The rights of workers in Georgia must be upheld, especially regarding work-related accidents and seeking compensation. However, the process can be full of complicated legal requirements that intimidate most employees. Furthermore, some employers and their insurance carriers will search for any loopholes they can exploit to reduce or reject a claim. You need a Winder workers’ compensation lawyer to uphold your rights.
If you are an unfortunate victim of an occupational accident in Winder, Georgia, we at Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition Atlanta can help you fight for your rights and interests. Over the years, we have represented thousands of individuals working across Georgia, helping them receive compensation benefits for their work-related injuries or illnesses.
Get in touch with us if you want a seasoned, reputable, and dedicated Winder workers’ compensation lawyer. You can reach us at 470-518-5026 or visit our office in Winder, GA, for a free case review and learn more about our services.
Table of Contents
What’s Workers’ Compensation?
Businesses with a workforce or two or more individuals are legally mandated to provide workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is insurance coverage that employers are expected to carry, protecting the staff from workplace diseases and injuries. And under these laws, an injured worker could be entitled to receiving the following benefits when filing for compensation:
- Losses related to treatment and medical expenses
- Disability benefits, covering TTD, PPD, TPD, and PTD)
- Physical therapy and rehab costs
- Prescription drugs
- Traveling expenses when going for doctor appointments
What Should I Do If I’m Hurt While Doing My Job?
In the years we have represented employees in Georgia, we have learned that they can take certain measures to secure their chances of receiving workers’ comp benefits. Some of the things we highly recommend you do when you are involved in an occupational accident include:
- Going for a checkup immediately for a doctor to assess and rule out any life-threatening issues and start you on the right treatment.
- Report the incident to the relevant authority, who can be your team leader, manager, supervisor, or employer) and if you need immediate medical attention for them to direct you to the correct health physician.
- Request a workmate or your supervisor to help you write a report about the accident if you are unable because of your injury. It should document the nature and extent of your injuries and be handed over to your manager, team leader, supervisor, or employer.
- Request for a copy of the doctor’s report and, if possible, take pictures of your injuries, keeping them safe because they will be used to support your claim.
- Look for a reputable and experienced attorney specializing in workers’ compensation claims in Georgia to help you with the legal processes required when filing the claim.
- Rest and recover.
What Are the Most Common Workplace Accident Injuries in Georgia?
While we never know when and where an accident will happen, we appreciate that such incidents will have a life-changing impact. Some of the injuries associated with workplace accidents include:
- Slip and fall injuries
- Back/neck injury
- Burns
- Loss of eyesight
- Joint pain
- Fractures
- Amputations
- Hearing loss
- Injuries sustained while operating tools or machinery
Why Should I Hire a Winder Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
Opting to handle such a case yourself is a move that most likely will result in you get a small settlement or your claim being rejected. That is why we strongly advise employees that suffered harm while on the job to consider working with a seasoned attorney when pursuing a workers’ comp claim. When you hire our lawyers, you will get a professional who will commit all the available expertise and resources to fight for your rights and interests. We shall investigate the incident, gather crucial evidence, and develop a winning strategy when representing you.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Winder Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
We do our best to put your mind at ease when you come to us for help with the workers’ comp case. Part of our efforts to show that we know how the situation is unbearable for you includes offering a free case review. Moreover, we also can provide our services on a contingency fee arrangement. That means you will pay us after helping you recover all the damages. Under this agreement, you will not cough up a single penny if we fail to help you receive full benefits.
What Should I Do If My Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?
Your claim could be rejected for different reasons. Still, you can appeal the denial by requesting a hearing with the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Board Judge to review the ruling. Your lawyer can also file an appeal with the administrative law judge or consider taking the matter before the Supreme Court in Georgia if the first two avenues fail.
What Responsibility Does the Employee Have in Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim?
As an employee in Georgia, you are legally required to honor the following things when pursuing a workers’ comp claim:
- Adhere to safety rules and producers in your workplace regarding occupational accidents.
- Report the incident within the short time possible (mostly less than 30 days from when it occurred).
- Seek medical attention and recovery care as ordered by the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Board.
- Prove the accident is directly linked to your job occupation.
- Inform your employer and their insurance carrier of the incident and the date you are expected to resume work.
- Submit to a drug test after the incident to ascertain you were not working while intoxicated.
- Get back to work after your attending health physician qualifies you to be fit to resume.
- File a claim with the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Board within 12 months from the accident.
- Ensure that you state true facts about what happened because any false statements can be considered a criminal act and disqualify you from pursuing a compensation claim.
What Responsibility Does the Employer Have in the Workers’ Compensation Process?
While the workers’ comp coverage is primarily meant to cushion employees against work-related injuries or sicknesses, it also does consider the employer. The workers’ comp laws give employers some responsibilities in the compensation process, which include:
- Posting a compliance notice as stipulated by the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act.
- Ensure injured workers get immediate treatment.
- Fill an injury report and submit it to the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Board.
- Furnish the insurance carrier with any additional information regarding the accident and the employee’s treatment and recovery.
Can an Injured Worker in Georgia Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim?
No. No employer is legally allowed to fire you for filing a workers’ comp claim. In fact, workers’ compensation laws are put in place to prevent this kind of behavior. With this in mind, if you believe that you were wrongly terminated, it’s important you work with an experienced lawyer to help you build a case against your former employer on the grounds of illegal retaliation for filing a workers’ comp claim.
Is There a Statute of Limitations to Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Georgia?
Yes! The Georgia Workers’ Comp Act gives an employee one year after the workplace accident to file the claim. But we recommend starting the process as soon as possible to ensure we handle all the legal requirements and build a strong case. So, get in touch with our lawyer today.
Can I Sue My Employer?
Since the workers’ comp coverage is meant to protect you and your employer, suing your employer does not make any sense. The claim we fill only ensures your rights and interests are protected while proving you were not responsible for the accident.
Can Independent Contractors in Winder, GA, File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
As per the Georgia workers’ comp laws, only individuals with a statutory (permanent) employment contract can file for compensation benefits. It means an independent worker or one with temporary employment is exempted from the coverage. We shall ensure that your employer does not misclassify you as an independent contractor to avoid paying the workers’ compensation premiums or benefits.
What’s My Winder Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?
Your lawyer will consider different factors when determining your workers’ compensation claim’s worth. Some of the things that we shall consider include:
- Your medical bills
- Rehab costs
- A percentage of your lost wages
- Prescription drugs expenses
- Lost wages
- Travel expenses related to treatment, therapy, and rehab
- Your income loss replacement benefit is two-thirds of your average weekly earnings and capped at $575 per week.
- PPD (Permanent Partial Disability) benefits based on your disability rating issued by an authorized health physician and in compliance with the AMA (American Medical Association) guidelines.
Call Our Winder Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Today for Reliable Legal Counsel
In Georgia, workers’ compensation laws have very specific guidelines that have to be followed when filing a comp claim. Understanding these guidelines is crucial to improving the odds of receiving the benefits you are owed. If you are an unfortunate victim of an occupational accident in Winder, Georgia, we at Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Coalition Atlanta can help you fight for your rights and interests.
Over the years, we have represented thousands of individuals working across Georgia, helping them receive compensation benefits for their work-related injuries or illnesses. Get in touch with us if you want a seasoned, reputable, and dedicated Winder workers’ compensation lawyer. You can reach us at 470-518-5026 or visit our office in Winder, GA, for a free case review and learn more about our services.
