell

Una lesión laboral puede mantenerlo alejado del trabajo durante varias semanas o incluso meses. Si no está trabajando, no está ganando dinero. Si su familia depende de usted, sufrirá a causa de su lesión laboral. No se preocupe. ¿Por qué? Puede recibir beneficios de indemnización laboral hasta que se recupere por completo de sus lesiones laborales.

Sin embargo, no es fácil solicitar los beneficios de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo por su cuenta. Contrate a un abogado de indemnización laboral para reducir el estrés que implica buscar estos beneficios. Su abogado se asegurará de que notifique la lesión relacionada con el trabajo a su empleador y presente un reclamo de indemnización laboral a tiempo. Su abogado protegerá sus derechos.

¿Está listo para comenzar a notificar una lesión laboral en Roswell, Georgia? Si es así, comuníquese con Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition. Nuestro equipo de abogados está listo para guiarlo a través del proceso de indemnización laboral. Nos aseguraremos de que no cometa errores comunes. Nunca permitiremos que su empleador deniegue su reclamo de manera injusta. Por lo tanto, contáctenos hoy para hablar con uno de nuestros experimentados abogados de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo.

Informar Una Lesión Laboral en Roswell