Georgia Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Workers’ compensation in Georgia is meant to provide injured workers with fast access to financial support and medical care. Your employer and their insurer may put up roadblocks to prevent you from receiving the benefits you deserve. You can count on our Georgia workers’ compensation lawyers to protect your rights, whether you need to file your initial claim or appeal a wrongful denial. Call us today at (877) 245-6707 for a free case review.
When you’ve been injured at work, you deserve the best medical treatment, and you shouldn’t have to wonder how to support yourself and your family while you recover. Insurance companies hire lawyers to help them avoid paying workers’ compensation benefits, so you should have an experienced Georgia workers’ compensation attorney on your side too.
Why Farah & Farah Is the Top Choice for a Workers’ Compensation Law Firm in Georgia
Experience is everything in workers’ compensation claims, and our talented workers’ compensation attorneys in Georgia have been protecting the rights of injured workers since 1979. We know Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws like the backs of our hands, and we won’t back down until you receive the benefits you deserve.
We are a client-centric law firm that puts our clients’ needs first, and we pride ourselves on helping those who need it most. We won’t let your employer take advantage of you when you’re injured. We will work as a team to protect your rights and fight for your benefits. Contact us today for a free case review.
Testimonials
Our clients love working with us because we treat each one with honesty, dignity, and respect. Below are examples of the numerous client testimonials our Georgia workers’ compensation lawyers have received:
“It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am to this wonderful organization, how they stood with me throughout my workers’ compensation case, always making sure I was informed, and telling me the straight truth. Kyle Lankhorst, my attorney, you are what Farah & Farah stands for, and I appreciate you.”
—Brian of Savannah
“Mr. Beecher and Mrs. Megan in the workers’ compensation division are awesome. I worked with them for almost a year while my former job and their insurance lawyers beat around the bush and tried everything they could to one-up us. Farah & Farah kept fighting and stayed on their heels and never gave up. They kept me updated on each and every move that was made on either side. They’re good down-to-earth people, not some stuck-up lawyer that’s only there to make a buck.”
—Danny L. of Valdosta
“They were very nice and very professional and very consistent. They helped me get the money that my job didn’t want to pay me when I got hurt. Thank you all for your help and the easy process.”
—John J. of Atlanta
Our Case Results and Settlements
Experience makes all the difference, and our results are no accident. Our recent workers’ compensation case results include the following:
- $1.5 million recovery for the death of a worker caused by poorly maintained machinery.
- $1.3 million for a worker who developed RSD.
- $150,000 for a security guard injured when a gun with no safety was accidentally fired.
Our Office Locations and Communities We Serve
We have seven office locations throughout Georgia, but serve the entire state. You will never have to worry about how you will get to us because we will come to you. It’s part of our commitment to putting clients first.
If you need a workers’ compensation lawyer in Athens, Marietta, Columbus, Alpharetta, or other areas in or near the Atlanta metropolitan area, look no further than our Atlanta workers’ compensation law office.
Our Albany workers’ compensation lawyers and Macon workers’ compensation lawyers can help you in central and southwestern Georgia, including areas in or near Blakely, Americus, Perry, Cordele, and Tifton.
In southern Georgia, you can count on our workers’ compensation lawyers in Valdosta and our Waycross workers’ compensation attorneys to help you in Moultrie, Tifton, Douglas, Alma, and anywhere in between.
In the coastal areas, our Brunswick workers’ compensation lawyers will help those as far south as St. Mary’s to the islands and as far to the north as Townsend. Along the northern coastline, our Savannah workers’ compensation lawyers can help you from Tybee Island down to the Ossabaw Island area and in the Hinesville, Pembroke, and Springfield areas to the west and north.
Your Rights Under Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
All employers in Georgia with three or more employees must carry workers’ compensation, and you are covered beginning on the first day of work.
Workers’ compensation was implemented to ensure injured workers have access to medical care and spare them from financial ruin while recovering. As a worker in Georgia, you have rights under Georgia workers’ compensation laws.
The Right to Choose Your Doctor from a Selection Provided by Your Employer
Your employer generally must provide a panel of at least six physicians to choose from or give you access to a network of doctors through a Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization.
If you’re unhappy with the doctor you choose, you are entitled under the law to select a different doctor without permission from your employer. Our attorneys are familiar with workers’ compensation doctors throughout Georgia and can help you choose the best doctor.
Reasonable Attorney Fees
Workers’ compensation laws prohibit attorneys from charging more than 25 percent of your workers’ compensation settlement, and the State Board of Workers’ Compensation must approve any fee above $100. Our skilled workers’ compensation lawyers in Georgia never charge upfront fees. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Workers’ Compensation Settlements
Negotiating a settlement is possible. Workers’ compensation settlements may be paid in lump sums or through structured payments. The State Board of Workers’ Compensation must approve all settlements. A workers’ compensation settlement may or may not be the best option in your case. Once the board approves a settlement agreement, it is final. You can’t seek additional compensation for your injuries later.
Don’t agree to any settlement without consulting an experienced attorney first. Call our award-winning Georgia personal injury lawyers today at (877) 245-6707 for a free workers’ compensation case review.
How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Georgia workers’ compensation laws require you to report injuries to your employer within 30 days after your accident. If your benefits are denied, you have one year from the accident date to file a claim with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
To protect your rights, let our experienced Georgia workers’ compensation attorney file your claim for you. We can explain the specific time limits that apply in your case.
