Are you suffering from a work-related injury or illness in Atlanta, Georgia? If so, the Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyers at Hasner Law PC can help you get the full amount of compensation you’re due for your medical bills and lost wages.
Hasner Law PC is a leader in the fight for workers’ rights. Our top-rated trial attorneys have more than 80 years of combined legal experience. We’re committed to getting each and every client every dollar they deserve. We’ve already recovered millions of dollars in life-changing settlements and verdicts for injured victims like you.
Contact our office today for a free consultation or call us at (678) 888-4878 if you were injured on the job. There’s no risk to you.
Atlanta, GA Workers’ Compensation FAQ
Can I Sue My Employer If They Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
How Hasner Law PC Can Help With Your Worker’s Compensation Claim in Atlanta
How Much Is My Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Atlanta?
Do I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Benefits under Georgia Law?
Can I Sue My Employer for Denying My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
What Are My Rights Under Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws?
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for an Accident at Work?
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
What Mistakes Could Compromise My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
What Should I Do After I Get Hurt On the Job?
Contact Our Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyers For a Free Consultation
Can I Sue My Employer If They Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
In Georgia, the workers’ compensation laws are made to provide swift financial support for injured employees. It’s also designed to protect employers from lawsuits. If he has workers’ comp insurance, you’ll waive your right to sue them for injury-related damages. You’ll be required to go through the workers’ compensation system, instead.
There are limited exceptions to this rule. You may have a legitimate case if they failed to purchase a workers’ comp insurance policy, denied your claim without justification, or weren’t required to have it.
How Hasner Law PC Can Help With Your Worker’s Compensation Claim in Atlanta
If you’re injured at work, you might think that all you have to do is report the accident to your employer to get your workers’ compensation benefits. He might have even told you that you don’t need a lawyer.
But the system is designed to benefit employers and insurance companies, not injured workers like you. When you file a compensation claim, you have to follow rigid procedures and meet strict deadlines. Your employers’ insurance carrier will put obstacles between you and the justice you deserve. Simple mistakes could cost you valuable compensation; that’s why you need professional legal advice and representation.
Hiring the best attorney can make a massive difference in your case.
The Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys at Hasner Law PC will:
- Investigate your accident and determine whether any party is responsible for your accident
- Monitor the progress of your workers’ comp claims and challenge any claims that are denied or undervalued
- Hire experts to make sure your needs are accurately documented
- Handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance companies
- Advocate for you before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation if your claim is denied
- File a personal injury lawsuit if there is a third party liable & get started on your case
At Hasner Law PC, our attorneys have more than 80 years of professional experience handling complex workers’ compensation claims with great results. We know Georgia workers’ compensation laws inside and out. We know what steps need to be taken to not only secure benefits on your behalf, but to get you what you should be paid under the law.
How Much Is My Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?
You’re entitled to compensation for all of your bills. And also entitled to a portion of your lost wages—the exact amount depends on whether and when you can return to work.
The value of these items will vary in each case, depending on:
- The severity of your injury
- Whether you can return to the same job in the same capacity
- How long your recovery will take
- Whether your accident was the result of your violation of safety
When bills are piling up, you will face a long recovery, and you need a team you can trust to give you the personal attention you deserve and one that knows Georgia workers’ compensation law inside and out.
Our founding attorney is committed to ensuring workers receive fair treatment throughout the workers’ compensation process. He’s so passionate about workers’ rights that he co-founded the Georgia Injured Workers’ Advocates, a group dedicated to protecting the injured workers throughout the state. We’ll fight hard to maximize your award.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Atlanta?
It varies. Many workers’ compensation attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means the attorneys will get a percentage of the money they recover for you. This prevents you from having to give money up front, and you don’t pay anything if they don’t win your case.
The state of Georgia limits the percentage of the fee that can be paid to your attorney in workers’ compensation cases. The fee is capped at 25% of the weekly income benefits. You’ll always get 100% of your medical bills.
Do I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Benefits under Georgia Law?
In the state of Georgia, all employers with three or more regular workers must carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees qualify for these insurance benefits if they suffer a work injury while performing work-related responsibilities.
Traveling employees also tend to qualify for benefits, while independent contractors do not. Employees for federal government agencies, farm laborers, domestic servants, and railroad carriers are also not eligible for workers’ comp in the state of Georgia.
