The Georgia workers’ compensation program is a federally-funded benefits program that provides monthly payments for rehabilitation, medical treatment, death benefits and other benefits to employees and dependents following an on-the-job injury, illness or death. Workers’ compensation benefits can provide critical financial assistance for injured employees who are unable to return to work and earn an income.
If you have been injured in a Georgia workplace accident, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal job-site accident anywhere in GA, contact our workers’ compensation lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak today.
With our knowledgeable attorneys on your side, you can protect your legal rights and pursue the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve for your work-related injuries and medical bills.
Top 7 Questions Regarding GA Workers’ Comp Coverage
1. When does my workers’ compensation coverage begin?
In Georgia, employers with three or more employees are required to provide workers’ compensation coverage, which will begin your first day on the job.
2. If I am hurt at work, what should I do?
Your first move after suffering a workplace injury should be to immediately report the injury to your employer. If you are unable to do so, you should seek medical attention and have a report made for you and turned over to your employer immediately. You will have to fill out paperwork and forward it to the State Board of Workers’ Compensation and your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company.
3. What if my employer resists filing a claim?
If you aren’t sure about the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim, or if your employer resists filing a claim, you should consider consulting a workers’ compensation attorney, who can help you file the claim and ensure that your receive the benefits you deserve.
4. What is considered a work-related injury, illness or death?
According to state law, any injury, illness or death arising out of and in the course of employment is considered a compensable claim. What this means is, if you are injured while performing an assigned work duty during assigned work hours, your injury will be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company.
5. Can I still file a claim against my employer if I receive workers’ compensation benefits?
The answer is no. Workers’ compensation is the “exclusive remedy” an injured worker has against his or her employer for damages resulting from a workplace injury or illness. This means that you can’t also bring a claim against your employer for damages in addition to workers’ compensation benefits.
6. Can I sue anyone for a work injury or occupational illness?
In Georgia, an employee is not able to sue his or her employer for a work-related injury. However, if your workplace injury was caused by the negligence of a third party other than a fellow employee working for the same company, such as a manufacturer of a faulty product used on the job, you may have grounds to file a negligence lawsuit against that party.
7. How can a workers’ compensation lawyer help?
Workers’ compensation attorneys have experience navigating the sometimes complicated process of filing a workers’ compensation claim and receiving benefits, which is why it is often helpful to hire an attorney following a work-related accident. This is especially true if your workers’ compensation claim has been denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Did your questions get answered? If not, we've addressed many more common concerns in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the site.
Our Experienced Workers’ Comp Lawyers Can Help
Not only can workplace accidents prevent an employee from returning to work and supporting his or her family, the medical bills associated with some work injuries or occupational illnesses can also be a significant financial burden for some families. If you have suffered injuries in a work-related accident in Atlanta, Marietta, or elsewhere in Georgia, or if you lost a loved one in a GA on-the-job accident, consult our workers’ compensation attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak to discuss your legal options. Our law firm is located in Atlanta, and our lawyers have years of experience protecting the rights of injured workers and their families throughout the state of Georgia. Call our Atlanta law office by calling 404-355-2688.