Workers’ compensation covers your medical costs related to your injuries and provides a portion of your wage.
You need to act immediately after your accident. Augusta Workers’ Comp Attorneys often tell those injured at work to follow these steps in order to avoid complications.
What to do if you are injured at work in Georgia
If you get injured at work, you must follow certain steps in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Your claim may be denied or delayed if you fail to meet a deadline, or if the correct documentation is not submitted with your paperwork.
You can get immediate medical treatment
You should seek immediate medical attention. You will have to go to hospital if you suffer a serious injury. Your employer may provide a list with doctors that work for their workers’ compensation policy.
Report Your Injury
You must inform your supervisor of your injury as soon as you can, even if you don’t think it is serious. You fell from a ladder and you tried to shake it off. It may take days for you to realize that your injury is more serious. You can improve your chances of winning a claim if you report the injury immediately.
Make sure your employer files an accident report when you inform them of your injury. It’s important to keep a copy for your records. You can get a list at this stage of doctors you should see in the future for treatment.
Document everything and keep records
Keep a record of everything you remember about the accident at work and your injuries. Note down every detail of the accident, including when it happened. You should also organize all of your insurance statements, prescription receipts and medical bills. You should also list the contact information of anyone who witnessed your accident.
Workers’ Compensation Attorneys are available to discuss your case
Workers’ compensation insurance eliminates the need for an employee to sue their employer in case of a workplace injury. An attorney who is familiar with workers’ compensation can help you review the paperwork to ensure that it has been filed correctly. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you if your employer refuses your claim, or if the insurance company unfairly denies coverage. You may sue third parties in some cases for your injuries. For example, if you were injured by defective safety equipment provided by your employer.
Georgia Workers Compensation Claim Filing Time Limits
You must inform your employer as soon as possible if you are injured at work in Georgia. The sooner you notify your employer, the better. You have 30 days. You may be denied a claim if you wait too long. The insurer may not believe that you are injured.
You can only receive workers’ compensation benefits if you prove that your injury was caused by work. If you wait, they may try to blame it on another incident that occurred within the time period. You must file your claim with the state within one year after being injured or being diagnosed with a work-related illness.
You do not need to prove that you caused your injury or prove it was someone else’s fault. You only need to prove that you were injured at work. You can recover your benefits faster if you file promptly.
Your employer cannot deny your claim if you are injured at work while performing your duties. It’s essential to get documentation of your report, and to ensure that your employer follows through with what is legally required. If you find out otherwise, you should contact a lawyer immediately so that you can get the benefits that you deserve.