The workers’ compensation plan pays your medical bills and income benefits if you are hurt on the job. The system is designed as “no fault,” which means you don’t have to prove your employer did something wrong to receive your benefits. Nevertheless, successfully claiming workers’ compensation can be a long and arduous process. An Atlanta workers’ comp lawyer can set your claim on the right track and help make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Assessing Your Claim
Many work-related injuries are covered by workers’ comp — but some are not. Insurance companies frequently deny stress-related or psychiatric injuries, and injuries that occur while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Conversely, accidents that happen within the scope of your employment but which occur outside the workplace typically are covered, though many employees are not aware of this fact. Common examples include accidents that occur during a business-related social event. An Atlanta workers’ comp lawyer will consider the likelihood of the insurance company paying your claim and draft your claim in a way that maximizes your chances of success.
Tipping the Scales in Your Favor
As with any personal injury compensation, the amount of your payment depends on the strength of your case. Proving your claim is often a complicated, frustrating process involving dozens of pages of proceedings and evidence, all of which must comply with Georgia state law. This is pretty daunting stuff for someone who has not handled a workers’ comp claim before. An experienced workers’ comp attorney can save you from a low-ball offer by:
- filing your claim quickly and correctly
- gathering medical evidence and deposing medical experts to verify the extent of your injuries and functional limitations
- gathering evidence showing a history of poor workplace safety or lack of safety training, where relevant
- assessing and proving your disability rating
- analyzing and presenting evidence regarding the costs of past and future medical treatment
- representing you at your workers’ comp hearing
- negotiating a good settlement with the insurance company.
All of these things will push your claim in the right direction from the very beginning, instead of playing catch up if your claim is already filed.
Making Sure Your Receive What’s Due
In some cases, the workers’ compensation insurance company will deny your claim for dubious reasons. An attorney will be able to appeal that decision so you get fair compensation for the injuries you have suffered. An experienced attorney can also investigate whether you are entitled to disability and other Social Security benefits. Hire a dedicated Atlanta workers’ comp lawyer, and you will have a much better chance of receiving the benefits you deserve.
It’s worth mentioning that hiring a lawyer will never put you out of pocket. By law, your attorney may only charge a percentage of the income benefits you win. If no recovery is made, you don’t pay any attorney fees at all — further incentive for your lawyer to rigorously pursue your claim.
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