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You are eligible for workers compensation in Columbus, GA from the day you start your job. Workers comp gives you a right to medical care and weekly pay if you’re injured while working. This system is designed to protect employees and help you get through recovery from your injuries without paying a financial cost. Unfortunately, employers and their insurance companies don’t always want to pay the money you are owed. That’s why you need a good Columbus workers comp lawyer from the start.
John Foy & Associates can help you through the workers compensation process. It’s a process with very complicated rules, and the insurance companies know those rules inside and out. You need someone on your side who knows them just as well. We have over 20 years of experience helping workers and their families get the benefits they need. We always take the side of the worker, never big companies. Call us at 706-400-4000 and get a free case evaluation today.
What is Workers Compensation?
Workers compensation is a system set up to make sure that workers who are injured on the job always get the care they need, without expensive lawsuits. The benefits it gives you include:
- Medical treatment. All of your medical treatment, including hospital stays is paid for by your employer’s insurance.
- Take home pay. If your doctor takes you out of work for a week or more, you receive temporary pay while you recover. The amount is two-thirds of your regular paycheck, up to a maximum of $550, and it is tax free. If you have a permanent injury, you may qualify for an additional payment.
- Physical therapy. If your injury requires physical therapy, it is included in the medical treatment you receive.
- All medication is covered.
- Necessary travel expenses. You will be reimbursed at a rate of 40 cents per mile for all travel to and from doctor or hospital visits, pharmacies, tests and other medical related trips.
In some cases you may also be eligible for vocational rehabilitation. You may also qualify for a “partial disability” payment when your recovery is complete.
What sorts of injuries are covered by workers compensation?
All injuries at the workplace are covered. Workers comp claims are most common in the construction field, with the chief causes of injury being falls, electric shock, being struck by a falling object, or getting caught in or between equipment. However, accidents happen in every kind of work. Some of the common causes of workers comp claims include:
- Back and neck Injuries
- Burns or scalds
- Hearing Loss
- Joint pain
- Fractures
- Accidents while traveling for business
- Accidents while working with machinery or tools
Are emotional or psychological injuries covered by workers comp?
To file a workers comp claim you must have a physical injury. Emotional trauma on its own does not qualify, even though it can have serious and lasting consequences. However, if the emotional trauma is connected to a physical injury that occurred at work, then you do qualify for treatment as part of your claim. For example, if you were assaulted by someone in your workplace, you could file a claim for both physical and psychological injuries.
What if the injury occurred on the way to work or somewhere off-premises?
We often see workers who got into an accident while driving to work. The answer is complicated. In general, no, injuries that happen during your commute to work are not covered. Normally, workers comp starts when you step onto your employer’s property. This could be a parking lot that your employer owns, a sidewalk on the company campus, or when you literally walk through the front door.
But there are cases where off-premises injuries are covered:
- Going on an errand for work as directed by your employer
- Going to off-site meetings
- While talking with a client, supervisor or colleague on your cell phone
- While driving a company vehicle
- During paid travel
Do I have to sue my employer?
No. In fact, in Columbus you cannot sue your employer for an injury that happened on the job. Workers compensation is the only way to get the benefits you need in most cases. And it is a much quicker process than a lawsuit.
We talk to many workers that don’t feel right “blaming” or harming their employer. But you are not harming anyone with workers comp. Your employer already pays for workers compensation insurance and you are simply getting a fair reimbursement of your costs, which is guaranteed to you by law.
Your employer cannot terminate you or take any action against you at work because of your injury—or your claim.
Is there a time limit to file a workers comp claim in Columbus?
Yes, there is a very strict set of deadlines attached to workers compensation. In Georgia, you have just 30 days to report your injury to your employer, or you cannot file a claim. The claim itself must generally be filed within a year of the injury. In some cases there are longer timeframes, but they are rare. And the longer you wait, the more difficult your claim may be—employers will argue that you would have known much sooner that an injury had serious effects.
We have worked with hundreds of injured workers. We know that it often takes weeks, months or even years to see the full extent of an injury. We also know that most workers don’t want to get involved in a legal process if they don’t have to. But your health is your greatest asset, and you are guaranteed these benefits by law. You need to speak to a lawyer and make sure you get the full amount you need.
Talk to a Columbus, GA Workers Comp Lawyer for Free
We believe that every injured worker has a right to worker comp. Let us help you. John Foy & Associates is one of the largest and most experienced workers comp law firms in Columbus. We will give you a 100% free consultation and help you decide how to proceed with your claim.
Don’t lose your workers comp claim. Call us at 706-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
