Do you have workers’ compensation questions related to the COVID-19 coronavirus?

Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)

You may read about maximum medical improvement on some paperwork from your workers’ compensation doctor.  Like many medical terms, you may wonder what it means.  You probably wonder how it will affect your workers’ compensation benefits.

Maximum medical improvement (or MMI for short) means that your injury is basically “as good as it is going to get”.  You will often have permanent work restrictions.  You will likely have a permanent partial disability rating as well.

You can still receive medical treatment from your workers' compensation doctor after you reach maximum medical improvement

Will I continue receiving temporary total disability benefits after I reach maximum medical improvement?

Workers’ compensation laws vary by state.  Under the laws of some states, temporary total disability benefits may stop or decrease after you reach maximum medical improvement.  In Georgia, reaching maximum medical improvement does not affect your right to receive temporary total disability benefits.  Those benefits continue while you are out of work as a result of your injury unless your benefits stop for some other reason.

Can I get medical treatment after I reach maximum medical improvement?

Yes. Under Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws, you can continue getting medical treatment after you reach maximum medical improvement.

The insurance company might try to argue that you do not need medical treatment since you cannot really get better. They are wrong.

Georgia law requires the insurance company to pay for medical treatment that will help cure you or give you relief. Even if you have reached maximum medical improvement, you still may need treatment to relieve and reduce your pain.  Also, the doctor may still have treatment to offer which could improve your condition.

Man and woman reading letter in living room on sofa

If my work injury causes me permanent impairment, do I receive any benefits from the insurance company for that?

Yes. Georgia workers’ compensation law pays three types of benefits. In addition to wage loss benefits and medical benefits, the insurance company should pay you permanent partial disability benefits for your permanent impairment. The amount of the benefits will depend upon a percent rating given to you by a doctor using the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.

If you would like to find out more about permanent partial disability benefits, just read this article that discusses those benefits in much more detail.

Am I entitled to a settlement after reaching maximum medical improvement?

Many people ask me this question. It is a good question to ask.  You are not “entitled” to a settlement, but the insurance company will probably want to settle your case.  I discuss this more in the video below:

Maximum medical improvement could be a good time to consider settlement of your case.  Settlement is simply an agreement that you reach with the insurance company.  If you settle, you give up your case in exchange for the insurance company paying you a negotiated amount of money.

You need to know that settlement of your case is final. You will not be able to go back and change your mind once the settlement has been approved. I would recommend you put some serious thought into settlement before deciding to move forward.

What if I have other questions about workers compensation?

Georgia’s workers compensation system can be very confusing.  You have to worry about getting the treatment you need and paying your bills while also worrying about not missing any deadlines that could cause you to lose your right to receive workers compensation benefits.

If you have questions, I would recommend that you try to get answers.  To find out more about how to schedule a time to talk to me about your workers compensation questions, just read this short article.

Jason Perkins is an attorney who specializes in representing injured workers.  He regularly publishes videos and write blog articles about Georgia’s workers compensation system and issues that are important to injured workers and their families.

To be notified of Jason’s new workers compensation videos, subscribe to his Georgia Workers Compensation Video Series channel on YouTube by clicking the subscribe button below.

Brittney-lee orourkeBrittney-lee orourke
05:23 18 Feb 22
Amazing! Jason and his team were very helpful and had the best communication by far. Walked me though every step with great detail and had answers for any question I had. They handled my case better then I could imagine, it was a weird case and they stayed on top of it and kept me updated every step of the way! Highly recommend this Team! Thanks so much to Jason and his Awesome team!-Brittney
China JonesChina Jones
18:58 08 Feb 22
I absolutely love this group of attorneys, when I was at my lowest they did everything they could to help me get justice for my injury. I believe if I were to have never picked my phone up and called the amazing group that helped me I definitely would not have received my idea of rights. If you have an issue and are just not sure please understand that they will help you, stay in contact, answer any question you have, and for sure get you the justice you deserve I thank them from the bottom of my heart and I will definitely refer them to anyone who has been hurt because they most definitely care about their work and clients.
Luv LocsLuv Locs
16:08 15 Jan 22
The entire law office was attentive and responsive to all of my concerns dealing with my workers compensation case.
moombimoombi
21:14 02 Jan 22
If you must get a lawyer involved, you’d do well to work with Jason Perkins and his team at Perkins Studdard Law.They were thorough in gathering information and in sharing all the steps in the workers comp process specific to my case. Jason and the team were responsive to my bevy of questions and concerns.I appreciated the informative videos and consultations provided by Jason over video meetings and multiple phone calls.I hope I’m never injured on the job again. However, if I am and if my employer responds as my previous employer did, I’ll contact Perkins Studdard Law immediately to handle the case.
Dana BessDana Bess
23:57 10 Dec 21
Everyone at Perkins Studdard was kind and professional. They were always extremely responsive and answered all questions that I had and followed up to make sure I had an understanding of what was going on along with emailing videos to explain every step of my case so I would know what to expect and be prepared. Jason is a very genuine person and I trusted him with my case. He answered so many questions for me even before I retained him as my WC lawyer. I highly recommend him and his associates at Perkins Studdard.
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Jason Perkins

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