Do I Qualify For Workers’ Compensation If I Don’t Get Hurt At Work?
You don’t have to get hurt on your employer’s premises to qualify. You can also successfully secure workers’ comp benefits if you get hurt while performing a job-related task or responsibility.
For example, let’s say you were driving a work van to transport materials to a job site when you get into a car accident. You’d qualify for workers’ comp since you were asked to complete a task within the scope of your employment that put your life at risk.
Can I Sue a Third Party for Additional Money?
Workplace accidents occur for all kinds of reasons. If a party other than your employer contributed to your accident, you might be able to file a third-party lawsuit with the help of an Atlanta personal injury attorney to recover compensation.
If you file a personal injury lawsuit, you’ll be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering, which workers’ compensation doesn’t cover. And, the amount you can receive for expenses in a lawsuit is typically much higher than you’d get from workers’ compensation benefits.
You can sometimes recover benefits for workers’ compensation and additional damages in a third-party lawsuit.
Can I Sue My Employer for Denying My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Generally, no. While you’re usually entitled to workers’ compensation benefits after an injury, there are some valid reasons when your claim may be denied.
For example, if you failed to report your accident within 30 days, you are no longer entitled to anything. You’re also not entitled to any benefit for injuries sustained while doing something outside the scope of your employment.
But workers’ comp claims are often denied for other reasons that may not be valid. And you do have options if your employer denies your workers’ comp benefits. You can file a claim and request a hearing before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
At the hearing, you’ll have the chance to tell the Administrative Law Judge why you’re entitled to benefits. Your insurance company will also be at the hearing to tell the judge its reasons for the denial. The judge will weigh the evidence regarding your claim.
The State Board can also investigate any claims that your employer denied your claim in bad faith. If you think this happened to you, speak to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer for advice on how to proceed.
What Are My Rights Under Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws?
As an employee, you have nine specific rights. They’re actually called the Bill of Rights for the Injured Worker.
These include:
- Right to medical and income benefits.
- Right to choose one of the employer-provided list of six doctors.
- You may make one switch to another option without your employer’s permission.
- In an emergency, you can get help from any doctor. Once the emergency is over, you must see one from the list.
- Payment of authorized expenses related to your injury caused while you were working. Covered expenses include:
- Doctor bills
- Hospital bills
- Rehabilitation (in some cases)
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Medically necessary travel expenses
- Weekly income benefits, if you missed more than seven days of work. Your first check should be mailed within 21 days after your first missed day of work.
- If you sustain a catastrophic injury, you’re entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly wage until you can return to work (up to what’s set by law).
- If you receive a non-catastrophic injury, you’re entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly wage (up to what’s set by law) for up to 400 weeks.
- If you can return to work at a lower-paying job, you’re entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly wage (up to what’s set by law) for up to 350 weeks.
- If you’re killed in a fatal accident, your dependents will be paid burial expenses up to $7,500. And also two-thirds of your average weekly wage (up to what’s set by law).
- If you don’t receive your benefits on time, your employer’s insurance company pays a penalty. The penalty is added to your benefits.
Hiring a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer can help you get justice and secure your financial award. Get started with your case evaluation and answer all your frequently asked questions about Georgia’s law.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for an Accident at Work?
In most cases, yes. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. That means you will be eligible even if you caused the accident.
However, there are some exceptions.
If you were using drugs or alcohol during the accident, your claim could be denied. Or, if your conduct was intentional or malicious, you could risk your right to benefits.
We Handle All Workers’ Compensation Claims
Working on some jobs certainly carries more risks. Whether you slipped and fell in the office or fell from scaffolding in a construction accident, we can help.
These accidents commonly occur in these fields:
- Construction
- Transportation
- Warehousing
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Health care
- Social assistance
- Food processing
- Agriculture
The causes include:
- Car accidents
- Explosions
- Excavation accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Fall from heights
- Defective machinery
- Struck by an object or falling debris
- Building collapse
- Overexertion
- Electrocutions
- Exposure to toxins
We can help you file a claim to cover all of the medical treatment that you need. And we’ll fight hard against unfair denials.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
You should report your accident immediately. You must do it within 30 days or you could forfeit your right.
