When someone is injured while they are at work, even if the incident is 100% their fault, they have a right, under the law, to recover economic damages without proving liability or negligence of anyone. This insurance is required of every employer. It is designed to provide prompt, but reduced, payment to an injured worker. The law requires that workplace injuries that are the fault solely of someone connected with the employer (a business owner, co-worker, or manager) be handled through the workers’ compensation system.

Workers’ compensation DOES provide for medical care and disability payments (to compensate for wage losses) for injured workers. It DOES NOT provide damages for pain and suffering. A worker receives benefits until they are rated as permanent and stationary, meaning that they are not getting better and not getting worse.

At that point there is a determination made as to any percentage of permanent disability and a disability rating is given the injured employee. The injured employee is then given an award to compensate them for any limitations in their ability to work in the future, for future medical treatment and job retraining if they are unable to resume their prior occupation because of their injury.

Many times, a workplace injury is the result of the negligence of someone unconnected with the employer. You are still entitled to workers’ compensation because you were injured on the job and a separate civil suit can be brought against that person (but not the employer- that must be handled through the workers’ compensation process) for both economic and non-economic damages. This is called a third-party action.

If there is someone, besides your employer, responsible (liable) for your injuries, and you recover damages from them, your employer’s insurance company may seek reimbursement for the sums expended on your behalf for disability payments and medical care. This is called a lien. The employer’s insurance company must reduce their request for reimbursement to reflect the employer’s fault. They may also get a credit against future payments for medical care requiring you to first expend all of the monies you recovered in the third-party suit, before they pay any additional medical bills. We work with you to maximize your recovery by seeking to reduce any lien that may exist on your case.

It is important that you have your case reviewed by an experienced Macon, Georgia workers’ compensation lawyer to help you through the process.

For your convenience, our office is in Macon, Georgia, but we serve clients throughout the southeastern United States and nationwide. Workers compensation attorney for your case will put your needs above all else. Call (478) 217-2582 to schedule a free case evaluation today.

• Injured At Work: Is Workers’ Compensation Your Only Recourse?

Workers’ Compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to a worker who is injured on the job. It is a form of accident insurance that is paid for by the employer.

If you are injured on the job, or acquire a work-related illness, worker’s comp will pay your medical expenses. And if you can’t work, it will also cover wage-loss compensation until you are able to return to work.

But, is workers’ compensation your best and only legal remedy? There are so many things to consider, it is important that a thorough investigation be carried out. This is where a lawyer who understands workers’ compensation can be an invaluable ally.

Sometimes, it may be found that a third party was involved in the incident that caused your injuries. Proper investigation may determine that there was another entity, such as an independent contractor, at a particular worksite that helped contribute to your injury or even death.

Any time there is a death or a very serious injury, or if there are multiple injuries or deaths, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will get involved and investigate. A good workers’ comp attorney will be able to gain access to this report, which could help your case.

There is a limited amount of money that you can get for your on-the-job injuries. So if you have suffered an injury while on the job, it is important that you reach out to a lawyer who can help you with both the workers’ compensation claim and to see if there is other legal recourse you can pursue to get more money for your injuries.

If you have legal questions, please give our office a call.  Consultations are always free.