After an occupational accident in which you sustained an injury or got ill, your focus will be on treatment and recovering. However, the whole incident can be an overwhelming experience, especially if you also have to handle a workers’ compensation claim. But it is a process that we at Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition in Griffin, Georgia understand.
Therefore, we can help you understand the requirements you must fulfill when requesting what you are owed, especially when you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). We will help you understand what happens after reaching MMI even though you are entitled to recover your medical expenses under the workers’ compensation act.
Your lawyer will take you through everything while also advising you on what to do to ensure you get all you are rightly owed. So, call our Griffin workers’ compensation lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation and learn more about how we can help in your Griffin maximum medical improvement case.
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What Is Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)?
MMI (Maximum Medical Improvement) is a term found in the workers’ comp law in many states. It is used to define a condition in which an injury or illness sustained in the workplace does not improve with further medical treatment and care. However, it does not imply that you are not entitled to continue receiving medical attention to help you cope with your condition. It is a point in the treatment process that the attending health physician is legally mandated to give the patient.
As such, the maximum medical improvement plays a significant role in a workers’ compensation claim, and your attorney cannot overlook it when helping you get compensation for your loss, pain, and suffering.
Who Determines When an Injured Employee Has Reached Maximum Medical Improvement in Georgia?
Under Georgia workers’ comp laws, the attending health physician is solely authorized to give you maximum medical improvement. Therefore, it is illegal for your lawyer, employer, or insurer to clear the MMI. Therefore, it is an action that can potentially have legal consequences and impact your chances of getting fair compensation.
Does Medical Treatment Continue After an MMI Diagnosis?
After the doctors declare the maximum medical improvement, an injured employee is eligible to receive medical treatment and income benefits. It is a situation that primarily applies to workers who are restricted from resuming their jobs or find they are earning a lesser wage and face some restrictions they did not have while on the job before the accident.
But the employer or the insurance provider might discontinue the income benefit if an employee can resume work without any injury-related restrictions on their performance level irrespective of getting the MMI diagnosis. However, please note that there are a few exceptions to this and that you do not have to agree with your doctor’s MMI diagnosis. The law gives you the right to seek another health physician’s opinion regarding your condition.
What If You Can’t Return to Work and Perform at the Same Level After the MMI Diagnosis?
It is not uncommon for some workers’ compensation claims to turn into a protracted battle. However, the employee becomes stressed in the face of uncertainty as the case drags on for weeks, months, or years. Things might seem bleaker if the worker receives an MMI and must report to work. Some of the significant aspects considering when returning to work even after getting the maximum medical improvement diagnosis include:
- The degree of impairment the injury or disease caused.
- If you are fit to resume work even when undergoing treatment.
- If the impairment results in permanent restrictions that limit your capacity to work, even doing light duties.
- The disability benefits you are entitled to, like TTD, PTD, TPD, or PPD.
- When you are qualified to receive the benefits.
- Your compensation claim’s settlement value.
According to Georgia laws, an employee can continue getting income and medical treatment benefits if they cannot resume work after an occupational accident in their workplace. Such workers are eligible to receive the benefits for a total of 400 weeks after the MMI diagnosis. However, it is a payout the employer and their insurer will not be happy about. As such, they will consider or opt to settle the matter with upfront compensation.
Whichever course they take, it is best to consult an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to help you navigate the different loopholes that your employer and the insurance carrier might exploit. At Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition Atlanta, we have experienced law professionals that will help you resolve any concerns regarding their MMI rating that might affect the benefits they might be awarded.
Moreover, it is wise to get in touch with us as soon as you start seeking compensation for your work-related injury or illness. We shall take you through the various steps to take if you can’t access medical treatment before and after getting the MMI.
We also will answer the many questions you have and help address your concerns about getting fair compensation for your health condition that has been determined not to improve even with further medical care. Our attorneys will also negotiate terms of resuming work with your employer to ensure they consider any restrictions in your performance resulting from the occupational injury.
Call Us For Help With Your Griffin Maximum Medical Improvement Case
At Workers Compensation Lawyers Coalition Griffin, we have helped many workers to face their employers when seeking compensation for occupational injuries or sicknesses. We understand that the process might have some grey areas that the employer or insurance carrier might exploit.
But opting to hire an experienced attorney in Griffin, GA, specializing in workers’ comp will help swing things in your favor. Things can be overwhelming when the injuries seem not to get better, and the doctor gives the employee an MMI diagnosis.
Overall, you should consult your attorney after receiving the maximum medical improvement, and you are scheduled to resume work. Your workers’ comp lawyer from WCL Atlanta will ensure your rights and interests are protected even as you pursue a compensation claim.
Get in touch with us today at 470-518-5026 to book a free case review and learn more about our services.
