Just about every employee in Covington is covered by a workers’ compensation policy. In Georgia, employers with three or more employees must have this coverage. If you get hurt while performing work duties, you are likely eligible to recover costs through workers’ compensation insurance.
Unfortunately, the insurance company may look for ways to pay you less – or nothing at all. To protect yourself, you may need an experienced Covington workers’ compensation attorney from John Foy & Associates. We’ve been helping injured workers for over 20 years.
Contact our Covington personal injury lawyer today to discuss the details of your case.
How to Get Compensation If You Are Injured at Work in Covington
Workers’ compensation is a system that was set up to protect injured workers. If you suffer any type of injury while working, you should be covered by your employer’s workers’ comp policy. To seek benefits after an injury, you will need to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Here are the steps you should take after a work injury when filing your workers’ compensation claim:
Report the Injury Immediately
As soon as you are hurt on the job, tell your supervisor or boss what happened. Make sure they understand the details of your injury and make a note of it. It’s vital to report your injury right away. If you wait over a month to report it, you can lose your chance at compensation.
File Your Claim in Georgia
You will need to file a claim with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC) through a WC-14 form. You can get a copy through the SBWC or visit an office in person. You will need to know information about the insurance carrier your employer uses. If you don’t have this information, contact the SBWC or your employer.
Once you have filed the form, send your employer and the workers’ compensation insurance company a copy.
Get a Covington Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Unfortunately, workers’ compensation insurance carriers are no different than other types of insurance. They care most about their bottom line, so you may run into problems when seeking the benefits you deserve.
Insurance companies will look for ways to reduce the value of your claim, such as downplaying your injuries or asking for recorded statements when you’re most vulnerable. To protect yourself from the beginning, contact a workers’ compensation lawyer in the Covington area to discuss your case. They can make sure your rights are upheld throughout the process.
When You Can’t Work Because of Your Injuries
If the injuries you suffer on the job keep you from working for more than seven days, you should be eligible for weekly payments. In Georgia, compensation is two-thirds of what you were making – up to $675 per week.
The amount of time you receive these benefits depends on the severity and details of your injuries.
Can You Sue Your Employer for a Workplace Accident?
Workers sometimes wonder if they can sue their employer for damages after a work injury. Unlike other injury cases, you cannot sue for workers’ compensation in some cases. In fact, fault in the accident is not even considered. Workers’ compensation is set up to:
- Guarantee you benefits after an injury
- Protect your employer from a lawsuit
The only time you may be able to file a lawsuit after a work-related accident is if a third party was involved or if your employer intentionally meant to cause you harm.
If a third party, such as a product manufacturer or another driver in a car accident, caused some of your injuries, you will need to file a separate personal injury case against them. If your employer had mal intent, your workers’ compensation lawyer in Covington will need to help you gather evidence to prove it.
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What Is the Average Settlement for Workers’ Compensation?
Because every workers’ compensation case is different and no two workplace accidents are alike, there’s no one average figure that will help you understand your case. A range of different factors can affect your settlement, including the extent of your injuries, your employer’s policy, and whether there were other parties at fault.
When you receive temporary benefits, you usually get two-thirds of your average weekly wage, capped at $675, for a maximum of 400 weeks. Depending on your situation, though, there can be other benefits included.
The approved doctor will diagnose your injuries and prescribe treatment. Using standards set by the American Medical Association, they will let the insurance company know how much your compensation should be. If the doctor gets something wrong or undershoots your compensation, you can appeal with the help of a lawyer.
There is an easy way to understand how much you could get from your workers’ compensation settlement: getting a FREE initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer. An attorney can assess your case and tell you how much you can expect from your claim.
Costs You Can Recover in a Covington Workers’ Compensation Claim
A worker’s comp claim can cover many of the costs resulting from your work-related injuries, including:
- All costs of medical treatment, including doctor visits, imaging tests, surgeries, and prescription medications
- Types of therapy, such as occupational therapy or physical therapy
- Weekly payments at two-thirds of your regular rate (assuming you cannot work for seven days or more)
- Travel to and from doctor appointments
- Long term disability payments if you cannot return to work at all
When you hire a workers’ compensation attorney in Covington, they will gather evidence to calculate your damages. That way, whether you’re sending in your application or appealing a denied claim, you can show exactly how much compensation you need to recover.
All Injuries Are Covered by Workers’ Compensation
Most people correlate workers’ compensation injuries with dangerous jobs like construction. However, with workers’ compensation claims, it does not matter what type of injury you suffer or how your injury happened.
The injury also does not have to result from work-related duties. If you were hurt at work from falling downstairs, the injuries should still be covered because they happened while at work.
How Long Can I Stay on Workers’ Compensation in Georgia?
The general cap for benefits in a workers’ compensation case is 400 weeks, which is just over seven and a half years. That doesn’t mean you will receive benefits for that long, though. Your specific situation and the nature of your injuries will affect how long you can stay on workers’ compensation.
Usually, benefits only last as long as you’re not able to work. Your employer’s approved doctor will decide how long you need to recover and when you can go back to work. So, if you heal enough to return, your benefits will end.
On the other hand, benefits also last for as long as you need treatment. If your injuries require ongoing treatments or therapy, there is a chance that you can still receive payment past the 400-week mark. These cases are rare, though.
As always, be sure that you report your accident as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you could lose your chance at benefits. To get a better understanding of how long your benefits might last, you can always get a free consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Covington.
How a Covington Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help
The main goal of your workers’ compensation lawyer will be to get you the benefits you deserve after being hurt at work. A good lawyer should have comprehensive knowledge of the workers’ compensation claims process. They should also approach your case with compassion and your best interests in mind.
A Covington workers’ compensation attorney can make your case by:
- Completing necessary paperwork for your case
- Contacting doctors about the details of your injuries
- Answering any and all questions you have about your workers’ compensation claim
- Helping you obtain the medical care that fits the workers’ compensation policy requirements
- Negotiating for a fair settlement from your claim
- Communicating with your boss or supervisors about the case
Plus, an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer is on your side at all times. Our team wants to make sure you get what you need to recover from your injuries.
Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Covington, GA for Free
Don’t miss out on the benefits you are legally entitled to as an injured worker in Covington. In some cases, you have as little as one year to file your claim after your accident. For help with any aspect of your claim, talk to the Covington, GA, workers’ compensation lawyers at John Foy & Associates.
We have been helping injured workers for over 20 years. We understand the complicated details of workers’ compensation policies, and we are not afraid to fight hard for your rights. We will approach your case with the experience and compassion you need in a team of legal professionals.
Don’t delay your chance at fair compensation. To get started today with a FREE consultation, call us at (404) 400-4000.
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