If you have a job in Macon, you’re most likely covered by workers’ compensation insurance. It applies to all kinds of workers, regardless of what kind of job you have or how much money you make. If you’ve been injured on the job, you need a Macon workers’ compensation attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve.
John Foy & Associates has been advocating for injured workers for more than two decades. In that time, we have helped thousands of people get the workers’ compensation benefits they’re legally entitled to. We know how the system and the insurance companies work, and we are committed to bringing you a full recovery.
Understanding How Workers’ Compensation Works
Workers’ compensation exists to protect employees who get injured while at work. The purpose of workers’ compensation is to ensure workers have access to medical care and financial support after an injury on the job.
In essence, workers’ compensation pays for the damages of the injured employee without forcing them to file slow, expensive lawsuits. Legally, all employers with three or more employees must have a workers’ compensation insurance policy according to the Georgia State Workers’ Compensation Board.
If you suffer a workplace injury, the insurance policy covers the financial costs of your injuries. There are two things to keep in mind about workers’ compensation:
- Workers’ compensation isn’t a handout from the government or your employer. Your employer pays most of the cost of workers’ comp insurance by deducting money from your paycheck each month.
- If you get injured on the job, you have a right to workers’ compensation. It does not matter how your injury happened or whose fault it was.
Many people wrongfully assume that workers’ compensation works the same way a personal injury settlement from a civil claim does. While they may be similar in function, this isn’t the case.
Why Do I Need a Macon Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Help Me?
There are several reasons why you should retain one of our workers’ compensation lawyers in Macon to help you with your claim. We can:
- Help you gather evidence for your claim
- Represent your best interests and handle the insurance company for you
- Handle all the legal work so that you can focus on your recovery
- Accurately calculate all your damages and the value of your settlement
If you don’t know where to even begin, that’s a sign to get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible.
Macon Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Near Me 478-400-4000
What Damages Does Workers’ Compensation Cover in Macon?
Workers’ compensation should pay all your costs related to your injury. This includes paying you for the time you had to be off work. For most types of injuries, workers can expect to receive money for:
- Medical expenses, such as doctors, hospitals, and tests
- Prescription drugs and other medical equipment
- Occupational or physical therapy
- Vocational training, if you need it to return to work
- Travel expenses at 40 cents for every mile you must drive to get to and from healthcare providers
- A continued paycheck for as long as you are out of work (this paycheck will probably be smaller than your usual check, but you won’t pay taxes on it)
If your injury is permanent or you get left with a disability, you are eligible for additional money. If you lost a loved one in a workplace accident, you are also eligible for benefits.
Our Macon workers’ compensation lawyers don’t believe that money can ever compensate for these devastating losses. Still, it can mean that you won’t also have to deal with the stress of a lost paycheck while your medical bills pile up.
Does It Matter if My Injuries Are My Fault?
If your injuries happened at work, it’s covered by workers’ compensation, period. This means that:
- It doesn’t matter whose fault it is
- It doesn’t matter how the injury happened
- It doesn’t matter whether the injury was directly related to your job duties (for example, you’re covered if you slip on a wet floor)
- You don’t have to blame anyone or prove who caused the accident
The workplace can be an extremely dangerous place. Just recently, in 2019, private industry employers reported roughly 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries. Many injuries occur in various industries, from as dangerous as construction to relatively safe jobs in an office setting.
Remember, workers in any business or industry can get hurt on the job. We have seen claims from retail workers, restaurant employees, delivery drivers, and workers in many other occupations. So, don’t think your claim is less valid just cause you don’t work in a dangerous profession.
For a free legal consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer serving Macon, call 478-400-4000
Are There Injuries That Workers’ Compensation Won’t Cover?
Workers’ compensation was specifically created for workplace injuries. So, if your injury didn’t happen at your place of employment, it usually won’t get covered. However, there are exceptions, and you may still be eligible for workers’ compensation if you were hurt while you were:
- Traveling for work
- Driving a company car or truck
- Running an errand for your job
- Attending a work-related meeting at another location
- Working remotely
If you were injured while traveling to or from work, your injuries are probably not covered by workers’ compensation. But your injury may be covered if it occurred on your employer’s parking lot or sidewalk. Our workers’ compensation attorneys in Macon can investigate the circumstances surrounding your case to determine what will and won’t qualify for a claim.
Is Mental Health Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?
You may wonder if damages like mental health issues or pain and suffering get covered under workers’ compensation. Whether or not non-economic damages like these get covered will depend highly on the circumstances.
Workers’ compensation mainly pays for the damages of physical injuries. Therefore, if you were physically hurt and suffered emotional trauma, workers’ compensation should pay for your physical and mental health treatment.
But workers’ compensation does not pay for emotional injuries that don’t also have a physical component. So, if you suffered emotional trauma because you witnessed a tragic accident, you wouldn’t receive coverage under workers’ compensation.
Will I Have to Sue My Boss to Win My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
No. Workers’ compensation in Macon completely replaces the ordinary system of lawsuits for workplace injuries. This means that you cannot sue your employer. This rule has several advantages for injured workers:
- Workers’ compensation can be resolved much more quickly than a lawsuit
- Workers’ compensation is more predictable and reliable than taking your chances at court
- You never have to go against your boss or claim your employer was at fault
We frequently talk to injured workers who worry that their employer will be upset or retaliate against them if they make a workers’ compensation claim. In fact, the employer’s reaction is usually just the opposite: they have to carry workers’ compensation coverage, and they’re glad the insurance is available to help you get back on your feet.
It’s the insurance company that’s more likely to try to avoid paying your claim. This is why it’s crucial to get a workers’ compensation lawyer in Macon to help you with your claim.
Don’t Trust the Initial Settlement Offer
Unfortunately, if you get injured at work, you may have a hard time collecting the workers’ compensation benefits you’re legally entitled to. The insurance company may want you to settle with little investigation quickly. While this sounds great, in reality, they will only offer you the bare minimum for your injuries without any consideration of how bad they are.
Insurance companies make a bigger profit when they don’t pay out a lot of claims. The insurance company may question the extent of your injuries, dispute the facts about how and where your injury occurred, or send you to a doctor who isn’t genuinely interested in helping you recover. Don’t go without the benefits you deserve.
Georgia’s Statute of Limitations for Workers’ Compensation Claims
Standard personal injury claims typically have a two-year statute of limitations. For workers’ compensation claims, the statute of limitations is even shorter. You only have one year from the date of your injury to file.
Even though you have one year, it’s in your best interest to file as soon as you can, preferably after talking to an attorney. Then, once you get all the evidence and documentation required, you can get the maximum amount of compensation you need.
Don’t end up paying out of pocket for anything. If you get hurt, don’t delay in building a solid case for your claim. The longer you wait, the less likely the insurance company will believe that your injuries were severe. If you need help getting started, our workers’ compensation lawyers in Macon can help you.
Talk to a Macon Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Free
After sustaining injuries on the job, you have a right to workers’ compensation benefits. At John Foy & Associates, our Macon workers’ compensation lawyers want to make sure you get the money you’re entitled to, no matter what the insurance company says. We offer a free consultation where we’ll discuss your case and help you decide what to do.
Call or text 478-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
