Reporting a Work-Related Injury in Powder Springs

Georgia sees many workplace accidents every year and reporting a work injury in Powder Springs is important. Based on a recent report by the Georgia Occupational Health Surveillance, over 75,000 work-related injuries are reported each year in the state. Injured workers usually need to seek compensation to be able to support themselves and their loved ones.

In Georgia, most employees have legal protections under the state’s workers’ compensation program. Through the system, injured employees can access medical coverage along with income replacement benefits. The unfortunate thing is that navigating the claims process can be quite daunting. Plus, too many claims will end up being denied or underpaid at best.

At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition, our skilled Powder Springs workers’ compensation attorneys are committed to fighting for the best interests and legal rights of employees injured in Georgia. Call 470-518-5026 to set up a free case review.

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How Long Do I Have in Reporting a Work Injury in Powder Springs?

In Georgia, the law requires injured workers to notify their employers of any work-related injuries promptly. If you sustain injuries in your workplace, you have to report the injury to your employer within 30 days. This provision was included in the workers’ compensation laws in Georgia so that employers can duly conduct their own investigation for the injury claim while evidence is still available.

Failure to abide by this deadline might result in your claim being denied by your employer and their insurance company. When this happens, you might lose your right to income benefits and medical treatment.

Keep in mind that it’s almost always best to report your injury as soon as you can. Some employers will say that they will deny your claim as you didn’t report your injury immediately. The longer you wait, the more your employer will be able to argue that the injury didn’t happen at the workplace. If you take days or weeks to report, they may start arguing that you got hurt out of work and only claim that the injury happened at work to game the system.

In case you report your injury immediately, your employer and their insurance company might be more likely to accept your claim. Otherwise, waiting for a week or so before reporting it will likely raise suspicions over whether the injury actually happened at work.

Who Do I Have to Report a Workplace Injury to?

 

Powder Springs Reporting Work Injury Infographic

The first thing you want to know is that you want to report your injury to someone in a supervisory capacity. This could be the general manager, your immediate supervisor, the foreman, or anyone who has a supervisory capacity over you.

Under Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws, this process is referred to as “giving your employer notice of injury”. Basically, the idea is that your employer and their insurance company should ideally have an opportunity to investigate exactly how the injury happened and make a decision on whether they will agree to pay your worker’s compensation benefits.

Employer Responsibilities After  Workplace Injury

Besides being responsible for providing coverage for workers’ compensation, your employer is responsible for the following:

  • Providing emergency medical care for workplace injuries
  • Filling out and submitting accident and/or injury report to the nearest workers’ compensation board office
  • Providing medical care if the employee is unable to choose a suitable physician
  • Fulfill any requests from the workers’ compensation board or the insurance company. These could be things like statements of the employee’s wages before and/or after the accident
  • Making written reports of each and every accident that ends up in injury or loss of time meant to be spent at work

Concept of reporting a work injury in Powder Springs, Georgia

Employee Responsibility After a Workplace Injury

In Georgia, most businesses with three or more employees (including part-time ones) are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp laws are ideally meant to provide every employee with coverage for any injuries sustained in the workplace, even if the injury happens on the first day of the job.

To be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, the employee has the following responsibilities:

  • Ensure that they adhere to the provided rules of safety and other guidelines or procedures provided by the employer in the workplace
  • Submit to a drug test after a workplace accident when requested and provide justifiable evidence otherwise in case of refusal
  • Report any injury or accident immediately to a person in a supervisory capacity, no later than 30 days after the incident. The person could be the manager, the immediate supervisor, or a foreman
  • Follow through with the medical treatment and rehabilitation as instructed by the State’s Board of Workers’ Compensation
  • Demonstrate how the accident was not the result of your negligence or willful misconduct
  • Attempt jobs approved by the treating doctor, even in cases where the pay is lower than the role you previously had before the accident
  • Informing the employer’s insurance company whenever you move to a new location and whenever you’re able to return to either full-time or part-time work
  • Notifying your employer and/or their insurance company when you change your address or remarry (for deceased employees)
  • File a claim with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation within one year in case a loved one dies in a workplace-related injury
  • Maintain total honesty when filing for claim benefits or risk being found guilty of a misdemeanor for making false or misleading statements

Call Our Powder Springs Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Now

Even if you understand the basic rights of an injured worker in Georgia, some particulars of the workers’ comp laws can be quite difficult to get your head around. At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition, we can work with you to help you understand the specifics, such as the best procedure to follow when reporting a work-related injury in Powder Springs, Georgia to ensure the best outcome.

Get in touch with our attorneys at the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition when reporting a work injury in Powder Springs, GA. We provide all our clients with a free initial consultation, with no obligations to work with us.