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.

Mejoría médica máxima en Tucker

Las enfermedades profesionales y los accidentes laborales difieren en términos de gravedad. Algunas de estas incidencias relacionadas con el trabajo pueden ser menores y requerir que no trabajes durante un par de días antes de regresar a plena capacidad. Otros, desafortunadamente, sufren lesiones debilitantes que resultan en discapacidades permanentes que alteran por completo sus vidas. Entonces, ¿cómo sabes si tu lesión se califica como una discapacidad permanente?

La respuesta a esta pregunta solo puede ser dada por tu médico tratante. Tu lesión laboral se clasifica como una discapacidad permanente cuando tu médico tratante determina que has alcanzado la mejoría médica máxima o MMI. MMI se refiere a un escenario en el cual tu estado médico no puede mejorar incluso con tratamiento continuado. Si te encuentras en esta situación, es mejor buscar asistencia legal para conocer más sobre las opciones que tienes.

When your health condition doesn’t change even after exploring all reasonable treatment alternatives following a work mishap, you should consult with a workers’ compensation lawyer about your Tucker maximum medical improvement. The attorneys at Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition in Tucker, GA can give you the legal counsel you’re looking for. You can get in touch with our Tucker workers’ compensation lawyers at 470-518-5026 to schedule a free-of-charge case assessment.

¿Qué es la Máxima Mejoría Médica (MMI)?

La MMI es una situación en la que la condición de salud y el proceso de curación de un empleado que ha sufrido una enfermedad o lesión en el lugar de trabajo alcanzan su punto máximo y no pueden cambiar. En resumen, la dolencia o lesión no puede mejorar ni siquiera con tratamiento médico adicional. El trabajador puede encontrarse discapacitado o con dolor durante el resto de su vida y un médico calificado ha realizado una evaluación y determinado que la condición de salud del trabajador lesionado no puede mejorar ya que ha alcanzado la mejoría máxima.

La MMI puede ocurrir cuando el trabajador lesionado todavía está recibiendo tratamiento médico, ya que el objetivo del tratamiento puede estar dirigido a ayudar a la víctima a alcanzar un cierto grado de funcionalidad. Debes tener en cuenta que la MMI no es un signo de mejora en la condición del trabajador lesionado, sino que significa que la lesión laboral o enfermedad profesional ha sido tratada tanto como el médico tratante puede hacerlo.

¿Quién determina cuándo has alcanzado la MMI en Tucker, Georgia?

En el Estado de Georgia , solo un profesional médico certificado puede dar el veredicto final sobre si has alcanzado la MMI. Después de tu pronóstico médico, tu médico tratante puede concluir que tu condición médica ha mejorado todo lo posible.

Tu empleador o su aseguradora no tienen jurisdicción sobre si has alcanzado la MMI. Si un empleador o su aseguradora intentan tomar esa decisión, ten en cuenta que no afectará la reclamación de MMI del empleado.

Además, los fisioterapeutas o enfermeros administradores de casos no tienen bases legales para tomar la decisión de si un empleado lesionado ha alcanzado la MMI. Solo el médico de compensación laboral aprobado puede tomar esta decisión vital y luego asignar una calificación de discapacidad para fines de cálculo.

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

Sí, el tratamiento médico puede continuar después de tu diagnóstico de MMI dado que se asegura que sentirás dolor o sufrirás una discapacidad durante el resto de tu vida.

La ley de Georgia exige que las aseguradoras proporcionen cobertura médica a los trabajadores lesionados con fines de alivio del dolor. Incluso después de alcanzar la MMI, todavía requieres alivio del dolor o cualquier otro tratamiento viable que pueda ayudarte a lidiar con tu situación.

Si te encuentras ante una situación en la que el empleador y su aseguradora deben pagar por el tratamiento médico, es hora de considerar hablar con un abogado de compensación laboral que esté familiarizado con las leyes de compensación laboral de Georgia. Para garantizar que tus derechos y privilegios estén asegurados, debes enlistar los servicios de un abogado de compensación laboral aprobado por la Junta Estatal de Georgia.

¿Qué pasa si no puedes regresar a trabajar al mismo nivel después de la MMI?

Hay casos en los que, incluso después de recibir tu pronóstico de MMI, puedes descubrir que eres incapaz de regresar a trabajar debido a tus lesiones. En Georgia, si no puedes regresar a tus deberes laborales normales y alcanzar los mismos niveles de rendimiento anteriores al accidente después de alcanzar la MMI, tienes derecho a continuar recibiendo atención médica y beneficios semanales.

Los beneficios pueden seguir llegando por hasta 400 semanas. Si eres físicamente incapaz de regresar a tus deberes laborales a tiempo completo, aún puedes continuar recibiendo beneficios, pero tu cobertura de compensación se detendrá después de 400 semanas.

Es importante tener en cuenta que una vez que hayas alcanzado la MMI en Tucker, GA, el proveedor de seguros de tu empleador puede tomar la decisión de resolver el caso. Optan por este camino si los tratamientos de atención médica han disminuido o se han estancado. Presumen que tú, como trabajador lesionado, has recibido la mejor atención médica posible y comprendes el alcance total de tu tipo de lesión.

Para estar seguro, asegúrate de haber consultado con tu abogado sobre las circunstancias que rodean tu tratamiento médico para que sepas el mejor momento para resolver tu reclamo.

Llámenos para comprender su mejoría médica máxima en Tucker

Es común que los trabajadores se lesionen o enfermen mientras cumplen con sus labores. Independientemente de la situación que resultó en su percance laboral, usted tiene derecho a buscar beneficios de compensación laboral. Es importante tener en cuenta que los casos de compensación laboral son bastante complejos. Por eso necesita los servicios de un abogado de compensación laboral calificado que maneje casos de mejoría médica máxima en Tucker.

Hay muchos abogados de compensación laboral en Tucker, GA, pero reducir la búsqueda a los mejores abogados no es una tarea fácil. Puede apostar que su empleador y su proveedor de seguros contratarán a los mejores abogados de compensación laboral para descalificar su reclamo. Si desea obtener servicios legales expertos, nosotros, Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition en Tucker, GA, estamos disponibles para escuchar su caso.

Valoramos a nuestros clientes y entendemos lo difícil que puede ser este período para usted en lo mental, físico y financiero. Es por eso que ofrecemos nuestros servicios bajo la modalidad de cuota litis para aliviar su carga. Póngase en contacto con nosotros al 470-518-5026 para obtener la ayuda que tanto necesita.

Compensación de Trabajadores Máxima Mejora Médica en Tucker