DeKalb County Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Have you gotten hurt or sick on the job while working in DeKalb County, GA? You may qualify for monetary benefits under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. Contact Hasner Law, PC to find out how our experienced legal team can help you file a claim and seek all of the money you deserve. We offer a free consultation, so give our DeKalb County workers’ compensation lawyers a call to schedule yours today.
How Our DeKalb County Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help You Fight for the Benefits You Deserve
When DeKalb County residents go to work, they expect to come home with a well-earned paycheck. They do not expect to leave their place of business in the back of an ambulance, having been involved in a workplace accident.
If this nightmare scenario recently happened to you, it is likely that you are eligible to claim benefits. To do so, however, you will need the assistance of a DeKalb County workers’ compensation lawyer from Hasner Law, PC.
We firmly believe that employees who are injured on the job should be adequately compensated. That’s why, when you hire us to help you with your workers’ compensation claim, we will:
Process Your Claims Paperwork
Claiming workers’ compensation benefits in the state of Georgia is not as simple as placing a quick call to your employer’s insurance company. It typically involves filling out and submitting a lot of legal forms to hospitals, insurance adjusters, and government entities.
At Hasner Law, PC, we are committed to making the workers’ comp claims process as simple and efficient as possible for our clients. So, when you enlist our services, you won’t need to worry about all of that paperwork. A DeKalb County workers’ compensation attorney will handle it all on your behalf – allowing you to focus on your treatment plan.
Communicate with Insurers and Government Entities on Your Behalf
The best way for injured employees to make sure that their claim is not unnecessarily delayed or denied is to stay in contact with their company’s insurer and the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC).
However, when you are recovering from a severe injury, the prospect of spending hours on the phone discussing your case may not sound particularly appealing.
Fortunately, when you hire our Georgia law firm, you won’t have to waste your precious time attempting to keep tabs on insurers and government entities. Our team of experienced lawyers will do so on your behalf while ensuring that your interests are well-represented during every call.
Represent You at Your Workers’ Comp Hearing
If your employer or their insurance company lodges an objection to your workers’ compensation claim, there is a chance that you may need to attend a hearing before you can receive your benefits.
The lawyers here at Hasner Law, PC, have represented countless clients at workers’ comp hearings over the years. As such, we know what the judge needs to see and hear before they will decide to award benefits. When you hire us, we will use our experience and skill to ensure that your hearing runs smoothly.
Would you like to have a workers’ compensation attorney in DeKalb County on your side as you file your workers’ compensation claim? Then please contact us as soon as possible to set up a free consultation at our headquarters in Atlanta.
An Overview of the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Rules
In the state of Georgia, every business that employs three or more people must carry a workers’ compensation insurance policy. This policy offers financial compensation to employees who are injured on the job.
To be eligible for financial restitution for their injuries, employees must:
- Follow their employer’s safety rules. Employees whose injuries are caused by their own misconduct are not typically eligible for any compensation.
- Report their accident to their employer immediately. Workers who wait more than 30 days to notify their boss can lose their right to benefits.
- Seek medical treatment from a pre-approved physician. Visits to unapproved medical facilities may not be reimbursed.
- Follow their doctor’s treatment plan. Injured employees who fail to do so may lose their workers’ compensation benefits.
- Return to work as soon as they are cleared by their physician. Workers who fail to return to work on time will stop receiving benefits and may be fired.
The attorneys here at Hasner Law, PC, have been helping DeKalb County residents with their workers’ compensation cases for years. If you would like us to do the same for you, please give us a call and set up a free consultation at our law office in Atlanta, GA.
Benefits Available to Injured Workers in DeKalb County
When DeKalb County residents suffer injuries at work, they have the right to claim the following benefits:
- Permanent Total Disability: Available to employees who sustain injuries that prevent them from working ever again.
- Temporary Total Disability: Available to employees who sustain injuries that prevent them from working for several weeks, months, or years.
- Permanent Partial Disability: Available to employees who sustain injuries that force them to work in a reduced capacity for the rest of their life.
- Temporary Partial Disability: Available to employees who sustain injuries that force them to work in a reduced capacity for several weeks, months, or years.
- Medical Costs: Available to all employees who sought medical care for their on-the-job injury.
- Rehabilitative Costs: Available to employees who will need physical or occupational therapy to recover from their injury.
- Income Replacement: Available to employees who lost wages as a result of their workplace injury.
Do you need help fighting for benefits after a workplace accident? If so, please contact our Georgia law firm as soon as you possibly can. We would love to arrange a free consultation to discuss your case and take the first step toward building a productive attorney-client relationship.
What Happens if a Workers’ Comp Claim is Denied in DeKalb County, Georgia?
The process of recovering benefits after an on-the-job injury should be easy. Unfortunately, it rarely is. DeKalb County employers and their insurance companies regularly deny workers’ compensation claims by asserting that:
- The victim’s injury is not as severe as they claim.
- The victim is faking their injury.
- The victim does not have enough evidence to support their claim.
- The victim did not submit an accident notice on time.
- The victim’s injury is self-inflicted.
- The victim’s injury was caused by their own misconduct.
When injured workers have their claim for benefits denied for any of these reasons, they have the right to appeal the decision to the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC). They can do so by filing a notice of claim form (WC-14).
In most instances, this form must be submitted before within one year of the date of the accident. However, if the insurer has already paid out some compensation, the deadline shifts to one year after the injured party’s last reimbursed medical treatment or two years after their last disability payment.
When the SBWC receives a claim notice, they typically order the victim and a representative from the insurance company to attend a mediation conference. During this meeting, an independent mediator will encourage both parties to reach an amicable resolution to their dispute. This mediator does not have the power to make a ruling on the case.
If a settlement can not be achieved through the mediation process, a workers’ comp hearing will be held. These hearings generally last for less than a day and offer both parties an opportunity to state their case to a judge. Once the judge has reviewed the evidence brought forward by both sides, they must make a decision within 30 days.
Injured workers who disagree with the ruling of the judge can appeal to the SBWC’s appellate division. Georgia law stipulates that such a request must be made within 20 days. The SBWC appellate division typically decides on cases by reviewing written arguments from both sides.
If an injured employee is still not satisfied with the ruling in their case, they have one option left – appealing to the Superior Courts of Georgia. This appeal must also be made within 20 days of the prior decision.
We Can Help You Appeal Your Denied Workers’ Compensation Claim
Have your benefits claims been denied by your employer’s insurance company? Then please contact an experienced DeKalb County personal injury attorney at Hasner Law, PC, today. We are ready, willing, and able to help you navigate the appeals process.
Common Injuries Sustained By the Victims of DeKalb County Workplace Accidents
DeKalb County employees who get into accidents at work can suffer a broad variety of different injuries. Many of those injuries have the potential to leave them with a permanent disability or long-term health challenges.
A brief list of some of the most common workplace injuries in DeKalb County would include:
- Amputations
- Fractured bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Eye injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns, and
- Degloving injuries.
If you recently suffered an injury at work and need a skilled attorney to provide you with legal advice and guidance, please reach out to the team here at Hasner Law, PC, at your earliest convenience. We are always available to assist our friends and neighbors in DeKalb County.
A DeKalb County Workers’ Compensation Attorney You Can Count On
Our skilled DeKalb County workers’ compensation lawyers have been helping clients file benefits claims for many years. During that time, we have achieved countless favorable outcomes for our clients. If you would like to have our experienced legal team assist you with your case, please give us a call or send us a message online.
