Is There Workers’ Comp for Tree Service Workers in Georgia?

If you are employed as a tree service worker in Georgia, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation if you get hurt on the job. To find out if your employer offers workers’ compensation benefits, you can ask them to provide a certification of workers’ comp insurance. In addition, if you get hurt during a tree service job but are denied workers’ comp benefits, it can be beneficial to meet with an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer to review your legal options.

John Foy & Associates has been fighting and winning workers’ comp cases in Georgia for over 25 years. If you are interested in filing a workers’ comp claim after a tree service work accident and injury, please reach out to us. Our workers’ compensation lawyer can review your case and help you decide how to proceed with it. 

Everything You Need to Know About Workers’ Comp for Tree Service Workers in Georgia

Workers’ compensation is available to many Georgia tree service workers and other employees who suffer an injury while on the job. The accident insurance program requires an employer to provide medical, income, and other benefits to an employee who was injured at work. If an employee dies due to a workplace accident and injury, their family may receive workers’ comp death benefits as well. 

Georgia’s State Board of Workers’ Compensation handles workers’ comp requests. The board also provides answers to frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation. In doing so, the board protects the rights of employees and employers. 

If you suffer a tree service work injury, it is in your best interests to report the incident to your employer within 30 days. Otherwise, you may lose the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. After that point, you are fully responsible for any costs you incur relating to your injury. 

The Cost of a Tree Service Work Injury Can Be Significant

Research indicates the non-fatal injury rate for tree workers in the United States is 239 injuries per 10,000 workers. Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of tree trimmers and pruners in the United States. This means thousands of non-fatal tree worker injuries happen nationwide every year, and these injuries can have a major impact on a tree worker’s finances.

An injury can make it difficult for a tree service employee to work. Also, the injury can require expensive treatments and a lengthy rehabilitation period. If a tree service worker does not receive workers’ comp benefits, they may struggle to pay their bills and rebound from their injury. 

You may have questions about who is not covered by workers’ compensation. The team at John Foy & Associates can answer these questions and many others as soon as you get in touch with us. Then, we can give you insights into workers’ compensation in Georgia and help you determine if now is the right time to file a workers’ comp claim for a tree service work injury. 

Do Not Wait to Get Treatment for a Tree Service Work Injury

If you get hurt during a tree service work accident, go to a hospital or call 911 immediately. This allows you to consult with a doctor to get your injury diagnosed and treated. Keep track of any medical bills you receive, as these may be used to support your workers’ comp claim. 

You may follow all the rules to file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer and have a strong case. Regardless, your workers’ comp claim can be denied for many reasons, such as:

• You did not report your injury to your employer within 30 days.
• You did not file your request for workers’ comp benefits within one year of the date of your injury. 
• You did not provide a sufficient amount of evidence to support your claim. 
• Your injury is considered a pre-existing condition that did not occur as a direct result of your work duties. 

A workers’ compensation lawyer can go through a denial letter with you. If you believe you still have a valid argument for workers’ comp benefits, your attorney can help you file an appeal. They can guide you through the appeal process and make sure you present a compelling argument to get the workers’ comp benefits you deserve. 

What to Expect When You Appeal a Workers’ Comp Denial

Your attorney offers legal resources to teach you about the steps involved in appealing a workers’ comp denial relating to a tree service work injury. They make sure your appeal is filed correctly, and you have plenty of evidence to support your case. Along with these things, your lawyer will argue your case before a judge and do everything they can to compel them to overturn your denial. 

An administrative law judge (ALJ) may hear your case and reverse the original decision to deny your workers’ comp request. Your lawyer can present a strong argument to the judge. Yet, the ALJ may still decide against providing you with workers’ compensation benefits. 

Even if an ALJ denies your workers’ comp claim, you can still appeal the judge’s decision. To do so, you can submit an appeal to the Georgia Appellate Division. Once the Appellate Division hears your case, they can overturn or amend the ALJ’s decision, send it back to the ALJ for further review, or award your workers’ comp benefits. 

It Pays to Have an Experienced Workers’ Comp Lawyer at Your Side

If you are injured in a tree service work accident, you should seek compensation from your employer. You can submit a workers’ comp claim, but your employer may do whatever it takes to deny your benefits. In this scenario, it helps to have a workers’ compensation lawyer at your disposal. 

Your attorney can explain what industries have the most workers’ compensation claims. They can review your tree service work injury and find out if it is covered under Georgia’s workers’ comp laws. If so, they can help you report your injury, file a workers’ comp claim, and get fair compensation. 

When you hire an attorney, it helps to choose one who has extensive workers’ compensation case experience. Your lawyer should know what it takes to resolve a workers’ comp case. They can put you in the best position to secure the most compensation possible. 

Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

John Foy & Associates can connect you with a workers’ compensation attorney to help you with your tree service work injury case. Please contact us today to request a free case evaluation.