Dunwoody
Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you are an employee in Dunwoody, workers’ compensation should pay for your on-the-job injuries. Workers’ compensation applies to nearly all employees, no matter how long they have been at the company or what their job is.

But in spite of these broad protections, workers’ compensation insurance companies don’t like to pay out claims if they can avoid it. They use tactics like minimizing your injuries, questioning how they happened, or sending you to doctors who aren’t looking out for your interests.

This means that you may go without the benefits you’re legally entitled to. Don’t let this happen to you. Talk to a Dunwoody workers’ compensation lawyer right away.

At John Foy & Associates, our law practice is dedicated to helping injured people get the money they deserve. That means we know our way around the workers’ compensation system. We know how to get the insurance company to pay you what your claim is really worth. We’ll give you a free, no-obligation consultation to talk about your claim. Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

The government set up the workers’ compensation program (also known as “workers’compensation”) to protect people who are injured at work. Its features are simple:

1. Workers’ compensation gives you much-needed financial support to pay for medical care and other expenses.
2. With a workers’ compensation claim, you can get money without going to court or proving that someone was at fault.

Every employer in the U.S.  must carry workers’ compensation insurance, by law. If you are hurt while on the job, the insurance policy should pay the cost of your injuries.

Many people are confused about workers’ compensation. It is important to understand these two facts:

• Workers’ compensation isn’t a handout. Your employer paid for workers’ compensation insurance, and in many cases the cost of the policy was paid through deductions from employee’s paychecks.  
• It doesn’t matter how your injury happened. It only matters that it happened at your workplace.  

What Costs Will Workers’ Compensation Pay in Dunwoody?

Workers’ compensation is designed to pay the full cost of a workplace injury, including the time you missed from work because of the injury. In many cases your benefits will include the following:

• Medical expenses such as doctors, hospitalization and tests
• The cost of prescription medication
• Rehabilitation such as physical therapy
• Vocational training needed to get you back to work
• Mileage at $0.40 per mile for travel to and from medical appointments
• A paycheck while you are out of work.  The check will be less than your usual pay, but it will be tax free

You may receive other benefits if your injury leads to a permanent medical condition or leaves you unable to work for an extended time. There are also benefits for families of people who suffer fatal accidents at work. We know that money can never compensate you for a life-changing accident, but it can give you the financial stability you need to continue your recovery and begin rebuilding your life.

What Types of Injuries Are Covered?

Workers’ compensation should cover ANY injury that occurs at your workplace. The basic rules are:

• You will be covered regardless of who or what caused your injury
• You will be covered regardless of how the injury occurred
• You will be covered even if the injury had nothing to do with your job duties. A slip on the cafeteria floor is covered just the same as an injury from operating heavy equipment
• You do not have to prove that anyone is at fault

Any worker can potentially have a workers’ compensation claim—it does not matter what business or industry you are in. We see claims from office workers, delivery drivers and restaurant employees.

Probably the largest number of claims come from people who work in construction. This is because construction workers are exposed to multiple hazards such as falling debris, malfunctioning equipment and electrical shock.  

What Injuries Are Not Covered?

The key feature of workers’ compensation is that it covers injuries that happen while you are at work. Usually this means that you must be at your employer’s place of business to be covered. But there are some situations where you may be able to make a claim even though you are off-site. These include:

• Injuries that happen during business travel
• Injuries while driving a company vehicle
• Injuries that happen while you are out running an errand at your employer’s request
• Injuries at off-site work meetings
• Injuries that happen while you are working remotely.

Some of the most common injures that are NOT covered are injuries that occur while commuting to and from work. However, if you have arrived at your workplace and are injured in your employer’s parking lot or on your employer’s sidewalk, you may be able to make a claim.

Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Psychological Injuries?

Workers’ compensation covers all the costs associated with a physical injury. This means that if you are physically hurt and suffer psychological issues as a result, your mental health treatment should be covered. But if your injuries were only psychological, they are not covered. For example, if you suffered a head injury from falling debris and have post traumatic stress because of it, your psychological injuries would be covered.

But if you narrowly escaped injury, you would not be able to make a workers’ compensation claim even if you had serious psychological trauma from the incident.

Do I Have to Sue My Employer?

No, never. In fact, under the workers compensation system, you are not even allowed to sue your employer in the City of Dunwoody. This protects workers in several ways:

• Lawsuits can go either way, but workers’ compensation means you know you are entitled to benefits.
• Lawsuits can take years, but workers compensation gets benefits to you more quickly.
• A workers’ compensation claim is a claim with your employer’s insurance company. You don’t have to accuse your employer of anything or argue about who is to blame.

We meet with many injured workers who are afraid to file a workers’ compensation claim. They think they may lose their jobs or face other consequences. But we have found that most employers are happy to see their workers get the money they need to pay for good care.

It is the insurance companies that are more likely to cause trouble and try to avoid paying out on claims. But a good lawyer can help you get the money you deserve.

Talk to a Dunwoody Workers’ Compensation Accident Lawyer for Free

If you were injured at work, you have rights. At John Foy & Associates, we want to make sure you get the benefits you’re legally entitled to, so you can pay for your treatment and get your life back together.

Let us give you a free consultation and help you get started on your claim. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.