In 2014, over 39,000 Georgia employees were either injured on the job, or died as a result of a job related injury, with over $1,000,000,000 being paid out in benefits. If you or a loved one was injured during the course of your regular job duties, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is an accident insurance program paid by your employer which may provide financial support to you or your loved ones in the event you are injured due to a work related injury. Compensation is designed to cover income, medical expenses and costs, or even death.
What Types of Injuries Are Covered?
Injuries covered under workers’ compensation insurance include:
- Injuries due to negligence by your employer;
- Injuries while performing your regular job duties;
- Injuries resulting in an accident at work;
- A disease if it is a natural and unavoidable result of the accident; and
- Aggravation of a preexisting condition resulting from the accident, for as long as the aggravation continues to be the cause of the disability.
What Types of Injuries are NOT Covered?
The following types of injuries are not covered:
- An injury caused by the intentional act of a third party directed against you for personal reasons;
- Heart disease, heart attack, failure or obstruction of coronary blood vessels, stroke, or thrombosis (however, if it is proven by a preponderance of reliable evidence, to include medical evidence, that the conditions are attributable to the performance of your regular job duties, the conditions may be covered);
- Alcoholism and any disabilities relating to alcoholism;
- Drug addiction and any disabilities relating to drug addiction, however, if the addiction or disability is related to prescription drugs or medicines prescribed by an authorized physician to treat your initial injury, the drug addiction or disability relating to the drug addiction, may be covered;
- Injuries caused by one’s own negligence or willful misconduct; and
- Injuries resulting from personal use of alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances while on the job.
What Should You Do if Injured On-the-Job?
If you are injured on the job, be sure to do the following:
- Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days following the accident or injury, as you may lose your benefits if you wait;
- Seek medical attention immediately following your accident or injury;
- Contact the State Board of Workers’ Compensation to obtain Form WC-14 to initiate a claim for workers’ compensation benefits at:
(404) 656-3818, or, you may write to them at:
State Board of Workers’ Compensation
270 Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-1299
You may also download Form WC-14 here;
Consider consulting an attorney with any questions or concerns you may have, and to help you navigate through the rough waters of workers’ compensation. If you provide false or misleading information to the Board, for the purposes of obtaining payments, you could be charged a civil penalty as well as a charge criminally.
What Happens Next?
After you file Form WC-14 with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, you should begin receiving benefits within 21 days after your first day of missed work. If you do not, you may request a hearing before the Board.
Contact 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, PLLC
If you are considering bringing a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia, there are many factors you must consider. You need to understand your options, and rules under the law. You will need the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, like the lawyers at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, PLLC. We can walk you through the entire process and answer all of your questions. Contact us today for help!
