Stephen Hasner | Workers' Compensation | February 1, 2026
Your employer is legally required to report a workplace injury to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier. If they fail to file Form WC-1 as required, your claim can be delayed before it ever gets off the ground. While the required forms remain unfiled, benefits may be delayed, medical bills can accumulate, and you may be left without answers as you try to recover from an on-the-job injury.
An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer from Hasner Law may help you navigate employer failures and pursue any benefits that may be available under Georgia law. Contact Hasner Law today for a free consultation to discuss your situation and learn how we may help protect your claim.
Key Takeaways About Georgia Workers Compensation Employer Reporting Requirements
- Georgia employers must file Form WC-1 with their insurance carrier immediately upon learning of a workplace injury, and injuries causing seven or more missed days must reach the State Board within 21 days.
- Employers who fail to file required injury reports face civil penalties ranging from $100 to $1,000 per violation under Georgia law.
- You may file your own Form WC-14 directly with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation to initiate your claim when your employer fails to act.
- An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer from Hasner Law may help you navigate employer failures and pursue the benefits available under Georgia law.
Georgia Law Requirements for Employer Injury Reporting
Georgia places clear legal obligations on employers to report workplace injuries promptly. The Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act requires employers to complete and file Form WC-1, known as the Employer’s First Report of Injury or Occupational Disease, with their insurance carrier immediately upon learning of a workplace injury.
This filing requirement applies regardless of how minor the injury seems at first. Injuries that seem minor at first can later require extensive medical treatment and time away from work. The law recognizes this reality and mandates prompt reporting for all workplace injuries.
Georgia Workers Compensation Deadlines Employers Must Follow
Georgia law sets specific timeframes that employers and their insurance carriers must follow when reporting workplace injuries. These deadlines exist to protect injured workers and keep claims moving forward.
- Employers must complete Section A of Form WC-1 and submit it to their insurance carrier immediately upon learning of any workplace injury.
- The insurance carrier must file Form WC-1 with the State Board within 21 days of the employer’s knowledge of disability for injuries causing seven or more days of lost work time.
- Insurers must indicate whether they accept or deny the claim by completing Section B, C, or D of the form.
- A copy of the completed form must go to the injured employee so they have documentation of their claim status.
Failure to meet these deadlines may trigger penalties and could strengthen your position if you need to take legal action. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer may use documented employer violations when advocating for your claim.
Consequences When Employers Skip the WC-1 Filing
Employer failure to file required injury reports creates real problems for injured workers, but Georgia law provides remedies. The State Board of Workers’ Compensation takes reporting violations seriously and may impose penalties on non-compliant employers and insurers.
According to Georgia employer information guidelines, employers who willfully fail to file required forms face civil penalties ranging from $100 to $1,000 per violation. Late payments of income or medical benefits may trigger additional penalties, and the Board has authority to assess attorney’s fees against employers who cause delays through their negligence.
How Employer Reporting Failures Delay Workers Compensation Benefits
When your employer never files Form WC-1, the insurance carrier may claim they have no record of your injury. As a result, you may have properly reported your injury and obtained medical care, yet no workers’ compensation claim exists in the system.
Your medical providers may refuse treatment without workers’ compensation authorization. Bills start arriving at your home address instead of going to the insurance carrier.
Income benefits never begin because no claim file exists. Meanwhile, deadlines continue running, and your one-year window to file a formal claim shrinks every day.
An experienced Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer is familiar with these patterns and knows how to address them. We document employer failures, create paper trails, and file claims directly when employers refuse to act.
Steps to Take When Your Employer Refuses to Report Your Injury
You have options when your employer fails to meet their reporting obligations. Georgia law allows injured workers to take action independently, and an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer may guide you through each step of the process.
Document Everything About Your Injury
Before taking formal action, gather all evidence related to your workplace injury and your attempts to report it. This documentation proves valuable if disputes arise later about whether and when you reported your injury.
- Written or electronic records showing when and how you reported your injury to your supervisor or employer
- Names of coworkers or witnesses who saw the accident or heard you report it
- Medical records from all treatment related to your workplace injury
- Photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, or unsafe conditions that contributed to the incident
- Any communications with your employer about the injury, including emails, texts, or voicemails
Strong documentation protects your claim against employer denials and supports penalty requests against non-compliant employers.
How to File Your Own Georgia Workers Compensation Claim Without Your Employer
Georgia law permits injured workers to file Form WC-14, known as the Notice of Claim, directly with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. This form officially initiates your claim and creates a record with the state, regardless of whether your employer filed Form WC-1.
You must file Form WC-14 within one year of your injury date or within one year of your last medical treatment paid by the employer or insurer. Missing this deadline may eliminate your right to pursue benefits, so taking quick action matters.
Filing Form WC-14 also triggers obligations for the employer and their insurance carrier. Once the State Board receives your claim, the insurer must investigate and respond. They lose the ability to simply ignore your injury.
Warning Signs Your Employer May Be Avoiding Their Legal Duties
Certain employer behaviors signal potential problems with your workers’ compensation claim. Recognizing these warning signs helps you respond effectively and protect your rights under Georgia law.
