Fayetteville, Georgia Work Injury Attorney
If you were injured at work, hiring an experienced Work Injury Attorney in Fayetteville, Ga can help protect your rights. By law, just about every injury that occurs in the workplace is covered by workers compensation; however, there are various legal guidelines and restrictions to receiving benefits depending on the state you work in.
Our Georgia Law Office represents individuals who suffer from on-the-job injuries and occupational diseases.
We provide legal services to clients suffering from a wide range of injuries, whether it's a claim involving a catastrophic injury to those involving less-severe injuries, we can help! If you were injured in Fayetteville due to a work-related injury, please contact our attorneys today.
We Offer Free Consultations and Legal Advice
Fayetteville Employees are Entitled to Workers' Compensation Benefits
Workers’ Compensation Laws:
- The person or organization you were working for must carry workers’ compensation insurance or be legally required to do so.
- You must be a regular employee (not necessarily a full-time employee) of that person or business.
- Your injury or illness must be work-related, employees can also be undocumented migrants, prisoners, or minors to qualify.
Workers compensation law requires employers to carry insurance that provides employees who become injured or ill on the job with medical coverage and pay replacement. It also prevents employees from suing their employer's for the workplace conditions that caused such an illness or injury.
Workers compensation differs depending on the state you live in, however; the underlying principle remains the same- employers should assume the costs of injuries, illnesses, and deaths that occur on the job, without relying on the issue of fault, and partially replace wage income loss.
With workers' compensation, the employee doesn't have to prove that the employer's negligence caused the injury. In truth, the employer can be awarded benefits even if the worker's negligence caused the accident. However, there are some circumstances when an employee's injuries aren't covered. One example, if an operator is intoxicated or using illegal drugs at the time of the incident, the employee's injuries won't be included.
While income replacement for most employees is usually a percentage of the worker's true income, it is counted as a transferred payment and thus is not subject to federal income tax for the employee or employer. In some states, domestics, agricultural workers, and manual laborers are not subject to coverage.
How do I know if my employer carries workers' compensation insurance?
Workers compensation in is a no-fault system, constructed to provide benefits to employees’ while shielding them from lawsuits. It doesn't matter if the injury was your fault, your employer's fault, or not your fault you are entitled to benefits as long as you are eligible for the following requirements:
- The person or company you were working for must carry workers’ compensation insurance or be legally required to do so.
- You must be an employee of the employer or business. (you don’t have to be a full-time employee, as long as you are a regular employee)
- Your injury or illness must be work-related, employees can also be undocumented migrants, prisoners, or minors to qualify.
The worker's compensation laws can be complicated and tricky especially when you don't know the legal guidelines and jurisdiction regulations about civil court. Hiring a Fayetteville Personal Injury Attorney will ensure that your case will be heard whether it be in front of a judge or negotiating with insurance companies your rights will be protected.
Categories of Workplace Injuries Covered
- Irritation of pre-existing conditions
- Injuries that occurred on company property or at a company-sponsored function
- Injuries caused by company owned assets, like mechanical equipment
- More severe injury cases include diseases caused by exposures to hazards, such as benzene, asbestos or silica dust; rashes brought on by exposure to cleaning chemicals or gasoline.
Categories of Workplace Injuries Not Covered
- Injuries resulting from horseplay at work
- Injuries sustained while drinking-on-the-job or in an impaired state
- Employees injured while traveling to and from work, (only a few states provide coverage) unless the transportation is provided by the employer.
Who pays for medical costs until work injury benefits are approved?
Depending on the state you live, your employer is mandated to pay for your medical expenses until a decision has been made to admit or deny your claim, or at least upon a stated amount. If your claim is approved, your company will continue to provide coverage for your medical bills for approved treatment.
On the other hand, if your application is denied you can pay your bills and seek reimbursement from the worker's comp insurance company once the denial is overturned. Or some doctors will treat on what's known as a "lien basis," meaning that payment for your bills will come out of any settlement amount you get through workers comp. In the meantime, some states have a temporary disability insurance program; you may be legally permitted to apply for these short-term benefits to make up for some of your out-of-pocket costs.
Most Common Reasons Employees Are Injured At Work
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Falls to lower levels
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Slips/Trips and Falls
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Overexertion due to lifting/lowering
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Repetitive motion injuries (most frequent injury)
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Machine crushing or entanglement
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Work-related vehicle accidents
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Falling objects or debris
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Electrocution
Ask a Fayetteville Work Injury Lawyer About Available Compensation
When you can't work due to a sustained injury at work, workers compensation offers benefits that include medical care, rehabilitation expenses, and disability coverage. Each state has its spin on these general rules, and the details can be complicated. For any questions about your workers comp coverage contact a Fayetteville Attorney to answer any questions you may have.
- Medical Care: Medical benefits available through workers' compensation cover hospital and medical expenses that are necessary to recognize and treat your injury illness. In general doctor visits, medication, and surgeries are covered. If you are in need of equipment (such as a wheelchair or special vehicle) to help you cope with your injury, workers' compensation will likely cover that as well. In some instances, workers' compensation will also include services like counseling, pain therapy, and acupuncture.
- Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation benefits pay for medical and corrective care (such as physical therapy) needed to help you deal with and recuperate from your injury or illness. They also cover the care and training essential for you to regain the skills and abilities you need to return to work. If your illness or impairment prevents you from returning to work rehabilitation benefits may pay for the evaluation, retraining, cost, and other expenses associated with helping you become qualified to work at a different job.
- Disability: The principle role of disability benefits is to compensate you for wages lost while your injury or illness make it impracticable for you to work. Disabilities are categorized whether they are total or partial, temporary or permanent.
Categories of Disability Benefits
- Temporary total disability
- Temporary partial disability
- Permanent total disability
- Permanent partial disability
The Best Work Accident Injury Attorney's in Fayetteville, GA
If you suffered an illness or injury at work, look no further! The work injury attorneys at our Georgia Injury Litigation Firm provides personalized client service throughout the length of your case. We have the knowledge, experience and an experienced, qualified staff that is committed to you and your case.
Our Fayetteville Personal Injury Lawyers will thoroughly analyze the circumstances of your work injury case to determine whether we can file a third-party claim against someone other than the employer. Our lawyers are available seven days a week, 24/7 to happily assist you.
We can contribute to making insurance companies pay you deserved compensation or prove your employer is liable for your injuries. Call a Fayetteville, Ga Work Injury Lawyer today!
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