Perkins Law Talk Blog
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, […]
Workers Compensation Settlement Timelines
Many people ask me good questions about workers compensation settlements. Some of the common questions people ask me include the following: How long does it take a workers compensation case to settle? Does the time it takes to reach a settlement affect the amount of the settlement? If I wait too long to settle my […]
Uber Workers Compensation Injuries
Uber and Lyft have grown into billion dollar companies in a relatively short time. Uber employs over 1 million drivers, and Lyft has over 100,000. Some Uber drivers suffer injuries in car wrecks. Others may suffer an injury loading or unloading a customers luggage. So, what happens when Uber and Lyft drivers suffer workers compensation injuries? […]
How 2016 Georgia Court Decisions Affected Workers Compensation
The Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals make workers compensation decisions every year. Most of these decisions do two important things: They decide the legal issue or issues in that particular workers compensation case. They establish law (referred to as precedent) that judges apply in other workers compensation cases. Just like the Supreme […]
Do Safety Rule Violations Bar Workers Compensation Benefits?
Many employer have safety rules they require employers to follow. Sometimes, the employer has a manual that spells out the rules. Other times, your employer just gives you instructions in writing. If you suffer an injury at work, your employer may try to claim that violating a safety rule caused your injury. Can you still […]
Hiring a Workers Compensation Attorney
You have thought about hiring a workers compensation attorney. But, how do you decide who you should hire? You want to make sure the workers compensation insurance company does not take advantage of you. Yet, many people put off hiring an attorney because they find the process difficult. Some people find it intimidating. If you […]