Perkins Law Talk Blog
Can I Fight a Coventry Notification of Non Certification?
If you are reading this article, you have probably had some medical treatment recommended by your doctor in a workers compensation case. Then you received a letter or an email from Coventry notifying you that the medical treatment was not certified. Your first question was probably, “What in the world does this mean?” Most of […]
New 2017 GA Workers Compensation Medical Treatment Rules
Georgia’s injured workers too often cannot receive timely medical treatment for their work injuries. When your treating doctor recommends certain medical treatment, you should not have to wait months or longer to get that treatment. Unfortunately, insurance companies have taken advantage of a system which allows them to delay and deny workers compensation medical treatment. […]
Can Workers Compensation Force Me To Go To Their Doctor?
How do you know which doctor to go to after you get hurt at work? What often happens after somebody gets injured at work, and they report injury to their employer, is their employer tells them, “You’ve got to go down to the urgent care clinic or the occupational doctor.” They may tell you, “This […]
Will Workers Compensation Pay Someone To Follow Me?
I refer to is as “surveillance”. A private investigator parks near your house or some other location where they suspect you will be. Once they see you, they observe you. They follow you around and takes pictures and video of you. You have probably heard the expression, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Unfortunately, […]
Cliff Perkins Celebrates 40 Years Practicing Law In Georgia
All of us at Perkins Studdard want to congratulate Cliff Perkins as he celebrates his 40th year practicing law in Georgia. Cliff has devoted most of that 40 years to fighting to get justice for Georgia’s injured workers. He has successfully tried workers’ compensation cases in all levels of the courts, including the Supreme Court […]
Getting Orthopedic Treatment after a Workers Compensation Injury
If you are reading this, you probably find yourself in an unwanted situation. You have suffered a serious injury at work. Now, you need to get medical treatment so you can recover from that injury. Georgia’s workers compensation law has rules about what the workers compensation insurance company must pay on your behalf. Today, I […]
Will I Receive a Settlement at a Workers Compensation Mediation?
I often discuss mediation with my clients. When I do this, I almost always ask them if they know what a mediation is. Some of them have a basic understanding of mediation. Others are not familiar with mediation at all. In this article, I will discuss what mediation is generally and talk specifically about what […]
Does Workers Compensation Prevent Me From Getting a Job?
Many people who suffer a serious injury at work have questions about the rules of Georgia’s workers compensation law. Many of these questions focus on two main areas: Getting medical treatment so they can recover from their injury What happens under Georgia’s workers compensation law if an injury affects their ability to work In this […]
What Is a Nurse Case Manager?
Georgia workers compensation is confusing. You suffer an injury at work and you suddenly find yourself thrown into this system that you never wanted to be a part of. You talk with people from your employer and the workers compensation insurance company. These people often give you information about what you need to do. You […]
Why Do Insurance Companies Settle Cases?
What is a workers compensation settlement? Many people have heard about settlements. You might know someone who settled their case. Television commercials by attorneys often discuss settlements. Basically, a settlement is an agreement between two sides to a dispute to resolve that dispute. In workers compensation, this agreement is usually between you and the workers […]
Can Workers Compensation Deny My Medical Treatment?
I talk to many people who have suffered injuries at work. Most people who call me have had difficulty getting the workers compensation medical treatment they need. Often, the insurance company has denied some or all of their medical treatment. Medical treatment is one of the primary benefits provided in a workers’ compensation case. Basically, […]
Does Georgia Workers Compensation Cover Preexisting Conditions?
We hear a lot about preexisting conditions in the news. We hear debate about whether health insurance has to cover them. But, what about Georgia workers compensation insurance? Does it cover preexisting conditions? What is a preexisting condition? Basically, it is a medical condition that you already had. It could be diabetes, high blood pressure, […]
The Constitutional Requirements of Workers Compensation
Many of my clients complain about the fairness of Georgia’s workers compensation laws. From my perspective, those laws definitely favor employers and insurance companies instead of injured workers. Each state has its own workers compensation system. State legislatures usually create these systems by passing a set of laws known as a workers compensation act. Alabama’s […]
Scheduling a Workers Compensation Doctors Appointment
You would think that scheduling a workers compensation doctors appointment would be pretty easy. After all, you just call and schedule an appointment to see the doctor when you get sick. Unfortunately, the Georgia workers compensation system makes it a little harder than just using your health insurance. Before we talk about that further, I […]
Why Workers Compensation Insurance Companies Settle Cases
Most people have heard about settlement of case. Ads by attorneys on television often talk about person injury and workers compensation settlements. Those ads usually do not tell you a whole lot. They do not talk to you about what a settlement is. They also do not discuss why insurance companies settle cases. To understand […]
The Workers Compensation Doctor List
In Georgia, you have choice over which doctor treats your workers compensation injury. To know what your choices are, you need to get the workers compensation doctor list. Georgia law requires your employer to post the workers compensation doctor list. The formal name for this document is the “panel of physicians”. Many people have questions […]
Is Knee Surgery Covered By Workers Compensation?
Your workers compensation doctor tells you that you need knee surgery. You probably have a number of questions. Does workers compensation pay for the surgery? Will the surgery cost you anything? Do you have to have the knee surgery? Can you get a second opinion? How long will it take to get the surgery approved? […]
The Difference Between TTD and PPD Benefits
You may receive temporary total and permanent partial disability benefits after a work injury. Many people receive both of these benefits. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not always pay these benefits at the correct time or in the correct amounts. Most people just want to receive whatever benefits they should. But, many people find it difficult […]
Can Doctors Use Medical Marijuana for Pain Management?
Many states have legalized medical marijuana in recent years. Procon.org reports that over half of U.S. states have legalized marijuana for medical use to some extent. Georgia has not yet legalized marijuana for medical use. However, Georgia passed a law in 2015 which allows the use of cannabis oil in certain situations. Other states also […]
Is Hip Replacement Covered By Workers Compensation?
Severe hip injuries cause excruciating pain. They affect your ability to do just about anything including standing, sitting, and working. In recent years, hip replacement has become a popular way to treat severe hip conditions. When your worker compensation doctor recommends hip replacement, that recommendation can create a number of different issues. In this article, […]