Whenever you’re injured on the job, it would be logical to assume your medical care and any additional rehabilitation needs would be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. While that is typically the case, not all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you aren’t sure about the workers’ compensation policy at your place of employment, our attorneys can help. We’ve compiled a helpful guide below to assist you.
Must Know Information About Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
Georgia law requires employers with more than three workers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The insurance covers lost wages and medical expenses if the workplace injury leaves an employee incapacitated or unable to return to work. If the workplace incident results in the death of a worker, the workers’ compensation benefits go to the spouse and any children. Workers’ compensation insurance also covers all workplace injuries, even those that happen at an off-site workplace. Workers’ compensation applies to travel injuries if the worker’s position requires driving to other properties to complete their job. Workers’ compensation covers remote workers, too, but you must provide evidence that the injury was directly related to work activities.
Important Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury
The deadline to apply for workers’ compensation benefits is not long, so you need to file an accident report immediately after your injury. Whether you think your injury was serious or not, you need to file an accident report every time. Even if an injury seems minor, it could be a symptom of something more serious. It’s not uncommon for workers to feel their injuries are minor after their accident, only to feel sore or unwell days later.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Almost every state requires employers to obtain workers’ compensation insurance, so you’ll likely be covered unless you work for a small business with few employees. When workers’ compensation coverage is approved, an injured worker is usually barred from filing future lawsuits against their employer regarding the injury. While this may seem like a setback, it does benefit employees whose accident was caused by personal negligence. When workers’ compensation covers a workplace injury, there’s no need to prove negligence.
Workers’ compensation benefits typically cover the costs of:
- Medical treatments for necessary visits, which can range from diagnostic visits to surgeries
- Rehabilitation costs for treatments like physical therapy
- Treatment-related travel expenses to appointments or transportation, like ambulance rides
- Income replacement, which covers 2/3rds of your weekly salary up to a max of $575 per week
- Disability payments if your injury warranted a permanent partial disability rating by your doctor
While most workplace injuries are straight forwarded, some require more investigation and possible legal intervention. If a third party was partially negligent for your injury, such as a construction site or maintenance company, you may need to meet with an attorney to find out how to address those issues.
Contact Fry | Goehring for Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Who Care
Fry | Goehring has provided clients throughout the Greater Atlanta Metro area with a wide range of personal injury representation, including workers’ compensation assistance. Our attorneys will help you review the range of your legal options. If you or a loved one were injured during a workplace accident, you must secure medical attention and contact an attorney. You have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim, so don’t be worried about how your employer will react; let us worry for you!
Call our workers’ compensation attorneys today at (404) 969-1284 to schedule a consultation.
