Have you gotten injured at your workplace and need to file for compensation? Filing a workers’ comp claim in Gainesville, GA can become a lengthy and challenging process, which is why getting a lawyer is advisable. Choosing a dedicated and experienced lawyer is the first step towards winning your case. If your injury means that you are unable to work, you need someone to advocate for you so that you can receive full benefits.
If you go through the workers’ compensation claims process in Georgia without a lawyer, you stand a high chance of your claim getting denied. If they cannot deny your claim, they will try to pay less. Most companies will try to reduce your compensation and give different reasons. You need a Gainesville workers’ compensation lawyer to guide you through the claims process.
Call us today to get the benefits of hiring an experienced worker’s comp lawyer. We will ensure that you get full benefits so that you can rest and recuperate without too much stress.
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How Can I Know if My Injury Will Be Covered By a Workers’ Comp Claim?
As per Georgia workers’ comp laws, you qualify for worker’s comp from the first day that you start your employment. You are entitled to wages and medical treatment if you sustain any injury at work. Unfortunately, this is not always what the insurer for your employer/company will do for all employees.
They may question your injury or downplay it even when there is sufficient evidence. It is advisable to be aware of what is deemed as a workplace injury in Gainesville, GA.
An injury is covered by workers’ comp if:
- The injury happened because of the work you do. You have to prove beyond doubt that your job led to the injury or illness. There has to be a cause-and-effect connection between the injury and the nature of your job.
- The injury occurred while you were performing a task at work. It means that you prove that the injury happened during your job and while you were at your workplace. If you were working outside the workplace, a lawyer will argue that you deserve compensation if you were doing work-related activities.
Some of the common workplace injuries are:
- Slips and falls may occur due to wet floors, poor lighting, scattered debris on the floor, or unstable working places.
- Burns, especially for employees that work in places with extreme heat.
- Amputations can happen in workplaces that have heavy machinery. Some equipment can rip off your hands or feet.
- Neck and back injuries. Some employees could get spine damage from lifting heavy objects with their hands.
- Hearing loss, especially for employees that work in places with loud machinery.
- Accidents when traveling for work-related purposes.
- Injuries when operating machinery.
What Benefits Do I Get With a Workers’ Comp Claim in Gainesville?
If you are not working, you should receive weekly wages or a lump sum amount. However, most insurance companies will not want to pay an employee while they are not at work (even if they have an injury or illness) because the case may get very expensive for them. It is why you should get an experienced worker’s comp lawyer to ensure that you’re getting a fair deal.
If you get injured while at work, you are entitled to the following according to Georgia State Laws:
- Medical treatment
- Medication and prescriptions
- Physical therapy
- Travel expenses for injury-related travel.
How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Gainesville, Georgia?
If you have been injured at work, you have 30 days to report the injury to a direct supervisor. If you do not report the injury within that time, you risk forfeiting your worker’s comp.
The statute of limitations for filing a claim for worker’s comp is one year, which starts from the day of the accident.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Gainesville, GA
Once you have hired a lawyer to represent you in your worker’s comp claim case, they will take you through the process of filing for the claim.
First, you will have to complete Form WC-14. It is filed with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. You will also have to send a copy to your employer and another to the employer’s insurance carrier. Your lawyer can file these electronically.
Next comes the discovery process. Each side can request documents vital to the case, and both parties can serve each other with interrogatories. The employee may be required to make an oral statement in a lawyer’s office. At this point, the employee may also be asked to get an IME (independent medical examination), especially if there is doubt about the medical treatment. The insurance company can ask for this to get a different opinion, or the employee’s lawyer can ask for it to build a case.
If there is no agreement during the negotiation stage, the case will proceed to a courtroom.
Get a Lawyer to Help With Your Gainesville Workers’ Comp Case
Getting a reliable worker’s comp lawyer for your case is crucial, which is why you should call us at the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition in Gainesville, GA. Our firm cares about the clients and will appoint a team of lawyers who will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our worker’s comp experts at the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition in Gainesville, GA, are always ready and willing to represent clients with their cases. Our aggressive and dedicated team will represent you all the way and ensure that you get full benefits in your worker’s comp case. We will also ensure that there is no chance of retaliation from your employer. Once you are ready to go back to work, your employer should not block that because you filed for worker’s comp, as is your right.
Call us today at 470-518-5026 to get a free case evaluation and go over your legal options. We will go over your claim and assess how much your claim is worth so that you can move forward with clarity.
