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 Woodstock

Vivimos en una sociedad acelerada y, dadas las numerosas industrias, las lesiones laborales y las enfermedades profesionales son inevitables. De hecho, son tan comunes que el gobierno tuvo que aprobar una ley que hace obligatorio que las empresas o negocios tengan un seguro de compensación para trabajadores. Cuando los dueños de negocios o empleadores no toman las medidas adecuadas para garantizar la seguridad de sus trabajadores, ponen vidas en riesgo, lo que a menudo provoca lesiones graves con consecuencias a largo plazo.

Si te lesionas mientras realizas tu trabajo, puedes reclamar los beneficios de compensación para trabajadores en Woodstock, GA. En Georgia, cualquier empresa con tres o más trabajadores debe contar con cobertura de compensación para trabajadores. Esta póliza obligatoria del gobierno ofrece beneficios monetarios para facturas médicas, salarios perdidos, beneficios por discapacidad y beneficios por muerte. Desafortunadamente, no todos los dueños de negocios y sus proveedores de seguros están dispuestos a pagar los beneficios de manera justa.

Es por esto que es tan importante contar con los servicios de un abogado de indemnización laboral competente y experimentado en Woodstock. Nuestro equipo en Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition luchará agresivamente y utilizará todos los recursos disponibles para garantizar que usted obtenga el acuerdo que se merece. Para iniciar el proceso de su reclamación y conocer los beneficios para los que podría calificar, ¡comuníquese llamando al 470-518-5026!

Límites de compensación para trabajadores en Georgia

El monto del beneficio de compensación para trabajadores es 2/3 del monto semanal promedio de un empleado. Sin embargo, el monto real depende principalmente del salario real y de la fecha del accidente.

Independientemente de esto, existen límites en el pago que estás sujeto a recibir. Por ejemplo, solo puedes recibir un máximo de $675 por semana por beneficios por incapacidad temporal total. Si los cálculos arrojan una cantidad superior a esta, aun así recibirás $675.

¿Cuáles son los tipos de beneficios de compensación para trabajadores en Georgia?

La compensación para trabajadores de Georgia ofrece diferentes tipos de beneficios por discapacidad según cómo una lesión afecte tu capacidad para trabajar.

Prestaciones por incapacidad temporal total

Si te lesionas en el lugar de trabajo, calificas para los beneficios de TTD si tu médico establece que eres incapaz de trabajar o recomienda que te asignen a un puesto de trabajo ligero, pero este puesto no está disponible en la organización.

Ten en cuenta que tendrás que esperar siete días para recibir los beneficios de TTD. Si no puedes trabajar durante este período, calificas automáticamente para los beneficios por incapacidad temporal total.

Los beneficios de TTD otorgados generalmente se calculan como 2/3 del salario semanal promedio del empleado. Para los trabajadores lesionados a partir del 1 de julio de 2019, existe un límite de $675. Ten en cuenta que eres elegible para los beneficios de TTD por un máximo de 400 semanas posteriores a la fecha del accidente.

Beneficio por incapacidad parcial temporal

Los beneficios de TPD generalmente se otorgan cuando las lesiones sufridas no te incapacitan por completo. En tal caso, se te otorga el estado de discapacidad parcial y puedes continuar con tu trabajo, pero en una capacidad limitada.

En pocas palabras, serás reinstalado en tus responsabilidades laborales, pero ganarás menos en comparación con tu salario anterior a la lesión. Los beneficios de TPD están diseñados para ofrecer cobertura que compense la diferencia salarial que surge de la lesión relacionada con el trabajo.

Los beneficios por incapacidad parcial temporal se calculan a una tasa de 2/3 de tu salario semanal promedio. También tienen un límite de $450 por semana y no superan un período de 350 semanas posteriores a la fecha del accidente.

Prestaciones por incapacidad permanente parcial

De acuerdo con la Ley de Compensación para Trabajadores de Georgia, cuando un empleado alcanza la mejoría médica máxima después de sufrir una lesión mientras realizaba sus deberes en el trabajo, califica para los beneficios de PPD. La mejoría médica máxima o MMI es un término utilizado para referirse a una situación en la que la condición de una persona no puede mejorar más.

Ten en cuenta que si obtienes beneficios por incapacidad parcial permanente, no puedes recibir beneficios de TPD ni de TTD. Asimismo, en lugar de recibir estos beneficios semanalmente, puedes elegir recibirlos en un solo pago global.

Cuando se trata de calcular los beneficios de PPD, se realizará una multiplicación del número de semanas permitidas para la lesión por la calificación de discapacidad asignada por un médico autorizado. Básicamente, esto significa que calificas para los beneficios por la lesión infligida a una parte específica del cuerpo.

Beneficios por incapacidad total permanente

En Georgia, los beneficios por incapacidad total permanente bajo la póliza de compensación para trabajadores no aplican.

¿Cómo se calculan los beneficios de compensación para trabajadores en Woodstock, Georgia?

Existen tres métodos principales utilizados para determinar el salario semanal promedio de un empleado lesionado en Woodstock, GA:

Ganancias reales durante 13 semanas

Este es el método más comúnmente utilizado para determinar el salario semanal promedio de un empleado que sufrió una lesión relacionada con el trabajo. Se realiza calculando el monto promedio que ganaste en las 13 semanas anteriores al accidente.

Ganancias promedio de los compañeros de trabajo

Si no realizaste un trabajo sustancial en las 13 semanas anteriores al accidente, se tomarán en cuenta las ganancias de los compañeros de trabajo en tu departamento para llegar a una cifra de ganancias semanales promedio.

Tasa de contratación acordada

Si los métodos anteriores no funcionan, se realiza una multiplicación del salario por hora por el número de horas contratadas para determinar el monto de los beneficios.

¿Están gravados los beneficios de compensación de trabajadores en Woodstock, GA?

Según la Ley de Compensación de Trabajadores en Georgia, los beneficios recibidos por la cobertura de compensación de trabajadores no están sujetos a impuestos.

¡Contrate a un abogado de compensación laboral en Woodstock, GA!

Garantizar que obtenga beneficios de compensación laboral completos y justos en Georgia no es tan simple ni directo como puede parecer. Aquí es donde contar con los servicios de un abogado experimentado es fundamental. Un abogado competente en WC puede ayudarle a presentar una reclamación correctamente y dentro de los plazos establecidos para que reciba el monto del acuerdo. Las compañías de seguros siempre velan por sus intereses comerciales y, por lo tanto, siempre intentarán negar o disputar las reclamaciones de WC.

Para proteger sus derechos, considere trabajar con Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition en Woodstock, GA. Con nuestro experimentado equipo de abogados, puede estar seguro de que recibirá un asesoramiento y una representación legal ideales. ¡Comuníquese llamando a nuestras oficinas al 470-518-5026 hoy mismo!

Beneficios de Compensación para Trabajadores en Woodstock