Reporting a Work-Related Injury in Riverdale

Know your worker’s comp rights and responsibilities after an occupational illness or a work-related injury. Your place of work should be a space where you feel safe from harm. If you have experienced an occupational illness or injury, the consequences to your mental and physical health, as well as your finances, can be overwhelming as well as the added stress of reporting a work injury in Riverdale.

That’s why in nearly all cases, workers who are hurt on the job in Georgia are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits through the Georgia workers’ compensation program. This program exists to assist injured employees Georgia-wide by providing a range of entitlements to help you recover from your injury. These benefits can include compensation for medical care and treatment, lost wages, and rehabilitation support.

While Georgia’s workers’ comp scheme is a no-fault system, injured workers must demonstrate a certain level of responsibility and follow specific steps after a work-related injury or illness. One of these responsibilities is reporting the injury to the appropriate parties promptly.

As experienced specialized workers’ comp practice lawyers in Georgia, we’ve been winning cases like yours for years. The Riverdale workers’ comp lawyers at the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition understand that suffering an on-the-job illness or injury can present major hurdles to overcome regardless of the severity. That’s why we support you from the get-go with care, including reporting your work-related injury in Riverdale.

Call us today at 470-518-5026 to book a free consultation. Let our team take care of your legal needs so you can focus on your recovery.

Who Do I Have to Report a Workplace Injury to?

When a workplace accident happens, time is of the essence – the first thing to do after seeking emergency medical care is to notify your employer. In Georgia, you are can also report your workplace illness or injury to your direct manager, supervisor, foreman, or other employer’s representative.

Suppose you suffered a catastrophic injury and cannot report the accident yourself; you can request a friend, colleague, or family member to report the workplace accident on your behalf.

How Long Do I Have in Reporting a Work Injury in Riverdale, Georgia?

Injured workers in Riverdale have a short window to report a workplace injury. Workers’ compensation laws in Georgia require injured employees to give notice of the incident and injury within 30 days of getting hurt.

If you suffered a sudden injury, such as, for example, you sustain a back injury while lifting a heavy object, the clock to report your injury starts counting down right away.

Employer Responsibilities in Georgia’s Workers’ Comp Process

You will need to understand the responsibilities of your employer in the workers’ compensation claim process to protect your interests.

• Employers must guide injured workers to receive immediate medical care by posting a panel of at least six medical providers/physicians in the community in a conspicuous area.
• The employer must report the injury on time and file the “first report of injury” form.
• Your employer is required to cooperate and communicate with the workers’ comp insurance carrier and other relevant parties in investigating the workplace accident.
• Employers are responsible for making sure another accident does not happen because of the same incident.
• Employers are responsible for facilitating the worker’s return to the workplace once they are approved to return to work by the authorized treating physician.
• Employers are responsible for advising authorized treating medical providers of modifications they can make to the existing job to facilitate the workers’ return to work on restrictions.

Employee Responsibility After a Work-Related Injury

If you’ve sustained a work injury in Riverdale, GA, you are covered by the state-administered workers’ comp insurance program and may be entitled to paid medical care and other benefits to support you financially while you are hurt and unable to work.

However, recovering these benefits is not as straightforward as it may seem. It is not uncommon for genuine claims to be rejected or discontinued.

Being well informed regarding your duties, rights, and responsibilities in the workers’ compensation claim process is the most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you are hurt or fall ill on the job in Riverdale or anywhere in Georgia, you have the following responsibilities:

• You must follow all your employer’s written rules of workplace safety and other reasonable procedures and policies.
• Injured employees are required to report any workplace accident or injury right away; if that’s not possible, you have 30 days from the date of the accident to report the incident and your injuries to the manager, your employers’ representative, immediate supervisor, foreman, or employer.
• You must notify the workers’ comp insurance carrier of your new address when you relocate to a new location. You are also required to notify the insurance company of when you can return to work either part or full time and report the amount of your weekly wages.
• You are required to attempt a job approved by your authorized treating physician.
• If you wish to get reimbursement for travel or mileage costs related to the treatment of your illness or injury, you have one year from the date the expense was incurred to submit the request to your employer/insurance company.
• If a worker is convinced they are entitled to workers’ comp benefits, and the employer/insurance carrier rejects their claim for these benefits, they have one year from the date of the last authorized medical treatment or two years from the date of their last payment of weekly benefits to file a claim.

Call Us Today When Reporting a Work Injury in Riverdale

Many people worry about whether they should report a work-related injury or illness. They have concerns over whether their bosses will be annoyed and treat them differently or try to dismiss them.

You have a right to report workplace injuries and seek benefits thanks to Georgia’s workers’ compensation system. However, strict time limits apply, and there are crucial steps you must take when reporting a workplace injury. Besides, the workers’ comp claim process can be very confusing, especially when you’re worried about recovery, piling medical bills, and not missing deadlines.

The Riverdale workers’ comp attorneys at the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition can help you take action immediately after a workplace injury. We can assist with reporting a work injury and all other aspects of your case.

Call us today at 470-518-5026 to speak directly with experienced Riverdale workers’ compensation lawyers. Your initial meeting to discuss your case with our lawyers is free!