By Your Side Throughout The Workers’ Compensation Process

Any workplace can become dangerous at a moment’s notice. When you suffer an injury while on the job, you need to know that there is a system set up to provide you with resources to deal with the challenges of being unable to work. The Georgia workers’ compensation system provides you with financial benefits to help make ends meet while you are recovering from your injuries.

While these are essential benefits to people injured while working, it can be a very challenging experience to obtain these benefits. It can be incredibly frustrating, and it is important to have an experienced attorney working with you as you go through the process.

At Cromartie Law, our staff, along with our founding attorney, Rick Cromartie, will handle your workers’ compensation claim from the initial application through hearings and any necessary appeals before the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. With over 50 years of combined experience, we strive to help employees injured on the job across a wide range of occupations and industries, including factory work, assembly lines, construction, office environments and many others.

Injuries And Illnesses Covered By Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation cases handled by our firm often include the following types of injuries and illnesses:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Any blow to the head from a falling object or in a vehicle accident can result in a serious TBI, including a concussion or open-head wound. Victims often suffer from lasting symptoms, including post-concussive syndrome, that impact their ability to return to the same job in which they became injured.
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis: Forces that act on the spinal cord in a slip-and-fall or other on-the-job accident can damage the spinal cord and even cause paralysis ranging from partial and temporary to total and permanent.
• Neck and back injuries: Jobs in which lifting objects is common often result in back and neck injuries, including nerve damage or herniated discs. Many types of accidents can result in these types of injuries, not just lifting.
• Repetitive stress injuries: Workers who repeat the same motions in their jobs every day, including office workers who work on computers, are at risk for developing repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Amputations: When a limb, finger or other body part is severed due to defective machinery or other causes, the victim’s life will change forever. Even if the body part can be reattached, people are often left with serious physical and mental effects.
• Burns: Fire, electrocution and chemical exposure can all result in severe burns. These burns may require extensive medical care, including skin grafts, and can place a worker at increased risk for developing an infection that prolongs the healing time.
• Respiratory illnesses: Breathing in chemicals, fine particles and other substances can result in a worker developing a very serious and long-term respiratory condition, such as asthma or even cancer.

If you are suffering any of these injuries due to a work accident in Floyd County or the surrounding area, talk to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer about your injury or illness to find out more about the compensation available to you.

For more information about workers’ compensation injuries or what to do if your claim is denied, get in touch with us today by calling our office in Rome at 706-622-4853. If you prefer, you may use the online contact form. We offer a free initial consultation with our experienced attorneys.

Various Types Of On-The-Job Accidents

We have extensive experience handling a wide variety of injuries that stem from accidents in any type of workplace. Common workplace accidents may include:

• Vehicle accidents, including car accidents, delivery truck accidents, forklift accidents and others
• Slip-and-falls on uneven surfaces, wet floors and other dangerous conditions
• Falls from heights, such as on an elevated construction site, window washer scaffolding or other types of scaffolding that collapses
• Falling objects, including products falling off of shelves, building materials falling off of job sites and more
• Equipment malfunction, including machinery that is defective and safety equipment that fails
• Exposure to chemicals, irritants or other contaminants
• Lifting, carrying or moving heavy, awkward or cumbersome items

These are just a few examples of situations that lead to workplace accidents that we handle. While most legitimate claims are handled without incident, employers and insurance companies often carelessly or intentionally deny legitimate workers’ compensation claims. That is where an experienced workers’ comp lawyer can help.

Injured At Work? We Can Help.

Although there are many types of work accidents, some of the same rules apply to all of them. You need to report your workplace accident within 30 days of the accident or injury, and then you need to file your claim within a year of the accident or injury – even if your employer tries to convince you not to. If you are unsure of what to do, seek help from an attorney. You may decide to wait for a year to file your claim. However, having legal counsel can ensure that this is the most advisable decision for you.

Did You Know? Workers’ Comp Covers More Than Accidents.

You do not have to be in an accident at work to have a workers’ compensation claim. Claims known as gradual worsening conditions also exist, with examples including a heart problem that is worsened by your work and repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. If you can show that your job duties aggravated a physical problem, you may have a valid workers’ comp claim.

You do have to go to a doctor approved by your company’s workers’ comp insurer in Georgia, but you have the right to choose one of the doctors from your employer’s “posted panel of physicians,” which should be posted in a conspicuous location.

Have You Encountered A Problem After Your Claim Was Approved?

Attorney Rick Cromartie also helps people whose claims have been approved and are now experiencing difficulties involving other matters such as:

• The insurer may be trying to stop treatment too early.
• The insurer may not want to pay for certain medical procedures even though the workers’ comp doctor claims it is necessary.
• You are supposed to be working only light duty with medical restrictions, but your employer ignores those restrictions.
• You are not receiving the correct income and benefits that were calculated based on your average weekly wage.

For more information about workers’ compensation injuries or what to do in these distressing situations, get in touch with us as soon as you can.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation In Georgia

Below are some questions we commonly get at our firm:

What is workers’ compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a system designed to provide benefits to employees who are injured or become ill due to their jobs. It’s a type of insurance that employers must have for those covered under the system (typically, all employees except for some independent contractors and certain other exempt workers). This system covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages for work-related injuries or illnesses.

How does workers’ compensation work?

When you’re injured at work, you should report it to your employer immediately. Your employer then notifies their insurance company. You’ll need to see an approved doctor for treatment. If the insurance company accepts your claim, you’ll receive medical care and possibly wage replacement benefits while you recover.

What will workers’ compensation cover?

Workers’ comp typically covers medical expenses related to your work injury, including doctor visits, hospital stays, medications and physical therapy. It also provides partial wage replacement if you’re unable to work due to your injury. In some cases, it may cover vocational rehabilitation. This allows you to learn new skills or adapt to a different role if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous position.

What is the waiting period for workers’ comp in Georgia?

In Georgia, there’s a seven-day waiting period for wage replacement benefits. If you’re out of work for more than 21 days, you’ll be paid for that first week. Medical benefits, however, start immediately with no waiting period.

How do I apply for workers comp in Georgia?

To apply for workers’ comp in Georgia, you should:

• Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible
• Seek medical attention from an approved provider
• File a WC-14 form with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation within one year of your injury

Consider consulting with a workers’ compensation attorney to make sure you don’t miss any important deadlines or requirements and protect your rights as a worker.

Talk To A Cromartie Law Attorney Today To Get The Benefits You Deserve

For a free consultation about your workers’ compensation claim, email us or call us at 706-622-4853 today. We also handle a wide range of personal injury cases.

Looking for us? Our firm is in downtown Rome – just head to the corner of Broad Street and Fourth Avenue, right across from the Floyd County Courthouse and Forum. We’re here weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but if those hours don’t work for you, we can set up evening or weekend meetings at a location convenient for you.