If you are the victim of a workplace accident, you may face medical expenses you cannot afford and time away from work, further straining your financial resources. However, suppose you are injured during the regular scope of employment. In that case, you might be eligible for benefits through the Georgia workers’ comp system, including medical benefits, supplemental income, and rehabilitation support. Click URL here.
All employers with three or more part-time, full-time, or seasonal employees must provide workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. They also must provide a workers’ bill of rights. If they do not provide workers’ comp insurance for their employees, they can be held responsible and face heavy fines.
How to File for Workers’ Comp Benefits
You must first notify your employer if you have been hurt while on the job. Full and proper details of your injury accidents must be appropriately documented, so reporting your workplace accident is vital. Please do so before 30 days to avoid losing your workers’ compensation benefits eligibility.
It is only natural for hardworking employees to downplay injuries, but these may actually cause long-term pain and physical impairment for weeks or years following the accident. That is why it is highly advised to check yourself out immediately to rule out any internal damage or other injuries. Then, seek immediate medical attention.
The next step includes completing the WC-14 Form. You need to obtain a WC-14 Workers’ Comp Claim from the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Then, you must provide a copy of the completed Form to your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance company. You can either obtain the WC-14 Form from your employer or the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Comp Website. It is vital to submit your Form within one year of the initial date of your injury.
You can start by documenting your time off of work due to your workplace injuries. Afterward, it would be best if you documented your expenses. Try to keep track of the healthcare providers you visit, your progress, and how your injury has affected your daily life.
You and your employer might need to move through a discovery process, where every party can request documents or serve each other with written questions (also known as interrogatories). You might be asked to provide a deposition, which is an oral testimony that usually takes place in an attorney’s office. You might be asked to complete an independent medical examination if there is a dispute regarding your medical treatment. The employer’s insurer could request a second opinion about your injuries or your attorney to bolster your case.
Finally, get legal advice. Seeking legal help from a workers’ comp attorney is vital so that you can understand the entire filing process. The process may be extremely overwhelming if you are incapacitated due to your injuries or face financial stress. You need to meet some forms and deadlines to ensure that you obtain the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to, and without an attorney, you may jeopardize your chances.
When Should You Get a Workers’ Comp Attorney?
Regardless if your injury was caused due to someone else’s fault or was your fault, you are entitled to these workers’ comp benefits through your employer and the state of Georgia. However, there could be various reasons why your workers’ comp claim is denied, including the following:
- You have not notified your employer within the mandatory deadline, which is 30 days from the date of your injury.
- You have not completed and returned your WC-14 Form to the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Comp office within the one-year deadline from the date of your initial injury.
- Your employer has not filed the necessary paperwork or omitted the required information.
- Your employer might dispute your injury or sustain that your injury did not occur while at work.
- You have falsified documents to the Workers’ Comp Benefits office when filing your claim.
The procedure of filing a workers’ comp claim is not complicated. If you have been initially denied benefits from the workers’ comp benefits program, you are also entitled to an appeal on your case. Nonetheless, it is recommended to have a workers’ comp attorney on your side from the very moment you file your claim to avoid such a thing from happening. This is because your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance company may not treat you or your claim fairly. Having a skilled attorney by your side can help you level the playing field and seek the benefits you lawfully deserve.
Be the first to comment