Occupational injuries or illnesses can turn into an inconvenience to the victim and the family. In addition, the treatment, routine hospital visits, therapy, and trying to recover the losses and pain suffered can be challenging. However, fighting for your rights as an employee should not be a reason you lose your job or be overly stressed. You can avoid such a hustle by hiring an experienced and reliable Fairburn workers’ compensation lawyer to represent you.
In Georgia, workers’ compensation laws give specific guidelines to follow when filing a claim case to recover losses. Therefore, Fairburn compensable work injuries are subject to these rules, which also influence the outcome. As such, understanding the guidelines is crucial to improving your chances of winning your claim case. At Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition Ellenwood, GA, we understand the different hurdles you will encounter when pursuing a worker’s comp and help navigate them.
Visit our law offices in Fairburn, Ellenwood, GA, or call us at 470-518-5026 to schedule a non-obligatory initial consultation and learn more about our services.
What is Workers Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is insurance coverage meant to protect workers from the losses associated with occupational accidents. It is a national and state-backed coverage that businesses with two or more staff members must carry for their employees. As such, you could be eligible to seek compensation if you are involved in an accident in your workplace. You might recover the following:
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits if you cannot resume work due to work-related injuries or sickness
- Medical benefits which will cover the expenses incurred when seeking treatment
- Other expenses like physical therapy, prescription medication, and vocational rehab costs
- Travel expenses to the hospital or rehab facility
Please note that the laws governing workers’ compensation differ from state to state. Therefore, it is best to work closely with a seasoned and reputable attorney specializing in workers’ compensation and understands Georgia laws.
What Should I Do If I Am Hurt On The Job?
An employee who is hurt while on the job is expected to adhere to specific rules when filing a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia. It is best to do the following things if you plan to file a worker’s comp claim, improving your chances of recovering your losses.
1. Seek immediate medical attention even if you believe your illness or injury is not severe. It is best to let a doctor assess you and rule out any health risks.
2. Report the incident to your supervisor, manager, team leader, or business owner, notifying them about your injuries or sickness as you head to the hospital for treatment.
3. Ask your employer (manager, supervisor, or team leader) to write a report covering the workplace accident, making sure it covers the nature and extent of your injury or illness. Also, fill in the necessary paperwork needed to notify your employer and keep the records safe for use in the claim process.
4. Take photographs of your injury, if visible, and save them or send them to your lawyer. The pictures can be used as evidence in your case.
5. Hire an experienced lawyer specializing in workers’ compensation lawsuits in Fairburn, Ellenwood, GA, to help you understand what you must do to ensure you recover your losses.
6. Rest and recuperate, which you will manage to accomplish with ease when you have dedicated legal counsel representing you.
What Are The Most Common Workplace Accident Injuries?
Accidents are an inevitable part of life, and they can happen even in the safest work environments. Some accidents can result in minor injuries while others are severe. Some of the common injuries that employees can experience in the workplace include:
- Slip and fall
- Back/neck injury
- Joint pain
- Fractures
- Burns
- Amputations
- Hearing loss
- Losing eyesight
- Being hit by falling objects
- Injuries sustained while operating tools or machinery
- Business travel accidents
- Construction accidents
Why Should I Hire A Ellenwood Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
Our overall objective as a team of proficient attorneys that handle workers’ compensation cases in Fairburn, Ellenwood, GA, is to fight for your rights and interests as you go up against your employer and the insurance provider. It is a fight that has the potential of getting messy, and not having the legal experience needed can mean losing your opportunity to get compensation. We cannot put it any bluntly than that; thus, consider getting in touch with us as soon as possible. We shall review your case to determine its worth and help you navigate the various legal hurdles involved.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ellenwood, GA, Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
The financial burden occasioned by a work-related illness or injury can be substantial, having a significant impact on your life, especially when you cannot get back to work and earn. Many employees fear the worst when they are forced to take some time off from work to recuperate. It is a situation that we at Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition Ellenwood understand.
