Just about every employee working in LaGrange should be covered by workers’ compensation through their employer. If you become injured on the job and are covered by workers’ compensation, you can receive benefits like medical care and income benefits. However, many workers struggle to get the full benefits they deserve from the insurance company. They often need assistance from an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer in LaGrange.
At John Foy & Associates, we have helped countless injured workers get the benefits they need for the past 20 plus years. We know how to handle the insurance companies and fight for your rights.
If you need help with your workers’ compensation claim, contact us today for a FREE consultation at (404) 400-4000 or by reaching out online.
Learn how our Lagrange personal injury lawyer may be able to help with your situation.
Understanding How Workers’ Compensation Works in LaGrange
Workers’ compensation, often referred to as simply workers’ compensation, is mandated by the state of Georgia in LaGrange. Workers’ compensation is meant to act as insurance for employees in the event of an accident at work.
Workers’ compensation claims are different than personal injury claims because the parties cannot sue each other. In exchange for insurance that provides benefits to you, especially medical care, if you become injured on the job, you cannot file a lawsuit against your employer or blame them for your injuries.
Requirements for Employers
Any business in LaGrange with three or more regular employees is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, according to the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC). The employees do not have to be full-time to count towards this number—they just have to work for the business on a regular basis.
If a business is incorporated, it’s officers also count as workers under workers’ compensation—even if an officer opts to waive workers’ compensation coverage on himself or herself.
Any Injury Is Covered
As long as your injuries happen on the job, they should be covered under workers’ compensation. It doesn’t matter what industry you work in or how serious your injuries are. Even office workers can file a claim if they become injured while on the job.
Workers’ compensation is provided by a private insurance company. Your employer purchases a policy from the insurance company. This is where many workers experience problems.
Insurance companies, unfortunately, care most about their bottom lines. They will look for ways to reduce what they have to pay you, even on workers’ compensation claims. They might:
- Try to minimize the amount of medical care you get
- Underplay the severity of your injuries
- Claim some or all of your injuries did not happen at work or
- Pressure you to return to work before you’re fully recovered
To protect your rights and make sure you’re not missing out on your full benefits after a work injury, we highly recommend reaching out to an experienced LaGrange workers’ compensation lawyer. Schedule a consultation to discuss the details of your case and find out what your options are.
At John Foy & Associates, the consultation is always FREE and no-obligation. To schedule your FREE consultation today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
Benefits You Can Receive Through Workers’ Compensation
The main benefits provided under workers’ compensation include:
- Medical care
- Wage benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation and
- Death benefits
Medical Benefits
All of your medical costs should be covered after a work-related injury. That includes doctor and hospital bills, prescription medications, physical therapy, and travel to and from medical appointments. Most of the time, medical benefits have a 400-week limit, although most workers are able to return to work well before that deadline.
To ensure you can receive compensation for your medical costs, make sure you see an authorized physician under your workers’ compensation insurance. Your employer should provide you with information about how to find an approved doctor.
If your employer does not provide you with the right information for medical care after a work injury, contact a workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible.
Wage Benefits
If your injuries prevent you from working for at least seven days, you are entitled to receive income benefits known as temporary total disability benefits. These are paid at two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to $675 per week.
Your income benefits should continue until you have reached “maximum medical improvement,” which means you have healed as much as you can with treatment. You also cannot receive these benefits for more than 400 weeks unless you suffer a catastrophic injury.
If you can return to work but you now must earn less because of your injuries, you are entitled to begin receiving temporary partial benefits. These are equal to two-thirds of the difference between your average weekly wages before and after you became injured—capped at $450 per week. You also cannot receive these benefits for more than 350 weeks.
Don’t Miss the Deadlines for Workers’ Compensation in LaGrange
After a work injury, it’s important to act quickly to seek the compensation you deserve. There are two deadlines you need to keep in mind:
- Reporting the accident and
- Filing your workers’ compensation claim
Under Georgia law, you must give notice of a work injury to your supervisor, in writing or in person, within 30 days of the accident (Georgia Code section 34-9-80). If you fail to do this within 30 days, no compensation will be paid to you.
After your work injury, you will also have one year from the date of your injury to file a workers’ compensation claim. If you receive medical treatment, the deadline may be one year from the last time to got treatment that the workers’ compensation paid for.
To ensure you stay on track with every deadline for your workers’ compensation case, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.
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Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in LaGrange, GA for Free Today
If you were hurt at work, you likely have a right to medical care, income benefits, and other benefits through workers’ compensation. Schedule a FREE consultation with us at John Foy & Associates today if you need help with your case. During your consultation, we’ll discuss the details of your case and how we can help you.
Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online now to get started with your FREE consultation.
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