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Unfair Treatment for Georgia Workers

When they are healthy and working, most people do not worry about workers’ compensation laws.  Most people know that workers’ compensation (or workers comp) would cover them if they had a work injury.  However, they do not know what benefits they could receive.  They also do not know what changes are made to Georgia’s laws and the laws of other states each year.

Because of what we do, our attorneys know a lot about workers’ compensation in Georgia.  Three of our attorneys specialize in Georgia worker compensation cases.  Cliff Perkins has served as President of the State Bar of Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Section.  Jason Perkins has served as President of the Workers Compensation Claimants Lawyers (WCCL) section of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.

Recent changes in Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation laws

Unfortunately, the changes in Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws have not been good for Georgia’s workers.  One major change in the last couple of years affected an injured worker’s right to get medical treatment.  That change severely limited an insurance company’s responsibility for medical treatment after a work injury.  Instead of being responsible for all medical treatment related to an injury, the insurance company is now only responsible for medical treatment that occurs within 400 weeks of the work injury.

This change was bad for many injured workers, but it was terrible for injured workers who suffer amputations.  Prosthetic body parts greatly benefit injured workers with amputation injuries.  However, a prosthesis will wear out over time and must be replaced.  Since the law was changed, the insurance company does not have to pay to replace prosthetic arms and legs once 400 weeks passes from the date of injury.

Nationwide changes in workers’ compensation laws

Other changes have been made in Georgia’s laws that are also not good for injured workers.  Even worse, the erosion of worker’s rights is not limited to Georgia.  Many states across the company have severely limited the rights of injured workers in response to pressure from insurance companies and other big corporations.  NPR and ProPublica recently completed and published the results of a lengthy investigation into workers’ compensation laws and how they affect injured workers.

What is workers’ compensation insurance supposed to pay?

Even before these changes were made, workers’ compensation was already a very limited recovery.  Workers’ compensation generally only pays you a limited benefits while you are out of work because of your injury (in Georgia, this benefit is currently two-thirds of your average wage up to a maximum of $525 per week).  In most states, it pays your medical treatment for your injury and permanent partial disability benefits.  It does not pay anything for pain and suffering and workers’ compensation is your exclusive (only) remedy for your injury because you are forced to give up your right to sue your employer (giving up pain and suffering and having workers’ compensation as the exclusive remedy was part of the “grand bargain” made when workers’ compensation laws were adopted in the early 1900s).

What can you do about the changes in workers’ compensation laws?

Now that you are aware of changes that are being made in the workers’ compensation laws, there are several things you can do:

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.

It took me probably too long to finally get a lawyer when my work comp claim started and I had no idea what I should do. I read reviews and upon recommendation of several people started the process of getting a lawyer. I am fortunate and lucky to have come across Perkins Studdard. Jason and his team has taken care of me since the moment I first called them and made sure any and all questions I had were answered as well as working hard to get me my settlement so I can continue receiving treatment. If you're looking for a good law firm to represent you in your worker's compensation case I would highly highly recommend this one.Autumn Fields
I highly recommend Perkins Law Firm. Throughout the whole process Perkins team kept me updated and explained everything very well. I am very pleased with their work. You will not be disappointed!!trina flornce
Mr. Perkins and team...Tina* they have all been so awesome. Always available to talk to me with any concerns. Kept me informed on my case all the way. Greatly appreciated!Missy Cherry
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! -BrittneyBrittney-lee orourke
This law firm is very good at what it does the staff and the lawyer's that were involved with my case all were very perfesional and curious I couldn't ask for a better law firm I want to thank everyone for a great job thanks Les RyanLeslie Ryan
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.China Jones
The entire law office was attentive and responsive to all of my concerns dealing with my workers compensation case.Luv Locs
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.moombi
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.Dana Bess
Great staff and very knowlegable. They treat you like family and work hard to get you what you need. Highly recommended.Josh Carter

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