Compensable Work Injuries in Monroe

In 2019, there were more than 78,000 non-fatal injuries reported in Georgia workplaces. This places Georgia among a small group of states that have an incident rate lower than the national average. Unfortunately, many workplace injuries are never reported.

Employees often worry about their potential employment status if they report an injury or are concerned that a particular injury may not be compensable.

Our experts will help you with your compensable work injuries in Monroe. We can identify if your injury is covered and guide you through the process of getting benefits.

If you are still concerned about the legitimacy of your injury or are struggling with an ongoing workers’ compensation claim, then we advise contacting a professional Monroe workers’ comp attorney.

Our legal staff is here to help employees in Monroe, GA, and nearby areas. Call us any time at 470-518-5026 if you are interested in a free case evaluation.

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Monroe Workers Compensation Compensable Injury Infographic

What Are Compensable Work Injuries in Monroe, Georgia?

Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws are designed to protect employee rights and provide compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. And the statutes are very clear about which types of injuries are considered compensable.

Employees have the right to income and medical benefits, including rehabilitation, if the injury comes from and during the course of your work. Similarly, their dependents have a right to certain death benefits if the employee dies while performing their work duties.

This covers all sorts of injuries that can occur during employment as well as occupational illnesses that develop during employment.

Broken Bones & Fractures

Broken bones and fracture injuries are most often the results of slip-and-fall accidents. These are among the most common types of accidents and injuries in every job sector. Workers’ comp should cover all medical expenses related to broken bones regardless of the location or severity.

Whether you break a pinky or shatter a femur; it is covered by workers’ compensation insurance. A broken bone that results in loss of function of a specific part of the body may also be eligible for disability benefits.

Burns

There are more than 5,000 workplace burn injuries that occur annually across the country. As shocking as this number is, it’s estimated that an even larger number of workplace burn injuries are never reported. Burn injuries can result in permanent damage to the skin and deep tissue.

It’s not uncommon for medical bills to surpass hundreds of thousands of dollars for severe burns that cover a large portion of the body. Some severe burns are considered catastrophic injuries and their benefits are not subject to the same 400 week maximum as other injuries.

Head & Brain Injuries

Few injuries are as harmful and stressful as brain injuries. Even when the damage seems negligible at first, there can be underlying symptoms that go unnoticed for months or years. Concussions, which are the most common form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) often go unnoticed and unreported, yet they can have serious long-term effects.

Certain types of brain injuries are difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to prove. Working with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer can make this job easier.

Loss of Limbs

Many amputations result in the patient being unable to return to work permanently and are classified as catastrophic injuries. These types of injuries are most common in the construction industry where workers often operate heavy machinery. Any injury that results in the amputation of a hand, foot, arm, or leg is classified as catastrophic.

Spinal Injury & Paralysis

Spinal cord injuries are often very severe and can result in permanent paralysis. In the case of severe paralysis, the injury would be classified as catastrophic.

Even if the injury does not result in permanent paralysis it can still lead to long-term damage that requires extensive medical treatment and ongoing physical therapy to overcome. Patients who suffer spinal cord injuries are often unable to return to work in full capacity and are eligible for some form of disability benefits.

Concept of compensable work injuries in Monroe, Georgia

Work-Related Illness

Any form of chronic disease or illness that is caused by a workplace environment can fall under the umbrella of workers’ compensation insurance. Many of these diseases require lifelong treatments and some are incurable. They can include skin diseases, respiratory illnesses, neurological conditions, and chemical poisoning.

Repetitive Motion Injuries

Some occupations require repetitive movements like typing at a keyboard, mechanical work with the hands, or the lifting of heavy objects. If an injury occurs in the workplace because of these repetitive motions, then their medical treatment can be covered by workers’ comp insurance.

Examples of repetitive motion injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and bursitis.

What Types of Compensation Can You Claim?

Workers’ comp benefits fall into one of three categories. They are:

Medical Benefits

Medical benefits include the medical treatment of a condition, the rehabilitation afterward, the cost of medications, and travel expenses required to receive this treatment. These benefits do not necessarily end after the employee has reached a state of maximum medical improvement (MMI).

Disability Benefits

Disability benefits provide a limited form of compensation to protect against lost wages. They are available when an employee is unable to return to work in full capacity due to an injury sustained on the job. They include Permanent Partial Disability, Temporary Total Disability, and Temporary Partial Disability.

Most disability benefits can be received for up to a maximum of 350 to 400 weeks, though some total disability benefits can be made available until the age of 75.

Death Benefits

Dependents have a right to certain death benefits if the employee dies while performing their work duties. Dependents can receive two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage or a maximum of $675.00 per week for death on or after July 1, 2019.

How Long Do You Have to File For Workers’ Compensation in Georgia?

There are two deadlines to be aware of. The first is the 30-day deadline before which you need to report your injury to your employer. If you fail to meet this deadline, then you will be considered ineligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The second deadline is the statute of limitations for filing a workers’ compensation claim, which is a maximum of one year in the state of Georgia.

Contact Our Monroe Workers’ Comp Attorneys

All variety of workplace injuries ranging from fractured fingers to complete paralysis are covered by Georgia workers’ compensation insurance. This all includes occupational diseases and injuries sustained because of repetitive motions. But these conditions must be reported within 30 days of the injury or the diagnose of the disease.

Our team at the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition can assess your case for free and determine if you have compensable work injuries in Monroe, Georgia. We will fight to secure the maximum benefits for you.

If you need assistance seeking approval for your workers’ compensation claim, then you need to work with an experienced team of workers’ comp attorneys. Take a moment to contact our staff at 470-518-5026 and we will be happy to evaluate your workers’ comp claim.