Workplace injuries are unpredictable. They can happen to anyone or anywhere at work. While workers in certain industries, such as construction and manufacturing, are at a higher risk of suffering workplace injuries, even a simple slip-and-fall accident at a corporate office can lead to life-altering injuries and financial risk.
The mental trauma, financial burden, and disruption to daily life caused by workplace injuries can often be overwhelming for victims. However, with the assistance of an experienced attorney, you can make your life easier and maximize your chances of recovering full and fair compensation. If you have suffered a workplace injury in Norcross, GA, you could qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. At the Law Offices of Jorge Luis Flores, our workers’ compensation attorney Norcross has helped victims of a work-related injury get compensation for their suffering. Contact us today for a free legal consultation.
Workers’ Compensation Laws In Norcross
Workers compensation laws are designed to protect both employees and the employers and to promote a safe work environment. The Georgia law is aimed at providing much-needed financial support to injured workers so they can focus on their recovery without having to worry about the financial burden of getting medical treatment and missing time off work.
A key benefit of the workers’ compensation laws is that they offer a no-fault system. This means the employees don’t have to provide who was at fault for them to receive the workers’ comp benefits. Not only does this reduce the burden on the injured victims, but also helps streamline the entire process for the injured employee and the employer.
The workers’ compensation laws in Norcross, GA, extend to most employees, including full-time and part-time workers. However, independent contractors are not covered under these laws.
Generally, workers’ compensation covers various forms of support, including medical treatment, wage replacement, death benefits, and disability benefits. The injured workers can get benefits for temporary and permanent disability.
The eligibility of the worker compensation benefits depends on several factors, including the category or status of the employee. One of the key requirements for eligibility is that the injury must be work-related, occurring within the scope of the job responsibilities. This part of the law can sometimes be a bit confusing, and open to interpretation. However, a workplace injury lawyer serving Norcross can assess your case and guide you on whether your injuries are eligible for workers’ compensation.
Responsibilities of the Employee and the Employer After a Workplace Accident
Based on Georgia workers’ compensation laws, there are strict reporting requirements for injured victims. Generally, the injuries or illnesses have to be reported within 30 days of the incident or date of the discovery or diagnosis. The employers are responsible for providing the workers with all the necessary forms and filing a workers’ compensation claim with the insurance provider.
Typically, the injured workers in Georgia have the right to choose their own treating physician for medical treatment. However, some employers might require their injured worker to have an independent medical examination to determine the extent of the injuries and appropriate medical treatment.
If there are any disputes that arise regarding the cause or severity of the injury, the employer and the employee can seek dispute resolution through arbitration, litigation, or mediation. Typically, any litigation for workers’ compensation benefits goes through the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
The injured workers also have the right to choose their legal counsel to help them navigate the complexities of workers’ compensation claims.
Step-By-Step Process of Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Even before you initiate the formal filing process for a workers’ compensation claim, you need to ensure you get the medical attention you need. Not only is this vital for your health and safety, but it also helps establish a record of your injuries suffered while doing work-related activities.
After you have received all the medical attention you need, you must notify your employer about the injury or illness as soon as possible. Your employer should provide you with a worker’s compensation claim form, which you need to fill out and return to the employer.
The form will ask for information such as the location and nature of your injury, how the accident happened, the time and date of the accident, whether anyone else was involved in the accident, and whether you received medical treatment for your injuries. This ensures the injured worker qualifies for benefits. You have to submit the original to the employer, but make sure you keep a copy of the form for your records.
The employer can face stiff penalties if they fail to complete their responsibilities. The employer is also prohibited from taking any retaliatory actions against you for filing a workers’ compensation claim.
The employer will submit all the required paperwork to the insurance carriers and the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. The insurance carrier will review your claim, and you will receive a notification on whether your claim has been accepted or denied.
Tips For Dealing With Workers’ Compensation Insurance Companies and Maximizing Compensation
You have to be careful when dealing with the insurance company. Keep all important communication in writing, and be careful in what you share with them. Just stick to the facts regarding where the injury occurred and the medical care required when communicating with them. If you incurred any expenses, make sure you document them.
It is in the best interest of the insurance company to minimize their payout. They may want to investigate the case to challenge your claim. For example, they may challenge the severity of the injuries. If you receive any offers from them, carefully review them before agreeing. Ideally, you want to hire an attorney early in the process so they can guide you on each step of the legal process.
If the insurance company denies your claim, request an explanation. This will allow you to strengthen your appeal. Lastly, you may persist and be patient. If the insurance company senses you are desperate, they can try to pressure you into accepting an unreasonably low offer. Consult with an attorney who specializes in helping injured workers before accepting or denying any offers.
Importance of Hiring a Specialized Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Specialized workers’ compensation lawyers are well versed in laws and regulations that govern matters related to workers’ compensation, such as eligibility, filing process, appeals, and more. Our legal expertise and experience allows us to help clients recover full and fair compensation for their expenses, including all medical treatment, lost wages, and other expenses.
If the victims suffer a disability or serious illness on the job site, hiring an attorney becomes even more vital, as there could be some long-term medical expenses involved. Whether you suffer a temporary partial disability, permanent partial disability, or other types of disability, it is important to make an accurate assessment of what compensation you should seek in your claim, and an attorney can help you in this matter.
An experienced workers’ compensation attorney also knows how to handle communication with insurance companies and overcome the challenges and tactics used by insurance companies to minimize their payout. The legal system for filing a workers’ compensation claim can often be complicated and intimidating for the victims, but with the guidance of an attorney through every step of the process, you can navigate through the complexities.
If the case is denied, you have the right to appeal. However, you must understand the deficiencies of your case so you can remedy them in your appeal. Norcross workers’ compensation lawyers can assess your case and provide strong representation on your behalf through the appeals process.
A benefit of hiring a legal team with a specialized GA workers’ compensation lawyer is that he or she can handle all the legal aspects of the case, and you can focus on your recovery, so you can get back to work as soon as possible.
While several lawyers are ready to take on workers’ compensation cases, not all of them specialize in such matters. If you are looking to hire an attorney for a case that involves workers’ compensation, it is best to hire someone who has the expertise, skills, experience, and resources to handle such cases.
Expertise and Experience of The Law Offices Of Jorge Luis Flores in Workers’ Compensation Benefits
When it comes to navigating the complexities of workers’ compensation law, experience plays a vital role. At the Law Offices Of Jorge Luis Flores, we bring years of experience to the table. Our law firm was established in 2002, and since then we have advocated for the rights of our workers’ compensation clients across Georgia. We handle all types of accident and injury-related cases. As we focus exclusively on personal injury and workers’ compensation claims, we specialize in such cases.
If you have suffered an injury or illness at the workplace or performing work-related duties, you have the right to recover compensation for your losses and a workers’ compensation lawyer will help you do so. You can contact us to schedule a free consultation with an accident compensation lawyer in Norcross, GA.
Our Norcross workers’ compensation lawyer can assess your case to guide you on your best legal options. Our legal team understands that suffering an injury at the workplace can be highly frustrating, traumatic, and disruptive to daily life. Allow our Norcross workers’ compensation attorney to handle the legal action that protects your rights and compensates you for any lost income.