Workers’ compensation is a government program designed to protect injured workers in Lilburn and all throughout the United States. If you were injured at work, you are likely covered—but you might run into issues getting the full benefits you deserve. A Lilburn workers’ compensation lawyer can make sure your rights are upheld.
Insurance companies are not eager to pay out much on workers’ compensation claims. They may look for ways to shorten the amount of time you receive benefits or pay less than you deserve. That’s where our experienced lawyers at John Foy & Associates come in.
For more than two decades, we have been helping injured workers get the benefits they are legally entitled to receive after being hurt on-the-job. We work tirelessly to protect your rights, and we don’t take a fee unless we win your case.
To get a FREE consultation, call us today at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
How to File a Lilburn Workers’ Compensation Claim
After being injured at work, you will need to file a claim with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC) in Georgia. The Georgia SBWC was established in 1920 and currently serves more than 3.8 million workers in the state. You will need to obtain a Form WC-14 from the Board online, by phone, or by mail.
Once you complete the form, you’ll need to:
- File the form with the Georgia SBWC
- Send your employer a copy
- Send your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company a copy
What Happens If You don’t Get Benefits
In the best-case scenario, you will receive all of the benefits you file for in your claim. However, it’s not always that straightforward.
If you do not receive benefits after filing your claim, you can request a hearing through the Board that will be scheduled within 60 days and held in (or near) the county where your work injury happened. An administrative law judge (ALJ) will listen to both sides of the case, taking workers’ compensation laws into account, before deciding if you should receive benefits—and if so, how much they will be.
If you need to request a hearing, we highly recommend you work with a Lilburn workers’ compensation lawyer if you haven’t already. While it’s your legal right to represent yourself, having a lawyer levels the playing field. Your employer will likely have their own attorney at the hearing, so you’ll want to be prepared.
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When and How Long Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits Will Be Paid
If you do get approved for workers’ compensation benefits, you can start receiving weekly wage benefits after you are unable to work for over seven days.
After those seven days, your first income check will be sent by mail within 21 days of the first missed work day. If your work injury keeps you away from work for over 21 days, you will then receive payment for those first seven days away, as well.
Wage Benefit Maximums
Weekly wage benefits are paid at two-thirds of the average weekly wage you were earning before your injury occurred or up to $675 per week. You can receive these benefits for a maximum of 400 weeks unless you have a catastrophic injury.
You are also entitled to reduced wage benefits if you can return to work with restrictions or limitations. You would receive weekly wage benefits at two-thirds of the difference between what you were earning before your injury and what you are earning now.
Medical Benefits Through Workers’ Compensation
Besides weekly wage benefits, if you are unable to work because of your injury, workers’ compensation also covers your medical costs. You can receive compensation for expenses like:
- Doctor bills
- Hospital bills
- Prescription medications
- Tests
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Travel to and from doctor appointments
You will need to make sure you see an authorized physician under your employer’s workers’ compensation policy. You will be given either a Panel of Physicians with at least six doctors to choose from or the name of a Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization (WC/MCO) certified by the SBWC.
Your employer should make this doctor information available to you in the event of an accident. If they do not provide this information, contact a Lilburn workers’ compensation lawyer right away.
Understanding Catastrophic Workers’ Compensation Injuries
A catastrophic injury is one that permanently keeps you from working or living life as you did before you were injured. They are very serious and often leave you with a permanent disability.
Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Loss of limb
- Brain injury
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
If you suffered a catastrophic injury from your work accident, you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for life. The details will depend on the nature and severity of your injuries and whether or not you can return to work at all. You can also receive vocational rehabilitation to help you adjust to another type of work with a catastrophic injury in Lilburn.
To make sure you receive everything you deserve for your serious injury, it’s best to contact a workers’ compensation lawyer right away.
What If You’re Receiving Social Security Disability Too?
Many injured workers wonder if they can be eligible for workers’ compensation if they are already receiving Social Security benefits.
You absolutely can receive workers’ compensation and Social Security at the same time, but it might mean your Social Security benefits get reduced.
Talk to a Workers Compensation Lawyer in Lilburn, GA for Free Today
As a worker in Lilburn, workers’ compensation benefits are almost certainly your right. However, it’s not always easy to get the full benefits you deserve. To make sure you are legally protected after a work injury, speak with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer at John Foy & Associates.
Our attorneys have been helping injured workers with workers’ compensation claims for more than two decades. We know what it takes to see success in these types of cases, and we never back down when dealing with insurance companies.
Contact us today and we’ll give you a FREE consultation. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started with your FREE consultation.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