What Benefits Are Available through Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation in Georgia provides partial wage replacement, free medical care for your work-related injuries, and death benefits. Benefits may be paid weekly or as a lump sum if you obtain a settlement.
Partial Wage Replacement
You are entitled to receive weekly benefit payments of two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to $800 per week if you are totally disabled or left with a permanent partial disability. If you have a temporary partial disability, the maximum weekly benefit is $533.
Free Medical Care
You are entitled to receive free medical care through workers’ compensation for any injuries you sustain in the workplace. Covered medical services include the following:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital stays
- Physical therapy
- Prescription drugs
- Necessary travel expenses
- Medical rehabilitation
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Medical care
Death Benefits
Workers’ compensation in Georgia pays up to $7,500 for burial expenses following an employee’s death from a workplace injury. If the employee has dependents, they are entitled to receive two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wages not exceeding $800 per week, up to a maximum of $320,000 in total lifetime benefits.
How Long Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation?
You can receive weekly workers’ compensation benefits for as long as you cannot return to work, up to 400 weeks, which is approximately seven years and nine months. If your injuries are considered catastrophic, you may be eligible for lifetime workers’ compensation medical benefits.
The following injuries are considered catastrophic under Georgia law:
- Paralysis of an arm, leg, or trunk stemming from a spinal cord injury.
- Amputations that result in the loss of the use of the affected body part.
- Severe traumatic brain injuries that affect functioning.
- Second- or third-degree burns that cover 25 percent or more of the body.
- Third-degree burns that cover five percent or more of the face or hands.
- Blindness.
- An injury that permanently prevents you from performing any type of work.
Does Returning to Work Always End Benefits?
If you recover to the extent that allows you to return to work, earning at least the same amount as before, your workers’ compensation benefits will end. If you can return to work with restrictions that result in a reduced income, you may be eligible to continue receiving benefits at a reduced level for up to 350 weeks.
Common Reasons for Georgia Workers’ Compensation Denials
We have found that determined employers will come up with almost any excuse to deny a claim, even to the point of making false allegations against injured employees. The most common reasons for denials include the following:
- The employer claims you were injured while engaging in willful misconduct.
- The employer or insurance company accuses you of faking your injuries.
- The insurance company claims your injuries are not serious.
- The employer claims your injuries occurred outside of work.
Sometimes, you may receive approval initially, but your doctor may release you to work before you are physically ready. This can result in the premature termination of your compensation. In other cases, you may receive less than you deserve.
Our caring and thorough Georgia workers’ compensation attorneys can thwart these tactics and ensure you receive the financial support you deserve until you fully recover. Contact us now at (877) 245-6707 for a free consultation.
Workers’ Compensation FAQs
Can I Be Fired While on Workers’ Compensation?
Georgia is an at-will state, which means an employer can fire an employee for any reason unless the law specifically prohibits it. No law in Georgia prohibits an employer from terminating an employee while receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
However, while your employer can fire you while you’re on workers’ compensation, it cannot fire you because you filed for workers’ compensation. Such an action may be considered illegal retaliation.
How Long Does It Take to Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Georgia?
If your employer follows the law, you should receive your first workers’ compensation check within 21 days of your first missed day at work. Medical benefits should be available immediately.
If the insurance company is resisting, our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Georgia will work quickly to settle your claim. This could take anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on how hard the insurance company fights and whether it becomes necessary to go to court.
Once a settlement is reached and approved by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, the insurance company must pay you within 20 days of the date agreed to in the settlement agreement. If the insurance company does not pay the settlement on time, it will owe you 20 percent interest.
What Are the Most Common Workplace Injuries in Georgia?
The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that the leading causes of non-fatal injuries in Georgia stem from overexertion, contact with objects, falls, automobile accidents, and violence. The most common injuries stemming from these causes include the following:
- Back injuries from overexertion
- Crushed or broken bones from vehicle accidents or being struck by or caught between objects
- Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries from falls from heights or motor vehicle accidents
- Repetitive motion injuries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common causes of fatal workplace injuries are motor vehicle accidents, followed by contact with objects, then fires and explosions. Slips and falls, violence, and exposure to harmful substances are also listed as common causes of workplace death.
The industries with the highest number of workplace fatalities in Georgia are the construction and transportation industries.
Can I Sue My Employer for a Workplace Injury in Georgia? ?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance program that employers purchase in exchange for being exempt from lawsuits for workplace accidents. Thus, you cannot sue an employer covered by workers’ compensation in Georgia.
However, you may be able to file a lawsuit against parties other than the employer who caused or contributed to your accident. Our resourceful workers’ compensation attorneys in Georgia can often hold the following parties liable:
- Manufacturers of defective equipment
- Vehicle drivers
- Property owners if you were working on someone else’s property
- Negligent contractors that performed faulty work
Filing a lawsuit against third parties can enable you to receive compensation for intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, which are not available under workers’ compensation. Contact us today to find out what your legal options are.
Our Georgia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Are Only a Phone Call Away
You don’t deserve to lose everything you’ve worked for just because you got injured at work. We’re here to help you stay afloat until you get back on your feet. Call our Georgia workers’ compensation attorneys today at (877) 245-6707 for a free consultation.
Why Farah & Farah Is the Top Choice for a Workers’ Compensation Law Firm in Georgia
Our Case Results and Settlements
Our Office Locations and Communities We Serve
Your Rights Under Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
What Benefits Are Available through Workers’ Compensation?
How Long Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation?
Common Reasons for Georgia Workers’ Compensation Denials
Our Georgia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Are Only a Phone Call Away
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