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.

Lesiones laborales indemnizables en Woodstock

El último lugar donde uno quiere sufrir una lesión debilitante es en el lugar de trabajo. No hay peor sensación que sufrir una experiencia traumática que cambie la vida en el lugar al que vas todos los días para ganarte la vida para ti y tu familia. Sin embargo, este tipo de incidentes son inevitables, ya que los accidentes laborales ocurren en algún momento durante el desempeño de tus funciones y pueden afectarle a cualquiera, independientemente de la industria o sector laboral.

Aparte del daño físico que probablemente sufras a causa de la enfermedad profesional o lesión laboral en Woodstock, GA, también tendrás que lidiar con los gastos de tratamiento médico desde el momento de tu ingreso y la pérdida de salarios por el tiempo que no trabajaste. Entonces, ¿qué sigue? El seguro de compensación para trabajadores existe para ayudar con las lesiones laborales indemnizables en Woodstock.

Si sufres una lesión mientras cumples con los deberes para los que fuiste contratado, calificas para recibir beneficios por ingresos. Sin embargo, la realidad no es tan sencilla. Debes tener en cuenta que no toda lesión sufrida en el trabajo está cubierta por la compensación laboral. Para que una lesión laboral específica se considere indemnizable según la ley de Georgia, primero debe cumplir ciertos criterios.

Si no está seguro de si su lesión laboral merece una indemnización, nuestro equipo en la Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition en Woodstock, GA puede ayudarle. Póngase en contacto con nosotros para averiguar si su lesión es indemnizable y qué beneficios puede reclamar. Nuestro experimentado equipo de abogados especializados en indemnización laboral ha gestionado numerosos casos de este tipo, por lo que puede confiar en que le brindaremos la mejor asesoría legal posible. Para reservar una consulta gratuita con un abogado de indemnización por accidentes de trabajo en Woodstock, comuníquese con nosotros al 470-518-5026 hoy mismo.

¿Qué son las lesiones laborales indemnizables?

Si trabajas en Woodstock, GA, y te has visto involucrado en un accidente en el trabajo, tienes fundamentos legales para solicitar beneficios de compensación para trabajadores. Todas las empresas con tres o más empleados están obligadas a contar con una póliza de seguro de compensación laboral en Georgia. Pero debes tener en cuenta que no toda dolencia o lesión ocupacional se clasifica necesariamente como indemnizable. Para que tu lesión sea considerada indemnizable, debe cumplir con estas condiciones.

Las lesiones deben surgir en el curso del deber: Para que seas elegible para los beneficios de compensación, debe haber una correlación directa entre tus deberes laborales y la dolencia ocupacional o lesión laboral que sufriste.
Las lesiones deben surgir durante el horario laboral: Esto significa que la dolencia o lesión que has sufrido debe ocurrir dentro del horario de trabajo y en la ubicación del lugar de trabajo mientras el trabajador está realizando su labor.

¿Cuáles son las lesiones laborales indemnizables comunes en Woodstock, GA?

Algunos ejemplos de lesiones y enfermedades laborales cubiertas por la compensación para trabajadores incluyen:

Lesiones y enfermedades profesionales

Este tipo de lesiones provienen del entorno laboral. La ley de Georgia establece que los trabajadores que sufren una lesión o enfermedad debido a las condiciones de trabajo del empleo son elegibles para reclamar beneficios de compensación. Cuando un empleado se ve expuesto a condiciones laborales como el manejo de químicos y vapores peligrosos o la exposición a ruidos fuertes durante períodos prolongados, puede lastimarse o sufrir afecciones médicas graves que comprometan los sistemas internos del cuerpo.

Lesiones por esfuerzo repetitivo

Estas lesiones son más acumulativas y se desarrollan gradualmente a medida que continúas cumpliendo con tus deberes laborales. Con el tiempo, las acciones repetitivas disminuyen la capacidad del empleado para hacer su trabajo adecuadamente. El túnel carpiano y las lesiones de espalda por levantar objetos pesados de forma repetitiva son ejemplos perfectos.

Lesiones físicas

Estas lesiones resultan de un trauma físico derivado de un percance o accidente laboral evidente. Cuando la lesión física sufrida es aparente y está directamente relacionada con una actividad laboral particular, el personal lesionado tiene bases legales para buscar una indemnización por las lesiones sufridas. Estas lesiones pueden resultar de accidentes en sitios de construcción, accidentes por resbalones y caídas, y cualquier incidente relacionado con el trabajo que cause daño corporal, como una lesión de espalda o huesos rotos.

¿Qué compensación puedes obtener por lesiones laborales en Georgia?

El propósito principal del programa de compensación para trabajadores no es reprender a nadie, sino garantizar que se proteja el bienestar de los empleados. Como trabajador en Woodstock, GA, existen numerosos beneficios de compensación a los que tienes derecho si te lesionas mientras trabajas. Estos beneficios generalmente cubren los costos médicos y recuperan la pérdida de salarios por el tiempo que no trabajaste.

Aquí están los tipos de compensación que puedes recuperar en Woodstock, GA.

Incapacidad total temporal: Si tu lesión laboral te incapacita de tal manera que eres físicamente incapaz de trabajar, tienes derecho a recibir beneficios de TTD para cubrir un porcentaje de los salarios perdidos.
Incapacidad parcial temporal: Estos beneficios te ayudarán a recuperar la diferencia en la pérdida de ingresos en caso de que tu lesión te obligue a trabajar menos horas o a realizar tareas ligeras, lo que se traduce en un menor salario.
Incapacidad parcial permanente: Recibirás estos beneficios cuando tu médico determine que no es probable que mejores, incluso con tratamiento continuo. Ten en cuenta que no puedes recibir beneficios de TTD o TPD si has calificado para beneficios de PPD.
Beneficios médicos
Rehabilitación vocacional
Reembolso de millaje

¿Cuánto tiempo tienes para presentar una solicitud de compensación laboral en Woodstock, GA?

Si te has visto involucrado en un accidente en el lugar de trabajo, la ley de Georgia estipula que tienes un año a partir de la fecha de la lesión laboral para presentar un reclamo de compensación laboral o un año a partir del pago más reciente por tratamiento por parte de la aseguradora del empleador. Asimismo, para solicitar una compensación en Georgia, deberás haber reportado el incidente a tu empleador dentro de los 30 días posteriores al percance laboral; de lo contrario, tu reclamo podría ser descalificado por tu empleador y/o su aseguradora.

¡Obtenga asesoramiento legal de abogados con experiencia en compensación de trabajadores!

Si ha sufrido lesiones laborales indemnizables en Woodstock, GA, usted califica para recibir beneficios de ingresos como compensación. En la Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition en Woodstock, GA comprendemos las leyes de indemnización laboral de Georgia y podemos ayudarle a determinar si es elegible para solicitar los beneficios de compensación. Si no está seguro sobre su reclamación por lesiones, puede comunicarse con nosotros al 470-518-5026 para programar una revisión gratuita de su caso.

Lesiones Laborales Indemnizables en Woodstock