If you have suffered an injury at work in Griffin, Georgia, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Most employees are aware of the existence of workers’ compensation benefits, but most people are not well versed with the law and end up settling for a lot less than what they are entitled to. Also, worker’s compensation claims are routinely denied by either the employer or their insurance company for seemingly frivolous reasons. This is why you need to immediately call an experienced Griffin workers’ compensation lawyer at John B Jackson Law to help you get the benefits you deserve. Call our personal injury firm today at (770)988-6155 to schedule your free consultation
What Should I Do If I Am Hurt on the Job?
The actions you take after suffering an injury as a result of a work-related accident are going to have a major impact on your workers’ compensation claim. There are certain things you need to do to demonstrate a level of responsibility. Here’s a list of the simple steps you should follow after your accident in order to protect your case:
Notify Your Employer
You should always report the accident to your supervisor in writing. It is important to submit the report in writing. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have verbally told your supervisor or a co-worker and that is enough. It is important that you make this report within 30 days of the injury. If you wait for more than 30 days, it’s going to be challenging to receive full benefits.
Seek Medical Attention
You should immediately seek medical attention after the accident. Call 911 for help if you need emergency treatment. It is important that you attend all the appointments and follow the instructions of the medical professional including the work restrictions if any. You should also ask your HR department or the supervisor to provide the list of approved doctors. You have the freedom to visit a medical professional of your choice in case the list of approved doctors isn’t provided within a reasonable timeframe. In case a list is already posted in your workplace and you go to a different doctor, your workers’ compensation benefits claim might be denied.
Keep Documenting
You have to document everything. Seek a copy of the medical records, medical bills, and all the other documents. Also, take regular photographs of your injury to document the progress of healing. Start the habit of keeping a diary where you should document how your treatment is progressing.
Call a Workers Compensation Attorney
If you believe that you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, it is imperative to get in touch with an experienced Griffin workers’ compensation lawyer at John B Jackson Law. We help our clients receive the full workers’ compensation benefits they are entitled to. We work on a contingent fee basis which means you do not need to pay us anything.
Give us a call at (770)988-6155 to schedule your free consultation.
Why Should I Hire a Griffin Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
You do not need to retain the services of a worker’s compensation lawyer for every injury at work. In cases the injury is minor and there is no permanent damage and you did not miss a lot of work, and your employer’s insurance company has fully covered the medical bills as well as other expenses, it’s not necessary to retain or hire a workers’ compensation lawyer. However, even valid workers’ compensation claims are routinely denied in Griffin, Georgia.
If your injury is in dispute, the insurance company is stalling or not processing a valid workers compensation claim, or your claim has been denied, it is time for you to hire a Griffin workers’ compensation lawyer at John B Jackson Law. An experienced workers compensation attorney is aware of the tricks used by insurance adjusters and their lawyers to deny valid benefits to injured employees. We will fight for your rights and help you recover the benefits you are entitled to. Don’t forget that your employer and their insurance carrier also have lawyers working for them and they are trying to save them as much money as possible.
We will make sure that you receive the best possible treatment. We will represent your best interests and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure that you get the maximum benefits.
What Is The Cost Of Hiring An Attorney For A Workers’ Comp Claim?
Here at John B Jackson Law, we work on a contingency fee basis. You do not need to pay anything upfront. We will recover our legal costs from the settlement we win for you. All the fees to be paid to the attorneys in workers’ compensation cases are to be approved by the State Board of Workers Compensation. Also, there is a maximum amount that can be charged by an attorney in a workers compensation case as per the law in Georgia. It is currently capped at 25% of a settlement or weekly benefits.
What Should I Do If My Workers Compensation Claim in Georgia Is Denied?
There are a number of reasons for the workers’ compensation claim to be denied and not all of them are valid reasons. It could be due to you missing the deadline for submitting your claim or your employer claiming that you are not an employee or your injuries resulted from a pre-existing condition or various other reasons. In case your workers’ compensation claim is denied, the most important thing you need to do is get in touch with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at John B Jackson Law.
When your claim is denied by the insurance company, it is your legal right to request a fair hearing before an Administrative Law Judge at the State Board of Workers Compensation. You should get in touch with an experienced Griffin workers’ compensation lawyer to represent you and help you navigate this complex process. Here at John B Jackson Law, we regularly help our clients whose valid claims have been denied.
Give us a call today at (770)988-6155 to schedule a free consultation.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Workers Compensation Claim in Griffin, Georgia?
The time limit for filing a workers compensation claim in Georgia is outlined in the statute of limitations. You have up to one year from the date of your injury to file a claim for benefits. This deadline can be extended under certain circumstances. If the injured employee has received remedial care or weekly income benefits, they have up to 2 years from the date of the last remedial treatment or the date of the last weekly benefit.
Can an Independent Contractor File A Workers Compensation Claim in Georgia?
Independent contractors are not legally entitled to file for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. However, some employers misclassify employees as independent contractors in order to avoid paying premiums for workers’ compensation insurance. A method for establishing whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee under the state’s workers compensation statute is offered by the Georgia Department of Labor. An independent contractor is defined as a person who:
- Doesn’t get a salary and is paid at a fixed price
- Has complete control over their time and method of work
- Has a contract that clearly establishes the relationship as an independent contractor
What Is My Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?
No two cases are the same which means there is no standard answer to this question.
You need to know that once you have settled your case and signed the paperwork and the Georgia State Board of Workers Compensation has approved the settlement, there aren’t going to be any changes in it. Once you have settled, you can’t go back and ask them for more money. This is why you need to be clear about the benefits you’re likely to receive from the workers’ compensation insurance company. This will help you in deciding whether it’s fine to settle your case.
Here is a list of some of the factors that are going to affect the worth of your workers’ compensation claim:
- Current medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Percentage of disability
- Your current salary
- Which body part was injured
- Your age
You are entitled to temporary disability benefits in case you are unable to work for at least 7 days in Georgia. The temporary disability benefits entitle you to 2/3 of your average weekly wage with a maximum of $675 per week. These benefits can be given up to a maximum of 400 weeks. The workers’ compensation should also cover all your medical costs including doctor visits, prescription medications, hospital stays as well as long-term treatment such as rehabilitation or physical therapy.
In case you are able to return to work but your injury does not allow you to make as much money as you used to before the injury, you are legally entitled to a reduced benefit. This benefit is calculated at two-thirds of the difference between the pre-injury and post-injury wages. It is capped at $450 per week and it can be paid for a maximum of 350 weeks.
Once your doctor has determined that you have reached the maximum medical improvement and no further improvement is possible with future treatment, a disability rating will be assigned to you by the doctor. The ratings are based on the guidelines by American Medical Association. As per these guidelines, different body parts have different values on the disability scale. The calculation for permanent disability benefits will be based on the disability rating and worth of the body part as per the AMA guidelines.
Keep in mind that the disability rating given by your treating physician isn’t final as you can ask for a second opinion through a doctor of your own choice. Your Griffin workers’ compensation lawyer can help you with that.
Review Your Claim With The Law Office Of John B Jackson
If you get injured on the job in Griffin, Georgia, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, most workers are not aware of their complete rights and settle for much less than they are entitled to. This is why you need to immediately call a Griffin workers’ compensation lawyer at John B Jackson Law.
Here at John B Jackson Law, we work on a contingent fee basis. You don’t need to pay any fees upfront. Our legal cost will be recovered from the settlement we win for you. We will fight for your rights and make sure you get all the benefits you deserve for your injuries.
Give our Griffin personal injury lawyers a call at (770)988-6155 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your workers’ compensation claim case.
