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Notice For: Anyone who has suffered a work-related injury or illness.
The attorneys at Pond Lehocky Giordano have seen the effects of work injuries on decent, hardworking people – physical, psychological, and emotional.
Complete the form on this page to see if you’re entitled to lost wages, medical expenses, benefits to cover a specific loss (such as a limb), payment for severe disfigurement or scars, or coverage for participation in physical or vocational rehabilitation programs.
Workers’ Compensation Matters
Suffering a workplace injury can be a devastating loss for both individuals and their families. Navigating the often-complex legal process necessary to recover both physically and financially from such an event adds further difficulties to an already stressful situation.
At Pond Lehocky Giordano, we specialize in fighting for the rights of workers who have been negatively impacted by a work-related illness or injury, and it is our honor to help them recover to the greatest extent possible.
Workers’ Rights and Obligations
Georgia’s workers’ compensation law was created specifically to protect employees who cannot work due to an injury or illness that occurred because of their employment activities. Under the law, affected employees may be entitled to wage-loss compensation and paid medical expenses.
All Georgia employers with three or more employees are required to maintain insurance policies that will pay for workers’ compensation claims. Employees have obligations under the State’s workers’ compensation law too, one of the most important being a strict deadline to report work-related medical issues.
Failure to promptly notify a supervisor or manager at the workplace where an injury occurred may result in a claim being barred. For issues developed over an extended period, such as repetitive and cumulative injuries, a manager or supervisor must be notified as soon as a qualified medical professional has diagnosed the condition. The same is true of job-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma, which can take years to manifest at a level sufficient for a definitive diagnosis.
Advocates for Workers
All employees are entitled to represent themselves when making a workers’ compensation claim but doing so can put them at a significant disadvantage. The law firms representing workers’ compensation insurance companies vigorously defend their clients and try to minimize the benefits paid. Workers need an experienced and well-resourced legal team capable of fighting just as zealously on their behalf.
Even if an employee is already receiving workers’ compensation benefits, a consultation with an experienced attorney can reveal if the current benefit arrangement is appropriate and assist the worker in defending any challenges to their benefits or medical treatment being made by the insurance company.
Legal Fees
Pond Lehocky Giordano offers all workers’ compensation consultations completely free of charge and accepts no fee unless the claim is successful. Under Georgia law, successful workers’ compensation claimants only pay up to 25% of their benefits, and all attorneys’ fees must be approved by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
Medical Examinations and Treatment
The specific medical treatment a worker will receive can differ depending on the state of their employment. In Georgia, workers must choose from a list of doctors provided by their employer. Employers are required to post information identifying medical care providers. They must satisfy this requirement in one of the following ways:
- Post a Traditional Panel of Physicians consisting of at least six doctors. Employees may choose any one of the six.
- Post the name of the Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization certified by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation which your employer has contracted with to provide medical services.
Because employers must pay for all accident-related medical treatment, they routinely pick the most conservative doctors who shy away from expensive diagnostic studies or surgery. If you believe you are being denied necessary treatment, please contact us – our attorneys will advocate for you and the treatment you deserve.
Compensation
Injured workers making a successful compensation claim are entitled to indemnity (wage-loss) benefits typically equal to two-thirds of their average weekly wage while unable to work.
If an injured worker can return to work but can only get a lower-paying job due to their injury, they will receive a reduced benefit based on their earnings for a maximum of 350 weeks from the date of injury.
If an employee’s work injury keeps them from getting a job, they are entitled to receive help in getting another job or learning to do another job from the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
What can you do?
If you have suffered a work-related injury or illness and need a lawyer for workers’ compensation, contact Pond Lehocky Giordano today. There is no charge to speak with our attorneys about your situation and legal rights.