Making A Claim
There are many ways to be injured at work that can cause life-changing circumstances in the blink of an eye. Industrial accidents can cause devastating injuries. Workplace exposure to environmental toxins can lead to an occupational disease. Performing the same task over and over can cause a repetitive stress injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. A slip on a wet surface or a fall from a loading dock can result in painful sprains and broken bones. An automobile accident while working for your employer can result in injuries that result in being unable to work. Sadly, there are times when an on-the-job accident can result in the death of an employee.
Legal Help For Injured Workers. Call 404-920-4708.
No matter how your injury occurred, if it happened at work or while you were performing your job, it is covered by workers’ compensation insurance. To receive Workers’ Compensation benefits, however, you must properly file a Workers’ Compensation claim.
- Report the injury immediately: It is important to report any on-the-job injury to your supervisor as soon as possible. If you fail to report the injury within 30 days, you may not be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Reporting the injury is NOT the same thing as filing a claim. We have had many people believe that they have properly filed a claim just by speaking with their boss, a company nurse or their supervisor. The State Board of Workers’ Compensation has to be notified. If your claim is not filed correctly and timely, you could suffer the loss of both medical and income benefits that are so badly needed at a time when you cannot work.
- Select a doctor from the approved list: Ask to see your employer’s panel of physicians – a list of doctors your employer has approved to treat injured employees. You must choose one of these physicians to treat your workplace injury. You cannot be treated by your personal physician, even if that physician is paid through your company health insurance. You must be treated by a physician on the list of doctors for Workers’ Compensation job injuries. If there is no list of physicians, you should always check to be sure that your medical expenses will be covered.
- Obtain and complete the paperwork: Ask your employer for the paperwork is required to make a Workers’ Compensation claim. You must complete it promptly and forward it to the appropriate organization for processing. How can you be sure that your company is providing you with the proper paperwork? In most cases, you cannot know for certain whether the paperwork is current, correct or contains all of the needed information required by law for you to file a claim.
At the law office of J. Franklin Burns, P.C., our attorneys can help you file your workers’ comp claim in a manner that will minimize the risk of a claim denial. If your claim is accepted, your weekly payments will begin within 21 days. If your claim is denied, we can help you appeal the decision. Please be aware that the appeal process may take a long time, longer than you have to get proper medical attention or to receive the much-needed income benefits while you are unable to work. This is one of the many reasons why having one of our lawyers on your side right from the start is so important.
To learn more about making a Workman’s Comp claim, please contact our law firm today for a free initial consultation. With an office conveniently located in Atlanta, Georgia, our workers’ compensation attorneys represent clients statewide. Please do not hesitate to call us at 404-920-4708 or email us. We understand that you have many questions that need answers. If you are unable to visit us in our office, we are happy to travel to meet you in your home or a place that is convenient to you.