If a third party is responsible, you’ll have just two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Our experienced legal team is well-equipped to thoroughly evaluate the circumstances of your accident and take action quickly to make sure you don’t miss important deadlines that could compromise your case.
What Mistakes Could Compromise My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Even though you’re entitled to certain benefits, you must follow the rules to obtain any.
Making these mistakes frequently could cause your claim to be denied:
- Failure to report your accident on time. You shouldn’t wait longer than 30 days, or your claim will likely be denied for missing the deadline.
- Failure to choose an approved medical provider. Unless you need emergency care, you must select a doctor from your employer’s options.
- Failure to follow medical advice or instructions. This also applies to attempting a job authorized by the testing physician. If you fail to attempt the work you can perform, you risk having your benefits suspended.
- Refusing to submit to a drug or alcohol test. If you’re asked to take a test for intoxicants after your accident and you refuse, it will be assumed that your injury was caused by your use of alcohol or drugs. If you can’t prove otherwise, your benefits will likely be denied.
- Presenting any false information on your claim. This will not just get your benefits denied, but it could land you in jail and leave you owing hefty fines. This certainly doesn’t mean you’ll get thrown in jail for an honest mistake, but if your claim is misleading or contains inaccurate or incomplete information because you don’t understand something about the forms or the claims process, your benefits could be in jeopardy.
When you are out of work because of an injury, you have enough to worry about. Don’t risk the benefits you’re entitled to. Consulting a reputable Atlanta workers’ comp lawyer early in the process can help you be successful with your case.
What Should I Do After I Get Hurt On the Job?
When it comes to filing a request for workers’ compensation, Georgia has some pretty strict procedures in place. Here’s what you need to know about filing a compensation claim to get benefits after you get hurt at work.
Report the Injury
Tell your employer immediately after an accident, or you notice an illness. Your injury must be reported no later than one month after you get hurt. Missing this deadline can cost you the right to collect workers’ comp.
See a Doctor
Make sure that you get help as soon as you can. However, make sure that you visit a physician who’s pre-approved. The insurer may decline to pay your medical bills if you visit an unauthorized medical provider. This doesn’t apply if you need emergency medical attention after you get hurt at work.
File a Claim
To formally request benefits, you’ll have to:
- Complete Form WC-14, and
- Send copies to the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, your employer, and your insurance company.
You’ll have, at most, one year from the date of your injury to file this form.
Once you’ve submitted your compensation claim, your insurance company will review your request for benefits.
If it is approved, you’ll begin receiving the benefits you’re eligible for.
If your workers’ compensation claim is denied, you can appeal that decision and fight to get the justice.
How Common Are Workplace Accidents? [2023 UPDATE]
While the data for 2023 and 2022 is not yet available, workplace accident statistics from 2021 show us that Georgia has a high rate of on-the-job injuries. That year, there were 187 fatal work injuries reported by employers, slightly down from 2020’s figure of 193.
Transportation incidents were responsible for the majority of fatal work injuries (76) in 2021. Violence and injuries caused by persons and animals was the second-leading cause of fatalities that year, with 31 fatal injuries. Exposure to harmful substances caused 22 worker fatalities, while falls, slips, and trips resulted in 22 worker deaths.
Workers 25-54 years old accounted for nearly 60 percent of Georgia’s fatal work injuries in 2021. Men accounted for 84 percent of the state’s worker deaths. So if you are injured on the job, contact us immediately.
Contact Our Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyers For a Free Consultation
If you’ve been hurt at work, don’t rely on insurance companies to give you the full compensation. Our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys are known for having the best track record of results and success in standing up for workers’ rights.
When your livelihood is at stake, don’t settle for less than you deserve. Let Hasner Law PC help you win. Call today for a no-risk, completely free consultation to answer your frequently asked questions.
Local Emergency Rooms
- WellStar Atlanta Medical Center – 303 Parkway Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
- Emory University Hospital Midtown – 550 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30308
- Grady Memorial Hospital – 80 Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Emergency Department – 38 Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
Areas We Serve in Atlanta
Vinings, Buckhead, Underwood Hills, Atlantic Station, Midtown, Downtown Atlanta, Grove Park, Inman Park, South Atlanta, East Atlanta Village, West End.
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