Rules of Georgia Workers’ Compensation

If you are injured on the job, workers’ compensation can help you recover but you need to follow a process.  Not understanding this process often causes people to lose benefits they should receive.

What to do after your work injury

The first things you need to do is make sure to report your injury to employer as soon as possible.  Prompt notification should allow the insurance company to begin your benefits in a timely manner. If you do not report you injury within 30 days, you may lose all of your workers’ compensation benefits under Georgia law.

Workers’ compensation attorney Jason Perkins discusses a few of the other things you need to do after a work injury:

Rules on getting medical treatment

You need proper medical treatment to recover from your injury.  The insurance company has a duty to pay for that treatment.

It would be nice if you could just go to any doctor you want to get that treatment.  But you have to follow the rules to make the insurance company pay for that treatment.  If you do not follow the rules, the insurance company may get away with not paying for your treatment.

Deadlines on filing your claim

The most frustrating and often unfair rules have to do with filing your claim.  If you wait too long, you may lose your right to part or all of your workers’ compensation benefits.

Georgia law has many different deadlines called “statutes of limitation”.  Make sure you know about these.  You can read this article for more information.

Rules the insurance company has to follow

The insurance company has to follow rules as well.  They have to file Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation forms.  They have to send copies of those forms to you.

The insurance company also has to pay benefits on time.  When they fail to follow the rules, the insurance company can have to pay penalties and the cost of you getting an attorney to enforce your rights.

Make sure you understand the rules.  Understanding the rules is critical to receiving the benefits you should.

Since the rules constantly change, the best way to get the benefits you should is often to have a workers’ compensation attorney on your side.  But make sure you get a free consultation before making the decision about hiring.