Types of Workers Compensation Benefits

Suffering an injury while on the job can be devastating.  Not only will you fight to recover from your painful injuries, you may have to worry about your financial situation.  However, there is hope.  If you are a worker in Georgia who suffered an injury or illness because of your job, you should be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Companies with 3 or more employees are legally obligated to have workers’ compensation insurance for their employees.

Employers in Georgia who have three or more employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. They must participate in a program that is designed to protect and provide benefits to workers just like you. Benefits can also assist dependents of workers who die as a result of their job-related injury or occupational disease. The Mann Law Firm wants you to be aware of the following types of workers’ compensation benefits that are available to qualifying Georgia workers or their surviving dependents:

Who Qualifies For Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Georgia?

In general, there are two factors that need to be met in order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia:

• The injury occurs while on the job – You must be working for your company when you are injured in order to collect workers’ compensation benefits.  There are exceptions to this rule, such as if you have pre-existing conditions that have nothing to do with work.
• You must be an employee – You have to be an employee of the company in order to collect workers’ compensation benefits.  You can’t be a volunteer or an independent contractor.  If you work as a temporary employee and are employed by a temp agency, your workers’ compensation benefits will go through that entity.

Medical Benefits

This is a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement of money spent on medical care related to your qualifying injury or illness. Your emergency treatment, tests, casts, operations, assistive devices, medications and therapy should all be covered. You should also be reimbursed for travel and other expenses related to your medical care.

Temporary Disability Benefits

Workers who suffer an injury or illness that keeps them from returning to their job on only a temporary basis can obtain these benefits. They fall into two categories:

• Temporary total disability benefits – These benefits are available if a physician determines you cannot work. You can receive up to two-thirds of the average weekly wage you earned at the time of the injury or illness. Unless your injury is “catastrophic” (for instance, you lost a limb or suffered a severe burn), you won’t receive benefits beyond 400 weeks from the date of your injury.
• Temporary partial disability benefits – These benefits are available if you can return to work but only at a job that involves lighter duty and less pay than what you earned before. You can receive up to two-thirds of the difference between your average weekly wage before and after the injury. Your benefits would stop 350 weeks after the date of your injury.

Permanent Disability Benefits

If your physician determines your disability is permanent – that it will keep you from returning to work for 12 months or more – you could receive temporary total disability benefits for as long as you are disabled. If you can work (but only at a lesser-paying job), you would receive benefits based on a disability rating assigned to you.

Death Benefits

These benefits are paid to eligible dependents of a worker who died from a job-related injury or illness. The dependents may receive up to two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage at the time of the fatal accident, with the guidance of a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer. The benefits include funeral expense reimbursements. Please note: Workers’ compensation benefits cannot be combined. Only one type of benefit is payable at a time.

What a Georgia Workers’ Compensation Benefits Lawyer Can Do For You?

There are many workers’ compensation benefits lawyers in Georgia who would love to take on your claim. However, you should make sure that you hire a lawyer who has experience in workers’ compensation benefits.  A competent and knowledgeable lawyer will skillfully do the following:

• Sit down with you to discuss your case before filing a claim with the workers’ compensation board
•  Help you fill out your claim form in the proper way to ensure a high percentage of acceptance
• Ensure that you receive the correct amount of benefits for your claim
• File an appeal with the workers’ compensation board if your claim is denied.

How We Can Help Injured Workers Seek Additional Compensation

Workers’ Compensation Doesn’t Cover Everything—But We Can Help You Get More.

While workers’ compensation provides medical treatment and wage benefits, it doesn’t cover pain and suffering or full lost wages. However, if a third party (someone other than your employer) contributed to your injury, you may be entitled to additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

At Mann Law Firm, we investigate whether you can pursue both workers’ comp and a personal injury claim. We seek extra compensation if:

• A negligent driver caused your work-related crash (e.g., delivery drivers, truckers).
• A defective machine or unsafe equipment contributed to your injury.
• A subcontractor or third-party worker was responsible for the accident.

Our over 50 years of legal experience means we know how to get the most out of your claim. We investigate all potentially liable parties to maximize your recovery. While many firms avoid court, we’re prepared to take your case to trial if needed.

If you were injured at work and believe someone other than your employer was responsible, you may be entitled to significant additional compensation. Call (478) 742-3381 for a free case review today.

Call the Mann Law Firm Today To Discuss Your Case With Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

If you would like to know more about the different types of workers’ compensation benefits available to you in Georgia, speak with a lawyer from the Mann Law Firm. We assist workers and their families in Macon and throughout Georgia. Call us at (478) 742-3381 or contact us online today. We will provide a free consultation about your case.  We work on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you collect an award.  Our lawyers have been helping clients with their workers’ compensation benefits claims for over 30 years.  At the Mann Law Firm, you always come first.