Under Georgia’s workers’ compensation law, an employee who suffers an injury or illness related to their job is entitled to benefits meant to compensate them for their medical expenses, lost wages, disability, or death. Workers’ compensation insurance coverage in Georgia is supposed to begin on your first day of employment. This means that even if you are injured on your very first day at work, you will be entitled to financial compensation.
However, the workers’ compensation claims process in Redan isn’t as easy and straightforward as you might expect. There are many complexities, procedures, and deadlines that you need to deal with, and not to mention some expected resistance from your employer or insurance company. This is why it is crucial to have an attorney on your side who’ll help make the entire process less overwhelming and ensure that you secure the financial compensation that you deserve.
If your employer or the insurance company is trying to challenge your claim or provide a less than favorable settlement offer, we can help. Our Redan workers’ compensation lawyers have the necessary skills and resources to ensure that your rights are protected and that you get the maximum compensation that you deserve.
Call us today at 470-518-5026 for a free case evaluation and find out how best to handle your workers’ compensation claim.
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How Can I Know If My Injury Will Be Covered By a Workers’ Comp Claim?
First, you should note that in Georgia, all employers with three or more employees are legally required to provide workers’ compensation insurance to all their employees (both full-time and part-time workers). Thus, the first requirement to determining whether or not your injury will be covered is if your employer runs a business with at least three employees.
Such a business is subject to Georgia workers’ compensation laws. Unfortunately, this means that if you are an only employee or part of a two-person team, then you won’t be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Secondly, your injury or illness must have arisen from and within the scope of your employment. This means that it should have been caused while performing your work duties and as a result of an unsafe condition within your workplace setting. There needs to be a cause-and-effect connection between your injury and the nature of your job.
Injuries that happen while on a break or while traveling to work from home aren’t typically covered under Georgia workers’ compensation. However, injuries suffered while traveling to and from work to attend to business errands will be covered.
Injuries caused by failure to follow the recommended safety procedures, failure to use protective gear provided by your employer, working while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, self-inflicted injuries, or injuries caused when involved in a fight not related to your job aren’t covered under Georgia workers compensation.
Georgia’s workers’ compensation covers a wide range of injuries including:
- Electrocutions
- Long-term poisoning, for instance, due to exposure to toxic substances such as asbestos
- Cuts and lacerations
- Slip and fall accidents
- Injuries from falling objects
- Industrial accidents
- And more
How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Georgia?
There are certain deadlines that you have to meet when filing a claim under Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws, otherwise, you forfeit your right to pursue financial compensation. The statute of limitation for workers’ compensation claims is contained in Georgia code 34-9-82 (a) and it states that an injured employee has up to one year from the date of their injury to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
However, in cases where the employer has already provided for medical treatment or weekly income benefits to the employee, the employee will have up to two years from the date of the last medical treatment or weekly income payment to file a workers’ compensation claim.
You should note that in order to preserve your rights to workers’ compensation benefits, you are required to report the injury or illness to your employer as soon as possible and within 30 days of the injury or discovering about the illness. Failure to do this will mean that your employer or their insurance company will have legal grounds to deny your claim.
How to File the Workers’ Comp Claim in Georgia?
Once you have reported your injury, you will have up to one year from the date of the injury to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. This claim is filed by completing and filing a form known as the WC-14 form with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation in Georgia. This form can be obtained through the board’s website.
Once filed, you will need to provide your employer and their insurance company with a copy of the form. If you face any difficulties with the claims process, you can seek assistance from the Claims Assistance Department of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
If you need to seek medical treatment, you will have to request your employer to provide you with a list of approved medical care providers. Keep in mind that getting medical treatment from a doctor who is not approved can jeopardize your chances of getting workers’ compensation benefits from the insurance company.
Get Help With the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process in Redan
Suffering a workplace injury can be a very stressful experience. You are often left wondering how and who will pay for your medical treatment and lost wages. Fortunately, you are covered financially under Georgia workers’ compensation.
However, while a majority of injuries are covered under workers’ compensation insurance, your employer or their workers’ compensation insurance carrier may try to deny your claim due to a variety of reasons. You can also make certain errors that can hurt your chances of receiving workers’ compensation benefits. To avoid these problems, you need to make the wise decision of hiring an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Redan.
At the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Coalition, we have a team of vastly experienced workers’ compensation lawyers who are committed to fighting for the rights of injured employees. We will help you handle the workers’ compensation claims process in Redan effectively and ensure that you obtain the maximum compensation that you deserve for your injuries. Call us today for the best outcome for your case.