- Telling you to use your personal health insurance for a workplace injury instead of filing a workers’ comp claim
- Claiming they need to investigate further before reporting anything to their insurance carrier
- Suggesting you wait to see if the injury heals on its own before taking any action
- Refusing to provide you with a copy of the posted panel of physicians or workers’ comp insurance information
- Pressuring you to sign documents or give recorded statements before you have time to understand your rights
These behaviors may indicate that an employer is attempting to avoid legal obligations or minimize insurance costs. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer may help you respond appropriately to protect your claim.
What Happens If Your Employer Does Not Have Workers Compensation Insurance
Georgia requires employers with three or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Some employers operate without this required coverage, either through negligence or deliberate avoidance.
If your employer lacks insurance, you may have additional legal options beyond the standard workers’ compensation system, depending on the facts of your case. Uninsured employers lose certain protections that workers’ compensation normally provides to employers.
The State Board may also pursue enforcement actions against employers who willfully refuse to obtain coverage, including potential fines of up to $10,000 and other penalties. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer investigates your employer’s insurance status and advises you on the best path forward based on what we discover.
Protecting Your Right to Medical Treatment After a Workplace Injury
Your injury requires medical attention regardless of whether your employer filed the proper paperwork. Georgia workers’ compensation rules allow you to seek treatment from physicians on your employer’s posted panel, but employer failures may affect how this process works.
If your employer failed to post a proper panel of physicians or failed to explain your right to choose from that panel, you may have greater freedom in selecting your doctor. Georgia law addresses employer non-compliance with panel requirements, which may expand injured workers’ medical options in certain situations.
Even when dealing with employer failures, keep all records of your medical treatment. Document every appointment, prescription, and recommendation from your treating physicians. This information supports your claim when you take action to pursue benefits.
How Hasner Law Helps When Employers Fail to Report Your Injury
Dealing with an unresponsive or negligent employer can intensify an already challenging situation. At Hasner Law, our team of Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyers understands the frustration injured workers experience when employers fail to meet their legal obligations. We are prepared to step in, advocate on your behalf, and work diligently to advance your claim despite an employer’s inaction.
Our attorneys contact insurance carriers directly, file necessary paperwork with the State Board, and hold employers accountable for their obligations under Georgia law. We have helped injured workers throughout Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties pursue benefits in cases where employers allegedly failed to meet their responsibilities.
How to Take Control of Your Georgia Workers Compensation Claim
When you hire an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer from Hasner Law, we immediately assess where your claim stands and identify what actions need to happen next.
We gather your medical records, document your injury, and communicate with all relevant parties on your behalf. If your employer failed to report your injury, we file your claim directly with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation and notify the insurance carrier of their obligations.
Our team also investigates whether your employer carries proper workers’ compensation coverage. Some employers operate without required insurance, which creates additional legal considerations for injured workers. We evaluate every available avenue to help you pursue the medical treatment and income benefits your injury may require.
FAQs for Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
What deadline applies to filing my own workers’ comp claim in Georgia?
You have one year from the date of your injury or one year from your last medical treatment paid by the employer or insurer to file Form WC-14 with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Missing this deadline may permanently bar your claim, so taking action promptly can help protect your rights.
Does my employer face penalties for not filing the injury report?
Georgia law authorizes civil penalties between $100 and $1,000 per violation for employers who willfully fail to file required reports. Additional penalties may apply for late benefit payments, and the Board has authority to assess attorney’s fees in certain circumstances. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer may request that the State Board consider appropriate penalties as part of your case.
What if my employer claims I never reported my injury?
Documentation becomes your best defense against this common employer response. Emails, text messages, witness statements, and medical records showing you sought treatment immediately after your injury all support your position. Even without written proof, testimony from coworkers who heard you report the injury may carry weight in proceedings before the State Board.
May I see my own doctor if my employer never gave me a panel of physicians?
Georgia law requires employers to post a panel of at least six physicians and explain this panel to employees. Employers who fail to comply with these requirements may lose certain controls over your medical treatment. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer may evaluate whether panel violations occurred in your case.
How long does it take to get benefits after filing my own claim?
Once you file Form WC-14, the insurance carrier must investigate and respond. Timeframes vary based on claim complexity and whether the insurer disputes your claim. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer works to move your claim forward and to address delays that may be caused by insurer or employer conduct.
How to Protect Your Georgia Workers Compensation Claim When Your Employer Fails You
Your workplace injury happened, and Georgia law requires your employer to report it. When they fail to meet this basic obligation, you face delayed medical care and missing income benefits through no fault of your own.
Hasner Law represents injured workers across Atlanta, Savannah, and throughout Georgia who face unresponsive employers and stalled claims. Our Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer team takes immediate action to file your claim, notify insurance carriers, and pursue appropriate remedies against employers who ignore their duties.
Do not let your employer’s failure jeopardize the benefits Georgia law makes available to eligible injured workers. Contact Hasner Law now for a free consultation and take action to protect your claim.
