How a Lawyer Can Assist with Workers' Compensation in Atlanta

Workers’ compensation cases can be very complex. They often include multiple parties with competing interests.
 
These cases also require a knowledge of state statutes, laws, and regulations. An experienced lawyer will have experience with the process and can help to ensure that your application is as strong as possible. 
 
When you hire an attorney through Morgan & Morgan, they will:

• Speak with the insurance provider on your behalf
• Collect vital medical evidence to support your case
• Negotiate effectively to increase your compensation
• File an appeal in response to a denial
• Present your case at appeal hearings
• And more

When you have been injured, you should not have to deal with the complex requirements of a legal claim. Let the compassionate team at Morgan & Morgan handle your case while you focus on recovering.

The team at Morgan & Morgan knows that injury victims face many financial difficulties. That is why our lawyers are paid through contingency fees.
 
When you hire our firm, we will agree upon a percentage of the recovery from your case that will be set aside. After we get money for you, that percentage will be used to cover legal fees.
 
You will not pay anything unless we successfully settle or win your case.

When you need the best legal representation in Atlanta, contact Morgan & Morgan. Our firm has years of experience representing clients in workers’ compensation cases.
 
Since our firm was founded, we have recovered more than $23 billion in compensation for our clients. We can get the money that you deserve.
 
Do not wait. Complete the contact form on the Morgan & Morgan website to arrange a no-cost legal consultation today.

Accidents can and do happen anywhere, but they are especially common in certain types of workplaces. Your employer may be required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect you and other employees in the event that you get hurt on the job.

As a workers’ compensation benefits lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia can tell you, it can be very overwhelming to navigate this process without the legal support of the right lawyer. An attorney makes this process easier and guides you through what it looks like to recover compensation. Your workers’ comp lawyer in Atlanta, GA should also be very knowledgeable about the most common issues faced by people trying to get workers’ comp benefits.

Most people dealing with a workers’ compensation accident expect that their workplace and the insurance company will be accountable and responsible when an accident happens. However, you cannot always count on your employer to do the right thing. They may be trying to minimize their responsibility or limit your opportunity to recover compensation. A workers’ comp lawyer in Atlanta, GA can assist to ensure that both your employer and their insurance company issue you the compensation that you are owed and rightfully deserve.

After a workplace accident, you should notify your employer immediately about the incident. The same rule applies if you were exposed to something on the job that led to an occupational illness. Your employer must be able to report this situation to the insurance company, and if you fail to notify them, you may lose out on the chance to receive workers’ compensation benefits, or you may face an uphill battle in proving that that condition was caused in the workplace. 

Since you're already dealing with the fallout of an accident or occupational exposure, you don't need the additional stress of worrying about whether or not your employer will support you in this legal claim. The sooner you notify them about the accident and seek medical attention, the easier it will be for you to get seen by a doctor and to get the compensation you need and deserve. Don't sign anything other than an initial report of what you say happened in the accident, as this information could become important down the road for workers’ compensation benefits in Atlanta.

After you've notified your employer about the accident, a workers’ comp claim is submitted to the insurance company. They may then assign an adjuster to the claim to review the specific details of your accident and to process the claim based on the insurance company's policies. Many different types of workers’ compensation benefits may apply to your case based on the specifics of your legal claim. At that point, your claim will be reviewed, and you will either be awarded benefits or you will be denied.

If you are unable to work in the short term because of a work-related illness or injury or are unable to work at the same performance level as you did before, a Georgia workers’ comp policy can pay you partial disability or temporary total disability benefits to replace a portion of your lost income. These benefits usually do not begin until a certain period of time has passed, but you are eligible to get benefits for your first seven days if you're incapacitated for a full 21 days following the injury. 

The temporary total disability benefits that apply in Atlanta will be equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage prior to the injury with a maximum of $675 per week. Minimum payments of $50 per week also apply unless you earn less than that. These benefits will continue during the treatment process until you reach what is referred to as maximum medical improvement (MMI). 

MMI simply means that you have reached the stage at which your doctor does not believe you will heal any further from the incident. However, this does not necessarily mean that you are fully recovered. In some cases, someone may reach MMI and still be dealing with the fallout of the accident. If you can still work but are earning less than what you did before because of your injury, you can receive temporary partial disability benefits. The benefit amount awarded to you in Atlanta is two-thirds of the difference between your average weekly earnings before your injury and after your injury.

Your doctor will determine at which point you reach maximum medical improvement and then identify whether or not you have any permanent disabilities. This will be expressed as a percentage number for each affected part of your body or the entire body. You are eligible to receive weekly payments for life with a temporary total disability rate if you have a total and permanent disability. 

You may also be able to receive a lump sum for future payments that are reduced by your current value of those payments. Permanent total disabilities can also be assigned automatically if you have certain conditions, such as the loss of two limbs or blindness in both eyes.

If you are curious about workers’ compensation benefits in Atlanta, Georgia, you will also want to know any medical benefits that apply. Workers’ comp pays for all necessary and reasonable medical treatments for work-related illnesses and injuries as long as it has been prescribed by your treating doctor. However, most medical injury benefits have a limit of 400 weeks unless classified as “catastrophic” under Georgia law. 

Other workers’ compensation benefits that may apply in Atlanta include death benefits if an employee was killed as a result of the accident, funeral expenses of up to $7,500 for the deceased employee's burial, and mileage reimbursement for traveling to and from doctor's appointments.

If you get fired because of your occupational illness or injury or telling your employer that you have a workers’ comp claim, this may form the basis of a retaliation lawsuit. You need knowledgeable attorneys like those working at Morgan & Morgan who are familiar with workers’ compensation benefits in Atlanta, Georgia, to help you navigate this legal process and make sure that your rights are protected. Knowing that you're not alone is essential, and it is vital to get support from an attorney immediately.

Some of the most devastating aspects of workers’ comp claims in Georgia happen when you submit all of your information and believe your case is relatively clear and upfront. However, the person reviewing your case may determine that for some reason you don't have an illness or injury that qualifies or may classify as less severe than you claim based on your initial submission. 

This makes it essential to have workers’ compensation lawyers who are knowledgeable about the process and who can fight back to submit evidence that shows how your life has been changed by the accident. Our Morgan & Morgan attorneys can be there to guide you through the legal process and answer your questions as they emerge. 

The workers' compensation system can be very difficult to work through, which is why plenty of people give up after receiving an initial denial. It can be a big mistake to allow your case to sit in denial status without responding. 

You may assume that the review board has already examined all of your medical evidence and has determined that you do not meet the qualifications to receive benefits; however, it is frequently the case that many people will get approved on the appeals phase of their claim. It is possible that the initial medical evidence submitted was not strong enough or clear enough for the reviewers to determine that you meet the eligibility requirements for workers’ comp. 

Our knowledgeable workers comp lawyers in Atlanta know the common strategies and challenges with responding to a workers comp denial, and we review the file quickly to determine what additional evidence may be needed to support your claim. Know that your case is not over simply because you received a denial notice; you may still be able to show that you are seriously injured and deserve benefits. To find out more, contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.