Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer represents employees who have been injured on the job and need help obtaining or protecting their workers’ comp benefits.
Georgia’s workers’ comp system covers medical treatment and partial wage replacement for qualifying workplace injuries, but the employer’s insurance carrier controls much of the process.
Hasner Law handles every stage of a Georgia workers’ comp claim, from the initial filing through hearings at the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
Workers’ comp is the largest part of our practice. We represent injured employees in construction, healthcare, hospitality, warehouse, manufacturing, and airport operations across Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties.
Call (678) 888-4878 for a free consultation. No Fee Unless We Win.
Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Guide
- Why You Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Atlanta
- Understanding Workers’ Compensation Law in Georgia
- Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Georgia
- What to Do After a Workplace Injury in Atlanta
- Common Workplace Injuries in the Atlanta Metro Area
- What to Expect During a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Georgia
- When Workers’ Compensation May Not Be Your Only Option
- FAQs for Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
- Contact an Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
How Much Does a Workers’ Comp Lawyer in Atlanta Cost?
A workers’ comp attorney in Atlanta charges no fees up front. Georgia workers’ compensation attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning the fee comes out of the recovery, not your pocket.
The State Board of Workers’ Compensation reviews and approves all attorney fees as part of any settlement or award.
What Makes Hasner Law’s Workers’ Comp Practice Different?
Hasner Law brings proven results and broad workers’ compensation experience to injured workers across Georgia.
The firm has recovered more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for injured clients, including a $3.7 million workers’ comp recovery for a lumbar spine injury and a $1.15 million recovery in another workers’ comp case.
Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience in personal injury and workers’ compensation law.
Our team also understands the system from multiple perspectives. Managing Partner Stephen Hasner co-founded the Georgia Injured Workers’ Advocates and chairs WIN-PAC.
Senior Attorney Judy Blackwell previously served as an Administrative Law Judge at the State Board, presiding over more than 500 workers’ comp cases. Senior Attorney Pearce Taylor and Attorney Akash Patel both previously represented the defense side.
That insight helps our team approach claims with practical knowledge of how workers’ compensation cases are handled by judges, insurers, defense counsel, and injured workers.
How Do You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Georgia?
Filing a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia involves reporting the injury to your employer, obtaining medical treatment through the employer’s approved panel, and filing a formal claim with the State Board if the insurer does not accept the claim voluntarily.
What Are the Deadlines for Filing?
Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80 requires you to report the injury to your employer within 30 days.
Limited exceptions may apply if your employer already knew about the accident, if you were physically or mentally unable to report, or if you had a reasonable excuse that did not prejudice the employer. Relying on those exceptions carries risk.
You then generally have one year from the date of injury to file a formal claim with the State Board under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82. Filing deadlines may extend based on whether your employer has provided medical treatment or weekly income benefits.
What Is the WC-14 and When Do You File It?
The WC-14 is the Notice of Claim form you file with the State Board to initiate a workers’ comp claim or request a hearing, including when the insurer denies or disputes your claim.
Filing the WC-14 triggers the formal dispute process and may lead to a hearing before an ALJ. Your Atlanta workers’ comp attorney files this form on your behalf and handles all procedural requirements from that point forward.
What Benefits Are Available Under Georgia Workers’ Comp?
Georgia workers’ comp provides medical treatment and income benefits for employees injured on the job.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily conditions accounted for roughly 946,000 days-away-from-work and job-transfer cases nationally during the 2023 to 2024 reporting period.
Those categories represent the types of injuries that generate the most workers’ comp claims.
Income benefits in Georgia pay two-thirds of your average weekly wage (AWW), subject to a state maximum. The benefit type depends on the severity of the injury and your ability to work.
| Benefit Type | What It Pays | How Long It Lasts |
| Temporary Total Disability (TTD) | Two-thirds of AWW while you are unable to work | Up to 400 weeks for non-catastrophic injuries |
| Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) | Two-thirds of the gap between your pre-injury wage and current reduced earnings | Up to 350 weeks |
| Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) | Two-thirds of AWW for the number of weeks tied to your impairment rating and body part | Varies by body part under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-263 |
| Catastrophic Designation | Same rate as TTD | Lifetime benefits with no week cap |
These time limits apply to income benefits. For non-catastrophic injuries on or after July 1, 2013, Georgia law generally limits authorized medical care to 400 weeks from the injury date. Catastrophic injuries and some older claims may follow different rules.
How Is Your Average Weekly Wage Calculated?
Georgia typically bases AWW on your gross earnings during the 13 weeks before the injury, as outlined in O.C.G.A. § 34-9-260.
Insurance carriers sometimes miscalculate AWW by leaving out overtime, bonuses, or second-job income that Georgia law requires them to include.
Even a small wage error reduces every weekly check for the life of the claim.
What Are the Most Common Reasons for a Denied Workers’ Comp Claim in Atlanta?
Insurance carriers deny Georgia workers’ comp claims for a range of reasons. Some denials reflect legitimate coverage disputes. Others follow patterns that workers’ comp attorneys in Atlanta see repeated across claims from different carriers.
- The employer argues the injury did not happen at work or during the course of employment
- The insurer attributes the current symptoms to a pre-existing condition rather than the workplace accident
- The employee missed the 30-day reporting deadline under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80
- The insurer disputes the treating physician’s diagnosis or recommended treatment plan
- The employer accuses the worker of a safety rule violation or impairment at the time of the accident
A denial does not end the claim. Georgia law gives injured workers the right to file a WC-14 and request a hearing before an ALJ at the State Board. That hearing is where both sides present evidence and testimony, and the ALJ determines whether benefits are owed.
