If you recently suffered injuries or got sick on the job, you may have several questions about what happens next. A Kennesaw workers’ compensation attorney from Bader Scott Injury Lawyers could answer your questions and advocate on your behalf. Georgia’s workers’ compensation program can provide many benefits to injured workers, but only if you know and follow the strict rules.
It is best to not handle your claim or appeal without a lawyer because there is so much at stake. Meeting the requirements of the program could pay your medical bills and give you weekly cash benefits. Our attorneys can fight for the compensation you deserve.
Who Can Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Kennesaw?
The State Board of Workers’ Compensation in Georgia (SBWC) created an Employee Handbook that lays out the rules and regulations for benefits eligibility. Most workers in Georgia hold jobs that participate in the state workers’ compensation program.
Your employer must disclose whether employees are eligible for state workers’ compensation benefits.
If you are a covered employee, you could receive medical, rehabilitation, and weekly income benefits after getting hurt on the job. The purpose of workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia is to help injured workers get well so that they can return to work.
For a free legal consultation with a workers' compensation lawyer serving Kennesaw, call (404) 888-8888
Kennesaw Workers' Compensation FAQs
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If you have a medical emergency, you should seek medical attention immediately. In an emergency, you can go to the nearest emergency room rather than using a health care provider from your employer’s approved list.
As soon as possible, you should notify your boss about the injury and ask for the claim form and list of approved medical providers. You will have to use health care services from the providers on the list, rather than your regular doctor.
You will need to make an appointment right away to get a medical evaluation and treatment plan. Be sure to inform all health care providers involved in the treatment of your injury that your condition is work-related. Also, you must complete and submit your claim form before the deadline.
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Types of Georgia Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Usually, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company covers your medical treatment. If you have additional expenses, like prescriptions and necessary travel expenses, you should submit those for reimbursement right away. Waiting too long to request reimbursement could result in a denial of that part of your claim.
The workers’ compensation insurance company will also pay for the rehabilitation treatment plan your approved physician orders.
You must participate in the prescribed rehabilitation to continue receiving weekly income benefits.
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What to Know About Receiving Workers’ Compensation
Here are some things you need to know about collecting workers’ compensation income benefits:
- If you are out of work for seven or fewer days because of a work-related injury or illness, you will not receive income benefits for that period.
- If you miss more than seven days of work because of a work-related injury or illness, the workers’ compensation insurance company should mail you a check within 21 days of the first missed workday.
- You must miss more than 21 consecutive days to get paid for all your missed time, including the first seven days away from the job. People who miss fewer than 21 consecutive days can get income benefits, but they will not get paid income benefits for the first seven days they missed.
- Income benefits are usually two-thirds of the injured person’s average weekly wage, up to the maximum rate allowed by state law.
- For most injuries, the worker could collect up to 400 weeks of benefits from the date of the injury. In the situation of a catastrophic injury, there is no limit on how long the income benefits can continue.
- Temporary partial disability benefits pay income to an injured employee for up to 350 weeks from the date of injury. These benefits can pay 2/3 of the difference between the worker’s average weekly wage before and after the injury, up to the state limit.
- A person who has a permanent disability resulting from an on-the-job injury could receive permanent partial disability benefits based on their rating and percentage.
Georgia’s workers’ compensation program also provides benefits to eligible dependents, like a dependent spouse and minor children, when an employee dies from on-the-job injuries.
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Reasons Your Kennesaw Workers’ Compensation Claim Could Get Denied
With so many rules and requirements, it is not surprising that people often make mistakes at some point in the Georgia workers’ compensation claims process. The workers’ compensation board could seize on any of these mistakes as an excuse to deny your claim for benefits.
Here are some of the more common reasons that workers’ compensation claims get denied in our state:
- Many claims get denied because of mistakes. The Georgia workers’ compensation program requires people to notify their employers immediately after a work-related illness or injury. Your employer then notifies their workers’ compensation insurance company, which starts processing your claim. Also, when you let your boss know about your illness or injury, you should receive a list of approved medical providers.
- The Georgia workers’ compensation program only pays for medical treatment from approved health care providers. Except in special circumstances, you must get all your treatment from a provider on your employer’s list. One of the most common reasons that claims get denied is that the sick or injured worker went to his own doctor.
- Our state’s workers’ compensation claims process involves forms that must be completed correctly and submitted on time. An incomplete form or one that contains inaccurate information could result in denial of your claim. Also, if you complete the form perfectly but miss the submission deadline, the workers’ compensation board might reject your claims for benefits.
- Make sure that you disclose any previous injuries or pre-existing medical conditions. These issues in your medical history should not disqualify you from getting benefits, but the failure to disclose them could cause problems with your claim or benefits.
- If you see an approved health care provider who recommends treatment for your illness or injury, you must complete that treatment. If you do not follow the doctor’s orders, your claim could get denied.
- You must return to work when the program doctor tells you that you can do so. If you refuse to go back to work, the Georgia workers’ compensation program could cut off your weekly benefits.
Working with a Kennesaw workers’ compensation attorney could help you avoid problems with the claims process.
How Our Workers’ Compensation Attorney Could Help with Your Claim
In addition to helping you avoid making mistakes that could derail your claim, we could handle your claim and advocate on your behalf so you can focus on recuperating. When you are too sick or wounded to work, it can be challenging to jump through all the hoops required by our state program.
If your claim already got denied, a lawyer can evaluate your situation, determine the reason for the denial, and develop a strategy for appealing the denial to pursue the benefits you deserve.
Individuals who have not yet filed their claims could benefit from working with us from the beginning to reduce the likelihood of their claim getting denied.
Anyone Can Afford Our Legal Services
You will not have to pay upfront legal fees to get our help on your workers’ compensation claim. Our attorneys get paid on a contingency-fee basis.
A contingent fee arrangement means that we get paid a percentage of the recovery rather than an hourly fee. If you don’t get paid, neither do we.
Let’s Get Started on Your Cobb County Workers’ Compensation Case Today
We are happy to offer a free initial consultation with no obligation or risks. You can call Bader Scott Injury Lawyers today at (404) 888-8888 to get started.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form