Workers' Compensation: Proving Your Injury Happened on the Job

When you're hurt on the job in Georgia, you're eligible for workers' compensation benefits like medical treatment and, depending on the severity of your injury and how long you're out of work, wage replacement payments. However, in order to qualify for benefits, you must first prove that your injuries arose out of the course and scope of your employment.

In other words, you have to be able to show that your injuries are related to your job. Why? Your employer's workers' compensation insurer may dispute your claim in an attempt to avoid paying it—and if that happens, it's important to be ready. Fortunately, taking the necessary steps and gathering the essential evidence needed to prove your workers' comp claim is easier than it sounds. Here's what you can do to protect your right to workers' comp benefits after a workplace accident:

• Get help. Alert the co-workers in your department and ask them to summon help (either from an on-site nurse or medic, or by calling 911, if necessary) if you're unable to do so. (These co-workers can also serve as valuable witnesses should the insurer decide to dispute your claim.)
• Gather evidence at the scene. Take photos of the scene of the accident and your injuries, as well as any machinery involved.
• Seek immediate medical attention. Even if your injuries weren't serious enough for you to be transported to the hospital by ambulance, you should still seek medical attention as soon as possible, either from an urgent care center or your regular doctor.
• Notify your employer. The sooner you complete this key step, the sooner your employer and their workers' compensation insurer can get to work processing your claim.

Talk to Us About Your Workers' Comp Claim

If you were expecting the workers' compensation claims process to go smoothly, encountering resistance from an employer or their insurer can be frustrating. Fortunately, there's help. At Rechtman & Spevak, our highly skilled Georgia workers' comp attorneys are here to assist you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.