Call (678) 888-4878 if your claim has been denied or your benefits have been cut off.
When Might a Third Party Be Responsible for a Workplace Injury in Georgia?
Georgia workers’ comp is a no-fault system, meaning you do not have to prove employer negligence. In exchange, you generally give up the right to sue your employer.
But when a third party, meaning someone other than your direct employer, caused or contributed to the injury, a separate personal injury claim may apply alongside your workers’ comp benefits.
Third-party claims arise frequently in Atlanta industries where outside contractors, equipment manufacturers, and property owners share the work environment. These claims may recover damages workers’ comp does not pay, including pain and suffering and full lost income.
- A subcontractor’s negligence on a multi-employer construction site
- A defective forklift or machine manufactured by a third-party company
- A motor vehicle collision caused by another driver while you were working
- A property defect maintained by a vendor at a facility like Hartsfield-Jackson
Identifying third-party liability early expands the total sources of compensation available to you. Hasner Law handles both the workers’ comp and the third-party personal injury sides of workplace injury cases under one roof.
What Types of Workplace Injuries Qualify for Workers’ Comp in Georgia?
Georgia workers’ comp covers injuries that arise out of and during the course of employment. Both sudden accidents and conditions that develop over time through repetitive work activities may qualify.
- Back and neck injuries, including herniated discs, bulging discs, and spinal stenosis from lifting, falls, or repetitive motion
- Traumatic brain injuries from falls, struck-by incidents, or vehicle collisions at work
- Crush injuries and amputations from machinery, forklifts, or heavy equipment
- Burns and chemical exposure in manufacturing, industrial, and food processing environments
- Repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome in warehouse, assembly, and healthcare settings
Georgia’s aggravation rule under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-1 also covers workplace accidents that worsen a pre-existing condition. Benefits remain available for as long as the aggravation causes the disability.
Ask Hasner Law
Do I need a workers’ comp lawyer, or is my claim simple enough to handle myself?
Speaking with a workers’ comp attorney in Atlanta before making decisions about your claim is a good idea, even if the claim seems straightforward. The insurer controls the medical panel, the wage calculation, and the benefit timeline.
Errors or disputes in any of those areas may reduce what you receive. Hasner Law reviews your claim at no cost to determine whether attorney involvement may increase the value or protect your rights.
My employer gave me a Panel of Physicians. Do I have to pick from their list?
Georgia requires employers to provide a panel with at least six physicians. In most cases, you must choose your treating doctor from that list.
If the panel is incomplete, was not posted properly, or does not include the right type of specialist for your injury, you may have grounds to challenge the doctor selection. An Atlanta workers’ comp lawyer reviews the panel for compliance issues.
I got hurt at work but my employer says they do not carry workers’ comp insurance. What now?
Georgia requires most employers with three or more employees to carry workers’ compensation coverage. If your employer lacks insurance, you may still file a claim directly with the State Board.
The employer faces penalties, and you may also have the right to file a civil lawsuit, which is not normally available under the workers’ comp system.
FAQs for Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
How long does a workers’ comp case take in Georgia?
Most Georgia workers’ comp cases take several months to over a year depending on the severity of the injury, whether surgery is involved, and whether the insurer disputes the claim.
Settling before reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI) may undervalue the claim. Cases that go to hearing at the State Board typically add several months to the timeline.
What if my employer retaliates after I file a workers’ comp claim?
Georgia is an at-will employment state, which makes retaliation claims complicated. Filing a workers’ comp claim does not stop your right to receive benefits even if your employer terminates you.
If your employer takes action against you because you filed, speak with an attorney right away. Workers’ comp rights and separate employment protections may both apply depending on the facts.
What is the difference between workers’ comp and a personal injury lawsuit?
Workers’ comp provides medical treatment and partial wage replacement without requiring proof of fault.
A personal injury lawsuit requires proof of negligence and may include pain and suffering, full lost wages, and other damages workers’ comp does not cover.
If a third party contributed to your workplace injury, you may pursue both types of claims at the same time.
What if my injury showed up days after the accident?
Many workplace injuries, including back injuries, repetitive stress conditions, and soft tissue damage, do not produce symptoms right away.
Georgia law requires you to report the injury within 30 days of when you knew or reasonably should have known it was work-related.
Documenting your symptoms and seeing a doctor as soon as they appear protects both your health and your claim.
What does the workers’ comp hearing process look like in Georgia?
A workers’ comp hearing takes place before an ALJ at the State Board. Both sides present medical evidence, witness testimony, and legal arguments.
The ALJ reviews the record and issues a decision on whether benefits are owed. If the initial decision is unfavorable, you may appeal to the State Board’s Appellate Division and then to Georgia Superior Court.
Get Your Workers’ Comp Claim Reviewed by an Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
The insurer assigned to your claim has already started making decisions about your medical treatment, your wage rate, and whether your injury qualifies for benefits.
Each of those decisions directly affects how much money you receive and for how long. Accepting those decisions without independent review risks leaving money and medical coverage on the table.
Hasner Law represents injured workers across Atlanta, Decatur, Marietta, Kennesaw, Savannah, and surrounding Georgia communities. Workers’ comp is the core of what we do, and our attorneys have operated on every side of the Georgia system.
Call (678) 888-4878 for a free consultation. No Fee Unless We Win.
Hasner Law: Atlanta Injury & Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
275 Interstate N Circle SE, Suite 251,
Atlanta, GA 30339
P: (678) 888-4878
