FAQs: Workers’ Compensation

You should consider hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer in Atlanta if your job isn’t providing guidance on your work-related injury. Your lawyer will take several steps to evaluate your injuries, determine how much compensation you deserve, and demand fair compensation from your employer’s insurance company. An attorney’s services may allow you to prioritize your recovery …

Pain and suffering is not generally included in Georgia workers’ compensation claims. However, you may receive compensation for two-thirds of your average weekly wages, injury-related medical costs, and possibly vocational retraining. However, if you are eligible to file a lawsuit against a negligent third party, you can seek compensation for pain and suffering. A Atlanta …

Your employer will likely find out if you hire an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim, but you should not be concerned if they do. Your employer cannot hold your decision to hire an attorney against you, and it is your right to retain legal representation as you seek compensation for a work-related injury. A …

Depending on the complexity of your accident and injuries, your workers’ compensation (WC) case could take anywhere from a few months to more than a year to resolve. How long yours will last depends on too many factors to provide a typical time frame. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer can give you a personalized estimate …

For injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2023, the maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rate is $800 a week, according to the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. However, how much you can recover is unique to your situation, including your line of work and earning capacity. You can generally recover up to …

Technically, there are no laws barring you from taking a vacation while on workers’ compensation. You can go on a vacation or holiday if doing so does not impede your recovery or ability to return to work. But before deciding to leave home for a vacation while on workers’ compensation, you may want to contact …

In general, any unfulfilled back child support you owe can be taken from your workers’ compensation settlement. Additional allowable deductions may include attorneys’ fees, unpaid medical bills, and Medicare set-asides—an account from which Medicare deducts future medical bills before covering your healthcare costs. A workers’ compensation settlement usually compensates you for your current and future …

If you reported your workplace injury to your supervisor, but your employer refuses to report your injury to its insurance program, you have several options. First, you might need to report the injury to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier. You could also file your claim directly with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. You do …

Documenting a worker’s comp injury begins with immediately reporting the injury or illness to your employer. It is important not to delay this step, as waiting to report the injury will delay compensation. In addition, in some states, you could be barred from your right to file for workers’ compensation benefits after a certain time.  …

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), workers’ compensation benefits are generally not taxable at the federal or state level. This payout remains tax-free for the duration that the worker receives them. One exception to this rule includes when the worker gets both workers’ compensation payment and disability benefits. In this case, a portion of …

If you quit, got laid off, or were fired from a job in which you suffered a work-related injury or illness, you may still be entitled to file for and receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, filing after your employment ends can affect your ability to receive benefits. Why Pursue a Workers’ Compensation Claim Against a …

Under Georgia law, independent contractors do not qualify for workers’ compensation. On rare occasions, the employer may offer workers’ comp, but they’re not legally obligated to do so unless you’re a permanent employee at the business.  Independent contractors, freelancers, and consultants are considered self-employed. If you’re an independent contractor who was injured while working, our …

You may have grounds to reopen a closed workers’ compensation claim even after receiving the final payout. Certain circumstances, such as a worsening medical condition or new evidence supporting your claim, can convince a judge to reopen your case. That said, you have limited time to make your application. You can consult a workers’ compensation …

If you were hurt at work, your employer could bear responsibility for compensating you until you recover and can safely return to work. The benefits you receive from workers’ compensation could include a portion of your regular income and cost-free medical care to treat your work-related injury or illness.  Not every injury you incur at …

There are many steps involved in securing a workers’ compensation claim. There are also certain things you can do along the way to get the best workers’ compensation offer and potentially maximize your payout. First, you must meet all legal and regulatory requirements for filing a claim and report your accident on time. You must …

There are some key qualifications for workers’ compensation. First, and perhaps most obvious, you must be an employee for a company that carries workers’ compensation insurance. The law requires most employers in Georgia to have workers’ compensation coverage, with some exceptions depending on various factors. For example, companies that only hire employees as independent contractors …

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that the law requires most employers to carry. Workers’ compensation insurance exists to provide coverage for employees who suffer personal injuries or illnesses on the job. This coverage includes compensation for medical and rehabilitation needs related to the injury, as well as for missed income. The goal of …

There are some cases in which you can receive unemployment benefits while receiving workers’ compensation. However, the requirements for doing so are complex. If you lose your job after suffering a work-related injury, you may be able to receive unemployment benefits while you are waiting for an approval on your workers’ compensation claim. According to …

The answer to whether you can look for work while receiving workers’ compensation can be complex. It depends on a few factors, including the severity of your injury and the doctor’s orders. In general, qualifying for workers’ compensation benefits requires you to be unable to complete your current job duties due to your work-related injury …

Depending on the nature of their work, employees can face many hazards in the workplace, and workplace injuries are alarmingly common. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the private sector reported 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries in 2018. Most of these injuries involved slips and falls, vehicle accidents, machine accidents, and being …

Depending on your specific needs, negotiating a workers’ compensation settlement can take several weeks, several months, or even longer, depending on the circumstances of your case. Some factors that can influence the timeline of your claim include how quickly you begin the process by notifying your employer of your injury, the schedule of your doctor’s …

No, you are not considered unemployed if you receive workers’ compensation benefits. You cannot collect both unemployment benefits and workers’ compensation benefits at the same time.  We understand that being on workers’ compensation can create a financial hardship because the income benefits are only two-thirds of a person’s average wage at the time of the …

The formula used to determine who qualifies for workers’ compensation in Georgia is simple. Companies in Georgia with three or more full-time, part-time, or seasonal employees are required to provide their workers with workers’ compensation. If any such worker sustains an injury, the victim is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. What You Should Know About …

Workers’ compensation does not pay full salary in Georgia. Workers’ compensation policies in Georgia cap wage and salary coverage at $675. This employee coverage is mandatory under Georgia law for companies with three or more full-time, part-time, or seasonal employees. Benefits are available to employees who suffer injuries as a result of a workplace accident …

Not all workers’ compensation cases end in settlements. The success of your workers’ compensation case will depend on the evidence that supports it. If you can connect an injury to work-related activities and your employer has this coverage, then you may be owed compensation. However, you may also be denied benefits if, for example, there …

A workers’ compensation offer is the amount of money that your employer’s insurance company presents to you in an effort to settle your job injury case. If you accept the offer, then it becomes a voluntary settlement agreement, and you can never pursue compensation in the future. This assertion is true even if you later …

You do not have to accept your first workers’ compensation offer. For some claims, the insurance company does not adequately compensate you since injuries and losses can take time to realize. Its definition of reasonable and medical necessity may differ from what Georgia’s laws prescribe. At a bare minimum, you should discuss the initial offer …

The most effective way to maximize your workers’ compensation settlement is to build a solid workers’ injury claim, learn how to work with insurance companies, and if necessary, seek the advice and services of a lawyer who can help you to understand your legal rights and negotiate on your behalf. While various factors determine the …

Yes, you can get a settlement from workers’ compensation if you go back to work after your treating doctor releases you to resume working. If you refuse to go back to work when your doctor says you can work again, you can lose your workers’ compensation benefits. Your lawyer can help you fight for benefits, …