Douglasville
Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

In Douglasville, all workers are covered by workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that pays you for injuries suffered on the job. Coverage starts as soon as you begin your job, and it continues no matter what kind of work you do, or what your salary or job title is. 

However, your employer’s insurance company may try to get away with paying you as little as possible or nothing at all, even for a serious injury. Protect your rights if you are injured on the job and get advice from an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Douglasville from John Foy & Associates.

What to Do After an Injury on the Job

After any workplace accident, you should first make sure you’re safe. Go to a new location if there is still danger present, and call an ambulance if you need immediate medical attention. After you know you’re safe, there are some steps you can take to help your chances at a successful workers’ compensation claim.

After a workplace injury, you should:

• Take pictures of the scene of the accident
• Talk to anyone who saw what happened and get their contact information
• Report your accident to your employer
• Go to the approved doctor for diagnosis and treatment
• Save any bills and documents you receive
• Contact a workers’ compensation attorney in Douglasville

After an injury in the workplace, you need to notify your employer within 30 days. If you don’t it’s likely that your workers’ compensation claim will be denied.

Should I Get a Lawyer for My Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Sometimes, workers’ compensation claims go very smoothly and the application process is easy. That’s not always the case, though. Often, your application can be hard to compile, and getting the materials necessary can be difficult. A Douglasville workers’ comp lawyer can help make sure you have a strong claim.

On top of that, it’s very possible that your initial workers’ compensation claim is denied. The approved doctor could be underscoring your condition or your materials could be lacking. In that case, you should most certainly get in contact with a workers’ compensation attorney.

Our firm has decades of experience helping injured people in Georgia, and we know what the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation is looking for in an application. If your claim has been denied, there is still hope. Our lawyers can help.

How Are Workers’ Compensation Claims Handled in Douglasville?

The government established workers’ compensation to protect employees who get injured at work. All employers are required to have a workers’ compensation insurance policy. If a worker is injured on the job, the policy provides coverage for the injuries. 

The workers’ compensation system is designed to achieve two things. First, it gives injured employees financial compensation for medical care and other costs of their injury. And second, because employers have insurance for this purpose, injured employees can be compensated quickly, without the need for long and costly lawsuits.

If you have been injured on the job in any way, the two most important things you need to know are:

• Workers’ compensation insurance is mostly paid for through deductions from workers’ paychecks. By seeking workers’ compensation benefits, you’re getting what you paid for, not asking for a handout.
• Workers’ compensation is often associated with industrial injuries, but you have a right to workers’ comp for any workplace injury, no matter where or how it occurred. Even office workers are covered by workers’ compensation. 

A personal injury lawyer in Douglasville will know how to handle your claim. If you have any questions, feel free to sign up for a free consultation with our attorneys.

What Will Workers’ Compensation Pay for?

Workers’ compensation can pay for all the costs of your injury, including medical treatment and compensation for time lost from work. For many common injuries, you can expect to receive payment for:

• Health care expenses, including emergency rooms, specialists, surgeries, and X-rays.
• Prescription medications.
• Any necessary physical therapy.
• Vocational training to prepare you to return to work
• Expenses of traveling to and from doctor appointments, at a rate of 40 cents per mile.
• Your wages. Workers’ compensation paychecks might be lower than your usual pay, but you won’t pay taxes on the money you receive.

If you suffer a permanent injury or continuing disability, you are eligible for other workers’ compensation benefits. If you or a loved one dies in a workplace accident, family members also can receive benefits. 

A death or permanent disability is a life-altering loss that can never be recovered, but the financial benefits available under workers’ compensation insurance help relieve the financial pressure you face in this difficult time.

Will Workers’ Compensation Cover My Injury?

Workers’ compensation is a broad program that usually covers any injury that occurs in the workplace. For example:

• It doesn’t matter whose fault the injury was. You are covered if the injury was caused by your employer, a co-worker, a defective machine, or even you.
• It doesn’t matter how the injury happened.
• It doesn’t matter whether the injury was directly related to your work. You are covered whether you are injured by equipment or by slipping on the bathroom floor.
• Because fault doesn’t matter, you don’t have to show who’s to blame before you receive benefits.

At John Foy & Associates, our Douglasville workers’ compensation attorneys frequently see injuries related to the construction industry. Typical injuries include falls, injuries caused by falling objects, workers who have become caught between equipment, and electric shocks. 

However, workers’ compensation claims aren’t limited to construction and manufacturing. We’ve handled claims from employees as diverse as office workers, restaurant staff, and delivery truck drivers.

Are There Some Injuries that Won’t Be Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation was created to compensate you for on-the-job injuries. Therefore, if your injury didn’t happen at your workplace, it’s usually not covered. But there are exceptions, and you may still receive workers’ compensation benefits if your injury happened:

• While you were on a business trip
• When you were behind the wheel of a company car
• While you were running an errand as part of your job
• When you were at a work meeting outside the office
• When you were working remotely

If you are injured while commuting to work, your injury probably won’t be covered, unless it occurred on your employer’s parking lot or sidewalk.

Are There Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Mental Health Conditions?

Sometimes. Workers’ compensation compensates you for physical injuries, including any side effects of those injuries. 

So, if you were struck by a forklift while on company premises, you would be compensated for your physical injuries and any psychological effects of being hit. But if you had a near miss and it caused you to have psychological trauma, you would not be covered because you did not suffer a physical injury.

If you believe you should qualify for workers’ compensation but your application has been denied, there could still be a chance for compensation. Talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer in Douglasville to learn what your options are.

Will I Have to File a Lawsuit to Get Workers’ Compensation?

No. Workers’ compensation replaces lawsuits for on-the-job injuries in Douglasville. Here’s why:

• A lawsuit can easily drag on for months or even years, causing financial hardship to injured workers.
• There’s no guarantee that you’ll win a lawsuit and receive compensation for your injuries.
• Many workers would be reluctant to sue their employers, but the workers’ compensation system takes the employer out of the mix by having the employees make claims with an insurance company instead.

Many of our workers’ compensation clients worry that their employers will be angry or retaliate against them if they file a workers’ compensation claim. But because a workers’ compensation claim is like an insurance claim and doesn’t require anyone to prove fault, we’ve found that most employers are caring and supportive. 

The insurance company, on the other hand, is likely to try to avoid paying if at all possible. Legal representation by an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you get the benefits you need as quickly as possible.

Talk With a Douglasville Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Free

Injured workers have a right to compensation. The Douglasville workers’ compensation lawyers at John Foy & Associates are committed to getting you what you deserve. 

We’ve been representing injured workers for more than two decades. We know how workers’ compensation works and we have experience getting insurance companies to pay the full amount our injured clients deserve. We’ll give you a free consultation to talk about your claim.

If you’ve been hurt on the job, take advantage of our free consultation to find out how we can help. Call us or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.