Helping You Understand Workersโ Compensation: We Fight for Justice for Injured Workers in Loganville
Employers throughout Georgia are required to maintain safe premises and give their employees the training they need to stay safe at work. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Workplace injuries and illnesses remain a serious public safety concern. If you were injured on the job, it is important to understand your options for financial recovery. It is imperative that you know what to do to protect your health, well-being, and legal rights.
Our Loganville workers’ compensation lawyers at The Larrison Law Firm in Loganville know that life is often difficult after a work accident injury. Our lawyers and staff members have decades of experience handling workersโ compensation matters. We will carefully explain your options and guide you through the process of seeking workersโ compensation. Contact us at our Loganville law office today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a top-rated Georgia workersโ comp lawyer.
Know the Steps to Take After a Job-Related Accident in Loganville, GA
Were you injured or made ill on the job in Loganville, Walton County, Gwinnett County, or elsewhere in the surrounding region? It is imperative that you take a proactive approach to protect yourself and your rights. Here are four steps to take after a work accident in Loganville:
- Seek Prompt Professional Medical Care: Your recovery starts now. Do not wait: See a doctor immediately after your injury. Prompt treatment not only protects your health, but it can also strengthen your workersโ compensation claim.
- Report Your Accident: Be sure to notify your employer. You only have 30 days to report the incident under Georgia law. The sooner you report, the stronger your position. Always follow up in writing and keep a copy for your records.
- File for Workersโ Comp Benefits: You need to file a claim. The right form is Form WC-14 right away. It is effectively your formal request for benefits under Georgiaโs workersโ compensation system. A Loganville, GA workersโ comp lawyer can help.
- Appeal a Denial (If Necessary): A denial is not the end of the road. You have the right to a hearing before an administrative law judge. The reality is that many denials are successfully reversed when challenged. A Loganville, GA workersโ comp appeals lawyer can help.
What is Workersโ Compensation?
Workersโ compensation is provided by an employer after an employee is injured on the job. Workersโ compensation generally covers medical expenses related to the workplace injury, along with a portion of the injured employeeโs wages. By accepting workersโ compensation, an employee gives up his or her right to file a lawsuit against the employer. Some important facts about workersโ compensation in Georgia are:
- Georgia Law Sets Workersโ Comp Benefits: State law determines your weekly check. We cannot change it. In Georgia, the amount of wage replacement you receive through workersโ compensation is set by statute. As a general rule, you are entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a legal maximum. The payment is designed to provide financial stability while you recover, but it is not negotiable. Even if your living expenses are high, neither your employer nor the insurer has the authority to increase your weekly benefit.
- Pain and Suffering is Not Covered: You cannot receive compensation for pain and suffering through a workersโ compensation settlement. Workersโ comp benefits are limited to specific economic losses, such as medical expenses and partial wage replacement. Emotional distress, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment of lifeโcommonly awarded in personal injury casesโare not compensable under Georgiaโs workersโ compensation. However, if you have a third-party liability claim, you may be able to get compensation for pain and suffering. Our Loganville, GA work injury attorney can help.
- You Should Get to a Doctor: All work injuries in Loganville should be evaluated by a doctor. Although your health should be a priority after your accident, your employer is not required to allow you to see a doctor within a certain time frame. Georgia workersโ compensation law does not require employers to provide immediate medical appointments. That said, prompt treatment is still crucial for both your recovery and your claim. You should request care right away and document your request in writing.
- Your Employer Should Provide Information on Medical Providers: Employers are required to post the panel of physicians from whom you can seek medical attention somewhere in your workplace. If it is not readily available, it is important to obtain a copy from your employer. Georgia law mandates that employers post a list of at least six authorized doctors or clinicsโcalled the โpanel of physiciansโโin a visible workplace location. You must choose a provider from this list for your medical treatment to be covered.
An Overview of Workersโ Comp Benefits in Loganville, GA
In Georgia, you may be able to obtain a wide range of workersโ compensation benefits as part of your claim. In Loganville, you may be able to secure workersโ comp benefits for:
- Medical Care: In Georgia, medical benefits cover all necessary and authorized medical treatment related to your work injuryโfrom doctor visits to prescriptions to surgeries to outpatient care. Treatment must be provided by a physician from your employerโs approved panel. Notably, there are sometimes disputes over whether or not care is required.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits: If your injury prevents you from working at all, you may receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum set by law in Georgia. These benefits continue while you are unable to work and under medical care.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits: When you have a lasting physical impairment but can still work, you may be entitled to PPD based on a physicianโs disability rating. Compensation is paid according to a schedule set by Georgia law. Disability rating is the key to determining how much PPD benefits you will get in Loganville.
- Death Benefits (Fatal Accident): If a worker dies due to a job-related injury, eligible dependents can receive weekly income benefits. Spouses and minor children are most often the survivors who are entitled to death benefits in Georgia. Beyond that, workersโ compensation covers funeral expenses up to a specified limit.
We Will Represent You in a Workersโ Compensation Appeal
If your workersโ compensation claim has been denied, delayed, or undervalued in Loganville, we are ready to fight back on your behalf. At The Larrison Law Firm, we put injured workers first. The reality is that appeals are complex. Insurance companies have experienced lawyers working against you, and for that reason, you need skilled legal representation on your side. We know the process, the evidence that wins cases, and how to challenge bad-faith denials. From requesting a hearing to arguing before the State Board, we will advocate aggressively for the full benefits you are rightfully owed. Do not go it alone: Consult with our Loganville workersโ comp lawyer right away.
We Will Protect Your Rights: Why Trust Our Loganville Workersโ Comp Attorney
Workersโ comp claims cases are complicated. Following a work accident, you may have a lot of questions about your rights and your options. As your law firm, our priorities are to help you understand the processes involved in workersโ compensation matters and to protect your rights. We will help make sure you get the medical attention you need and then help you seek the compensation you deserve, whether it is your first time applying or if you were denied benefits. At The Larrison Law Firm, we have a proven record of case results. Our firm is proactive. When you reach out to our Loganville law office, you will connect with a Georgia workersโ comp lawyer who can:
- Hear your story and answer questions about your workersโ comp claim.
- Investigate your accident, gathering all relevant evidence.
- Help you complete workersโ compensation claims paperwork; and
- Take action focused on ensuring that you can secure the maximum benefits.
Call Us Today To Schedule Your Free Consultation
At The Larrison Law Firm, our Loganville workersโ comp lawyers are committed to fighting for justice for injured workers. If you were hurt on the job, we can help. To arrange a free consultation with one of our attorneys, please call our office at 770-626-7895 or reach out to us online. From our Loganville law office, we represent injured workers in Walton County, Gwinnett County, and communities throughout the surrounding region in Georgia. Call us today!