What Does Workers Compensation Help Pay for in Georgia?

Being injured at work during any type of workplace accident can be a stressful situation. During this time, you will need to balance recovering from the injury while also struggling with the costs that can quickly add up due to it. Fortunately, those that are injured while at work or performing the functions of their job should have many of the incurred expenses covered by their employer’s worker’s compensation insurance policy.

There are a variety of different costs and expenses that could be covered by this insurance plan.

When is an Injury Covered by Worker’s Compensation

A worker’s compensation insurance plan is designed to protect employees and give support to those that are injured while at work. To qualify for an approved claim, the following expectations will need to be met:

1. The employer must have a valid and active worker’s compensation insurance plan.

2. You must be an employee or covered contractor under the plan.

3. The injury must have taken place while at work or performing your job.

4. You need to follow all required medical requests including taking medication, going to therapy, and showing up to appointments on time.

5. All paperwork needs to be filed on time. 

Generally, if you comply with these requirements, your claim under the policy should be approved. However, if the accident occurred while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol or was due to intent, the claim may not be covered. 

Types of Costs and Losses Covered by the Insurance Policy

If your injury would quality for worker’s compensation insurance coverage, you should obtain support and reimbursement for various costs that you have incurred because of it. Some common costs covered include the following”

Medical Care and Ongoing Costs

One of the most common types of expenses that will be covered by a worker’s compensation claim is your medical care and ongoing related costs. If you have been injured at work and need to go to the hospital, the costs can add up quickly. This is especially true if you need a procedure or to stay at the hospital overnight. Depending on your situation, you may also have ongoing medical and therapy costs.

This can include receiving occupational, speech, or physical therapy, and you may need additional procedures or ongoing care at home. When you file a worker’s compensation claim, you will receive reimbursement for your out-of-pocket costs and can also receive a fair amount of financial support for future expected expenses. 

Lost Wages

Anyone that is injured at work and will need to receive medical care and attention will likely need to miss work for a period of time.

If you are forced to miss work as you recover from your injuries, it can have a direct impact on your wages. Fortunately, you can have these costs reimbursed through a worker’s compensation insurance plan. This type of benefit will typically end when you return to work or are determined physically capable of returning to the workplace. 

Disability Benefits

One of the challenges that can come with any type of injury is if you are disabled due to the accident. In these cases, you will not only have ongoing medical costs and lost wages, but it can require you to make significant investments to manage your disability the right way. Generally, any disability-related expenses that you incur will be covered under the insurance plan. 

Funeral Costs

While most workplace injuries will result in injuries that are recoverable, there are unfortunate situations in which it could result in death. In these situations, the worker’s compensation plan should provide end-of-life expense reimbursement and support. This can include fair costs associated with a funeral and burial. 

Death Benefits

If an employee covered by the worker’s compensation plan passes away, their lost income can put a significant stress on the lives of their family and dependents. Fortunately, workers compensation laws will continue to pay death benefits to the family of the deceased for a period of time. In Georgia, a family can expect to continue to receive up to two-thirds of the deceased income. 

When to Notify and File a Claim

If you have incurred any type of workplace injury in Georgia, seeking reimbursement and support through the workers compensation insurance program can be a good idea. If you do need to file a claim, it is important that you follow the proper procedure to ensure your claim is filed on time.

In general, you should aim to notify your employer of your injury within 30 days of it occurring. You will then have up to a year to file the official claim. However, there can be circumstances that can extend these deadlines.

Reasons to Hire an Attorney

If you are injured while you are at work and want to file a worker’s compensation insurance claim, it is important that you have legal support by your side. Once you have received necessary medical attention, calling a worker’s compensation attorney should be a top priority.

When you do call an attorney they will first help by giving you the support you need to notify your employer and file your claim. They can help by gathering all necessary documentation and ensuring the claim is filed on time. The attorney can then handle any questions received in response and even provide any support needed for a full appeal of the decision. 

Filing a worker’s compensation insurance claim is a major and important step as it can be a great way to ensure you receive the support you need after the accident. To ensure that you are properly reimbursed and represented, hiring the right experienced counsel is very important.

For those that are in the state of Georgia, workers’ comp lawyer David Mann is a great attorney to contact. When you do reach out to David Mann and his entire legal team, you can learn more about the services that they can provide. The team can then offer any legal support you need to ensure your claim is filed properly and you receive fair support.

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