No one expects an ordinary workday to end in a doctor’s office or a hospital, but accidents happen when you least expect them. If you find yourself dealing with pain, lost income, and paperwork you can’t decipher, you shouldn’t have to figure it all out alone. A knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand your rights and stand up to pushy insurance adjusters who care more about their bottom line than your recovery.
Our goal is to lift the stress off your shoulders so you can focus on your health. Contact Gonzalez Torres Law to schedule a free consultation with an Alpharetta workers’ compensation attorney.
Why Hire Gonzalez Torres Law For Your Alpharetta Workers’ Compensation Case?
If you’re struggling after a work injury, you want a law firm that understands the legal system and what’s at stake for your family. Here’s why you don’t have to look any further than us:
- Over 20 years helping injured workers secure their rightful benefits
- Our team approach means you get the insight and support of multiple attorneys, not just one
- We’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements for our injured clients
- No fees at all unless we win your case
When you choose us, you’re working with a team of Alpharetta injury lawyers who know how to get results.
How an Attorney Can Help You With an Alpharetta Workers’ Compensation Case
Getting benefits after a work injury isn’t easy, especially when insurance companies push back at every step. A workers’ compensation lawyer makes the process less confusing and gives you a chance. Here’s how:
- Track important deadlines so your claim isn’t rejected for small mistakes
- Negotiate with claims adjusters so you aren’t pressured into unfair agreements
- Protect you if your employer retaliates or tries to rush you back to work too soon
You shouldn’t have to fight for every dollar. Let a lawyer push for the benefits you deserve while you get your strength back.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits You Could Be Entitled To
When you’re injured at work in Georgia, workers’ compensation can offer several types of support depending on your situation. Here are some of the main benefits you may qualify for:
- Medical Treatment: Covers your necessary doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation services, prescription medications, and other related health care expenses so you can focus on getting better.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): If you’re unable to work at all for a period of time due to your injury or illness, TTD benefits help replace a portion of your lost paycheck while you recover.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): If your injury means you can only do a lighter job or your hours are reduced while you heal, TPD helps make up for the difference in lost wages during this period.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): If your injury leaves you with a lasting, but not total, disability after you’ve finished your temporary benefits, PPD provides continued payments as determined by your doctor’s evaluation.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): For workers who aren’t able to return to any kind of work because of a severe, permanent injury, PTD benefits offer ongoing financial help, with the duration based on the extent of the impairment.
- Vocational Rehabilitation or Job Retraining: If your injuries prevent you from going back to your old job, you may be entitled to training or assistance to help you qualify for new types of work.
- Death Benefits: When a work-related injury or illness leads to a worker’s death, surviving family members may receive financial support, which can include payment for funeral costs and some replacement of lost income.
These benefits are meant to ease the financial burden for you and your family so you can focus on healing.
Who is Entitled to Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
In Georgia, almost all employees are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they get hurt while doing their job. The law typically requires any employer with three or more employees, including regular part-time and full-time workers, to have workers’ compensation insurance.
This chapter shall not apply to… any person, firm, or private corporation, including any public service corporation, that has regularly in service less than three employees in the same business within this state, unless such employees and their employers voluntarily elect to be bound
This means that if you are injured at work, you can file a claim to receive benefits, such as medical care, wage replacement, and rehabilitation, no matter who was at fault for the accident. The workers’ comp system is what’s called “no fault,” so you don’t have to prove your employer or a colleague did anything wrong.
As long as the injury happened in the course of your job, you’re generally covered (though like with everything, there are exceptions).
Exceptions to Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Georgia
While most employees in Georgia are covered by workers’ compensation, there are important exceptions where certain workers or situations are not eligible for these benefits.
- Independent Contractors: People classified as independent contractors generally don’t qualify for workers’ compensation benefits through the company they’re doing work for.
- Agricultural Workers: Farm, ranch, and agricultural workers are not automatically covered under Georgia’s workers’ compensation law. Many agricultural employers are not required to provide these benefits, although some choose to do so voluntarily.
- Domestic Workers: Individuals hired privately to work in homes, such as housekeepers, nannies, or caregivers, are typically excluded from workers’ comp coverage.
- Sole Proprietors: If you own your own business and have no other employees, you are not required to carry workers’ compensation coverage for yourself. However, you can choose to purchase this insurance voluntarily.
- Railroad and Federal Employees: Certain classes of workers, like railroad employees and federal government workers, are covered by different laws, not Georgia’s workers’ compensation system. These workers may have separate federal programs for workplace injuries.
- Casual or Temporary Workers: Sometimes, people hired for a short-term or one-off job (like a day laborer) may not be covered.
- Disqualifying Behaviors: Even if you’re generally covered, you may become ineligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia if your injury resulted from certain actions, including:
- Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident
- Willfully violating known safety rules
- Intentionally causing your own injury or attempting self-harm
- Engaging in horseplay or fighting on the job
Understanding these exceptions is important for knowing your rights and whether you qualify for benefits after a workplace injury in Georgia.
Contact Gonzalez Torres Law To Schedule a Free Consultation With an Alpharetta Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Recovering physically from a work injury is challenging enough – getting your benefits shouldn’t be another battle. Fortunately, help is available when you need it. We treat every client’s case as a priority and are ready to stand up for your rights when you need it most. Whether your claim has been denied, or you simply have questions about what comes next, don’t hesitate to reach out.
We’ll walk you through every step and do everything we can to get you the compensation you’re entitled to. Contact Gonzalez Torres Law to schedule a free consultation with an Alpharetta workers’ compensation attorney.