After a workplace accident, you may assume that your employer will pay for your medical bills and lost wages. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. What if your employer informs you that your work-related incident isn’t covered under compensable work injuries in Watkinsville, Georgia?
Workers’ compensation insurance is meant to protect employees after workplace accidents. It should pay for your injuries or illnesses caused by your job. However, your employer and their insurance carrier may try to dispute your workers’ compensation claim after a work injury.
You deserve compensation if you’ve sustained work injuries. An experienced Watkinsville workers’ compensation lawyer can help you pursue the benefits you rightfully deserve. The Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition is prepared to push the insurance carrier to pay for all your compensable work injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free case review and discuss your legal options.
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What Are Workers’ Comp Compensable Injuries?
A compensable injury is an injury that occurs while an employee is performing their work duties. This is an injury that qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits according to Georgia’s compensation laws. In Georgia, your injury can be termed as a compensable injury if:
The Injury You Have Sustained Was Caused by Your Job
A compensable work injury in Watkinsville, GA, has to be directly linked to your job. You must prove that your job led to your injury. For instance, workers in the coal industry often get black lung disease. This is a job-related illness that occurs once a worker inhales coal dust for a long time. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Watkinsville can help you to establish such a cause-effect relationship.
The Injury Occurred During the Course of Your job
For an injury to qualify as a Watkinsville compensable work injury, it should have occurred while you were performing your work duties in the workplace. You should have clocked in for work to be eligible for compensation benefits. If you sustain an injury while on a lunch date during your break, this won’t be considered a compensable work injury under Georgia laws.
Common Injuries Covered by Workers’ Comp
According to the National Safety Council, the leading causes of workplace injuries throughout the US are:
- Slips, falls, and trips
- Being struck, caught, squeezed, or crushed by objects
- Overexertion and bodily reaction
The above three causes account for over 84% of non-fatal injuries within the workplace. Fires and explosions, exposure to harmful substances, and transportation incidents also lead to workplace injuries, including:
- Back and neck injuries caused by repetitive motion
- Burns due to corrosive substances, fires, and explosions in the workplace
- Bone fractures caused by falling objects or falling from elevated points
- Hearing loss in industries such as mining, manufacturing, construction, and defense
- Slips and falls caused by slippery surfaces
- Construction site accidents
- Amputations as a result of impact with objects
- Equipment-related accidents caused by faulty machines, intoxication, or lack of concentration
- Accidents while on business trips
All of the above may qualify as compensable work injuries in Watkinsville, GA. A seasoned workers’ compensation attorney can help you prove that your injury is directly linked to your workplace accident. Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition will push for maximum compensation in your workers’ comp claim.
What Types of Compensation Can You Claim?
After a workplace accident, it’s normal to wonder about the types of compensation you will receive. A work injury can completely alter the course of your life. You may sustain temporary or permanent impairment. Here are the types of compensation you can receive after a workplace accident in Watkinsville:
Medical Benefits
Your employer’s insurance carrier is required to pay all your medical bills after a work injury. This includes your surgery, prescription medications, assistive devices, diagnostic tests, and physical therapy.
Lost Wage Benefits
You may also be eligible for indemnity benefits after a workplace accident. These benefits replace your lost income if you are unable to return to work due to your injury. They can also subsidize your income if you return to work to perform lighter duties once an authorized doctor gives you the green light to work.
Rehabilitation Benefits
After suffering a compensable work injury, vocational benefits such as on-the-job training, retraining, and job search assistance can help you return to work after an extended stay out of the workplace.
Death Benefits
If your loved one passes on due to a work injury, you may be entitled to death benefits. According to the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act, the deceased’s spouse and children are entitled to death benefits. The death benefits for a surviving spouse in Georgia are capped at $270,000.
How Long Do You Have to File for Compensation in Georgia?
After a workplace injury, you are required to report the incident to your supervisor immediately. You have 30 days to inform your supervisor or employer about your injury. If you don’t report your work injury within this period, you risk losing your compensation benefits.
The statute of limitations to file a claim for your compensable work injuries in Watkinsville, GA, is one year. You also have one year from your last medical treatment or two years from the last payment of your weekly indemnity payments to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Call Us Now for Help With Compensable Work Injuries in Watkinsville
Proving your injury is work-related may be a challenging task. Your employer and their insurance carrier may dispute your claim. They may argue that your injury isn’t compensable. The insurance carrier may blame your injury on a pre-existing condition.
If you are having trouble receiving compensation for your work injuries in Watkinsville, the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition is here to help. Our legal team will conduct an independent investigation into your workplace accident case to establish a link between your work and your injury. We will go above and beyond to prove that your injuries are related to the scope of your work.
Call 470-518-5026 to learn more about your legal options. We operate on a contingency basis. So, you don’t have to worry about paying any upfront fees for our legal services. Get started now to schedule your free case review.