We can take some cases on a contingency fee arrangement so that our clients do not have to struggle with paying the legal fees for our services while also burdened with medical bills and related expenses. The contingency fee is a small percentage that we shall deduct from what you are awarded. Georgia state laws stipulate that the fee should not be more than 25% of the benefits awarded to the client.
What Should I Do If My Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?
A claim can be denied because of different reasons. However, the case been denied does not mean that’s the end. We also will consider other avenues that can help us repursue the compensation case by filing an appeal requesting the SBWC (State Board of Workers’ Compensation) in Georgia to review the matter. It is an option we have taken when helping clients that tried to handle the lawsuit themselves and failed but are confident the outcome would have been better and in their favor.
What Responsibility Does The Employee Have In Filing A Workers Compensation Claim?
Workers in Georgia are legally obligated to inform their employers of the occupational accident as they seek compensation. Employees are also expected to do the following things when filing a workers’ comp claim in Fairburn, Ellenwood, GA:
1). Report the accident to your superiors and ensure the incident is documented correctly.
2). Notify your employer or superiors of any injury or sickness you sustained while executing your job, and this must be within thirty days from when it happened.
3). Explain to your doctor or the attending health physician your injuries or illness and how they occurred.
4). Follow the SBWC’s guidelines regarding medical treatment.
5). Agree to a drug test after the accident if your employer or the insurer says it is mandatory.
6). Give honest statements when filing the claim, ensuring that you do not give any false or misleading facts because they are deemed an offense that can attract a misdemeanor charge.
What Responsibilities Does The Employer Have In The Workers’ Compensation Process?
While the employer’s chief responsibility is to carry a workers’ compensation coverage for the staff, employers also have specific responsibilities they must honor. For example, they are prohibited from firing the injured worker but keep the job position open for the employee to resume after recovering. Moreover, the employer must inform the worker of their right to receiving worker’s compensation benefits. They also must fill and submit a workplace injury report to the SWBC and their insurer.
Can I Be Fired For Claiming A Workers Compensation Claim?
The federal and state laws protect workers against any form of discrimination in the workplace, including those associated with occupational accidents. As such, it is your right to file a worker’ comp claim if you are injured or contract an illness when on the job. At Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition Ellenwood, we are committed to assisting you to fight for your rights and interests.
Is There A Time Limit To File A Workers Compensation Claim In Ellenwood, GA?
It is best to act a soon as possible when pursuing any compensation claim. Therefore, you should contact us to prepare your case and file the claim within the stipulated one-year period as per Georgia Worker’s Comp laws.
Can I Sue My Employer?
Any legal complaints you might have against your employer, even if they were negligent or reckless, thus playing a role in causing the workplace accident, your grievances will be addressed via a workers’ compensation lawsuit. As such, the workers’ comp coverage does also help safeguard the employer’s interests, cushioning them against being sued by injured workers.
Can An Independent Contractor File A Workers’ Compensation Claim?
In Georgia, the only people who have the right to file for a workers’ compensation claim are statutory or permanent employees. That means you have an employer who decides where you execute a task, when and how to do the job.
What Is My Ellenwood, GA, Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?
Different factors go into determining what your workers’ comp claim is worth. Your attorney will investigate the matter to gather the evidence needed to support your claim and ensure you get fair compensation. Some of the things the lawyer will highlight and are recognized under Georgia state laws include:
- Medical expenses, covering treatment, surgery, therapy, and rehabilitation costs
- Prescription medication expenses
- Any travel expenses incurred when going for treatment
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
- Lost wages
Contact Our Fairburn Workers’ Compensation Lawyer In Ellenwood Today
In Georgia, workers’ compensation laws give specific guidelines to follow when filing a claim case to recover losses. As such, understanding the guidelines is crucial to improving your chances of winning your claim case. At Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition Ellenwood, GA, we understand the different hurdles you will encounter when pursuing a worker’s comp and help navigate them.
Visit our law offices in Fairburn, Ellenwood, GA, or call us at 470-518-5026 to schedule a non-obligatory initial consultation and learn more about our services.
