Pursuing Justice For The Injured And Disabled Since 1992

Overview of workers’ compensation

If someone suffers injuries while working on the job, it can be costly. Not only are there medical bills associated with the injury, but there may be days, if not weeks, of lost wages.

Fortunately, most employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides a variety of benefits for the injured employee as well as a death benefit to the family in the event it is a fatal accident.

General information

According to Kake.com, job injury claims are not uncommon in Georgia. In fact, between 30,000 and 40,000 workers file a workers’ compensation claim every year. For those injured on the job, the first step is to find out if the employer carries workers’ compensation insurance. The good news is that most employers have it, as the state mandates coverage for most companies.

Workers should report any injury as soon as possible, as they only have 30 days to report it and file a claim. Once filed and approved, coverage begins from the day of the accident.

Benefits overview

Not everyone understands what workers’ compensation covers and the State Board of Workers’ Compensation discusses the benefits for injured employees. Benefits cover costs related to medical care, income loss and rehabilitation with the end goal being to get the employee back to work.

In regard to medical care, the worker must choose a doctor deemed eligible by the workers’ compensation board. Coverage pays for related doctor and hospital bills, prescriptions, physical therapy and all necessary travel expenses. Benefits also cover medical rehabilitation as well as vocational rehab.

Income benefits cover two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage, although there is a cap to this amount. In the event of a fatal incident at work, the family of the victim receives this amount up to a specified lifetime maximum.

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