Cumming
Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

All workers are eligible for workers’ compensation in Cumming, GA. Our lawyers know this and want to protect your right to that support, no matter how long you’ve been on the job or what your pay grade is. You are covered by law – so why is it so hard to get employers and their insurance companies to take your losses seriously?

Insurance companies want to do everything in their power to deny you support so they can save themselves money. Fortunately, you have stalwart allies on your side. John Foy & Associates and its Cumming personal injury lawyers have recovered over $1 billion in damages on behalf of our clients.

Our compensation attorneys can prevent insurance companies from minimizing your severe injuries, lowballing your recovery costs, or approving you for less treatment than you deserve.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

What happens when a worker gets injured on the job? Who should pay for the costs of the injury? Is it you or your employer? Let’s break down compensation laws so you can better understand your post-injury rights.

Workers’ compensation is a government program with two goals:

• Make sure every worker injured on the job gets the medical care they need
• Avoid expensive, time-consuming lawsuits for employers and employees

Workers’ compensation benefits go into effect on day one of your employment, and every employer in Georgia must have coverage. This way, if you’re injured at work, you don’t have to pay out of pocket for emergency medical care.

While workers’ compensation benefits aren’t free, you’re already paying for the support you’re benefiting from. Employers deduct a small percentage of their employees’ paychecks to afford workers’ compensation policies, much like they do to help you pay your taxes. In other words, you’ve already paid for the medical benefits you can receive after an accident.

What Kinds of Injuries Are Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

The most common workers’ compensation claims are ones related to the construction industry. These can involve injuries like a worker being hit by a falling object, electrically shocked, or caught in between equipment.

We also see many injury claims from other industries, including white-collar work. Even just tripping and falling at work is covered by workers’ compensation.

The only catch is that the injury has to happen while you’re at work. This includes any injury in the workplace, as well as some other work-related situations:

• In an employer-owned parking lot
• On walkways or outside areas owned by the employer
• During business travel
• While working remotely or taking a client call on your cell phone
• Driving in a company vehicle
• Running an errand for your employer
• Attending a meeting at an offsite location

In most cases, injuries that happen while commuting are not covered. If you’re unsure whether or not your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance will cover you, speak with one of our workers’ compensation lawyers in Cumming for advice.

Is Emotional Trauma Also Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Cumming?

It depends. Workers’ compensation does not cover purely psychological or emotional conditions, even if they are work-related. However, it does cover treatment for these conditions if they’re connected to a physical injury.

This is most common in cases where you are assaulted at work or where a workplace injury caused extreme trauma. If you’re not sure whether your condition might count, you should get a professional opinion from a lawyer.

What Costs Does Workers’ Compensation Cover in Cumming?

If you want to argue for comprehensive accident coverage after a workplace accident, you need to know what parts of your recovery workers’ compensation can help you address. These programs most often cover recovery costs like the following:

• Medical care: The insurance company will pay for all of your hospital visits, doctor appointments, or other medical bills relating to your injury.
• Missed pay: If you miss a week or more of work because of your injury, workers’ compensation will give you a paycheck for the entire time you’re recovering. This pay is less than your usual paycheck, usually two-thirds of what you normally make, but it is tax-free.
• Physical therapy: Some injuries will require physical therapy or some other form of rehabilitation. This will also be covered by your workers’ compensation.
• Medicine. All prescription medicine is covered by your employer’s insurance.
• Rehabilitation: If your injury requires physical therapy or speech therapy, it’s covered until you reach the maximum possible level of recovery. If you will have difficulty doing your job or you have a disability, you could also receive vocational rehabilitation to help you return to work.
• Travel costs: If you track the mileage you spend driving to and from doctor appointments, pharmacies, etc., you will be reimbursed at a rate of 40 cents per mile.

Permanent injuries will also qualify for additional payments. This money cannot repair the damage done, but it can offset the financial blow and the effect an injury has on your career. Workers who can continue their careers are in the best interest of everyone, and that means proper medical care.

What Do I Need to Do to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

In order to make a claim, there are a few things you must do. First, you need to tell your employer about your injury within 30 days of when it happened. Second, you’ll need to read the labor poster at your employer to find out who the insurer and acceptable doctors are for examination.

Along with these is a bill of rights for workers’ compensation. It lists all the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees for these claims. Read and understand these to learn your additional responsibilities.

Then, contact a Cumming, GA, workers’ compensation lawyer to help you make your claim. We will help you gather evidence and talk to the insurer on your behalf to get the care you need. Nearly all employers want to see their workers get better. Hiring a lawyer to help you get the money for that should not affect your job.

Do I Have to Sue My Boss if I Get Hurt on the Job?

No. In the city of Cumming, you are not allowed to file a lawsuit over a workplace injury. Workers’ compensation is designed to replace lawsuits. It is a cheaper, faster, more reliable way for you to get the treatment you need.

We often hear from injured workers who are afraid to file a claim because they don’t want to blame their employer. Workers’ compensation isn’t about blame. Your employer already carries insurance specifically to pay for these kinds of claims. The insurance company deals with them every day, and your claim carries no backlash for anyone involved.

Your claim is also private between you and the insurer. Your employer won’t learn the details of your treatment unless you tell them. They aren’t allowed to take any action against you, and you cannot lose your job for filing a claim. Remember, you have already paid into the workers’ compensation system, and you have a right to use it.

When Should You Contact a Cumming Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

If you can’t sue your employers after workplace accidents, what do workers’ compensation lawyers do? You may still find yourself struggling with legal issues or in the position to sue independent contractors for your losses. 

Fortunately, our Cumming, GA, workers’ compensation attorneys have extensive experience offering legal representation to employees struggling with compensation issues.

Working with our personal injury attorneys makes it easier for you to report work-related injuries within the 30-day period required by most employers in Georgia. We can walk you through the process of filing a comp claim before defending your right to compensation in conversations with insurers and your supervisor.

It’s Time to Schedule a Free Workers’ Compensation Case Assessment

If you want to work with comp lawyers who will take your personal injury matters seriously, we recommend scheduling a free workers’ compensation claim case assessment as soon as you can after your initial injury. 

We’re here to help you answer questions like:

• Can you quit your job while on workers’ comp?
• Can you get another job while on workers’ comp?
• What should you do if a workers’ comp representative won’t return your calls?

Our case evaluations come free of charge, and we work on contingency, meaning we take every possible step to preserve your financial well-being.

How Long Will My Workers’ Compensation Claim Take to Resolve?

If you’ve already filed a workers’ compensation claim, you may be asking yourself why your case is taking so long.

How long your workers’ compensation case will take depends on many factors, like the severity of your injuries. It will take time for the insurer to get the information they need to make an offer. One thing you can do to speed things up is to follow all the requirements to make a claim.

The next thing is to hire a workers’ compensation attorney in Cumming to handle follow-up and keep the process moving. You can focus on recovery and they can work on speeding up your claim through the system.

Speak to a Cumming Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Free

John Foy & Associates has been helping injured workers for over 20 years. Our law firm knows that the insurance company has an army of lawyers working against you, and we believe you deserve to have an experienced lawyer of your own to level the playing field.

Georgia employers have an obligation to provide workers’ compensation benefits to employees. Don’t let your medical bills pile up when you can take action. You can collaborate with our workers’ compensation attorneys in Cumming, GA, today to make your voice heard.