Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Law Firm

Preparation Before Consulting an Atlanta Workers’ Comp Attorney

Not sure what steps to take after a work-related injury? Reporting your injury promptly, even if you suspect fault (as long as no illegal activity was involved), is crucial. In cases of job-related illnesses like mesothelioma or repetitive trauma injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, report them as soon as a doctor confirms the diagnosis and its link to your employment.

Report your injury to your employer or supervisor immediately after it occurs, even if it seems minor or doesn’t cause you to miss work. Include the date, time, and injury circumstances in your report, preferably in writing. If a doctor diagnoses an occupational illness related to your job, report it promptly. Injuries should be reported to your supervisor or the person responsible for injury reports.

Taking these steps to report injuries, document medical results, diagnoses, and bills, as well as filing your claim, strengthens your case should your employer dispute or minimize your workers’ compensation claim.

Is a WC Lawyer Really Necessary in Atlanta?

While employees have the right to represent themselves when filing a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia, this approach can put them at a disadvantage. Law firms representing insurers work diligently to minimize benefits. Having an experienced legal team is essential to advocate on your behalf.

Even if you’re already receiving benefits, consulting an attorney can help you determine if the current arrangement is fair and assist you in defending against challenges posed by the insurance company.

In cases of severe work-related injuries or illnesses, legal representation is often necessary. Whether you’re injured, have a work-related illness, or believe you’ve been treated unfairly, contacting a workers’ compensation attorney is advisable. An attorney guides you through your case and only gets paid when you win.

Why Hire a Workers’ Comp Lawyer?

While workers’ compensation was designed to provide prompt compensation for injured workers, it can sometimes seem to favor employers and insurers. An experienced Atlanta workers’ comp attorney serves as your advocate, ensuring you’re treated fairly.

With the help of our legal team in Georgia, you avoid direct communication with the insurance company: one of our attorneys would handle these interactions. Insurance adjusters often schedule an independent medical examination with a doctor paid by the insurance company. This doctor may downplay your injury or provide an alternative explanation for how it occurred. A workers’ compensation lawyer guides you through the process, ensuring objective and fair evaluation of your injuries.

Workers’ compensation lawyers work diligently to secure maximum compensation for their clients’ damages. There are situations where legal representation is especially crucial:

• When the employer rejects or hesitates to disburse benefits.
• When the proposed settlement doesn’t cover lost wages and medical expenses.
• When the injury prevents returning to the previous job.
• When you can’t perform any work due to the injury.
• When the injury severely limits your ability to work.
• When you’re receiving or plan to receive Social Security disability benefits.
• When the employer lacks workers’ compensation insurance.
• When the employer retaliates against you for filing a worker’s compensation claim.
• When the injury results from a third party’s actions or the employer’s serious misconduct.

Even if your case doesn’t go to court, consulting our workplace accident injury lawyers in Atlanta can help you navigate the complex process of dealing with your employer and its insurance company.

How Can Pond Lehocky Giordano Help?

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP, with our nationally recognized team of workers’ compensation lawyers, specializes in providing legal support to workers unfairly denied their rightful workers’ compensation claims. We guide clients through the complex process of securing compensation, handling a broad spectrum of on-the-job injury claims, including but not limited to:

• Injuries to various muscles/bones/joints.
• Repetitive stress injuries.
• Hearing damage or loss.
• Head injuries.
• Cold stress or burn injuries.
• Illnesses due to toxin exposure.
• Muscular injuries and broken bones.
• Fatalities resulting from workplace activities.

We also handle third-party claims, allowing injured individuals to pursue legal action against manufacturers of machinery or equipment that contributed to their injuries, in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Managing Medical Examinations and Treatment in Georgia

After filing a workers’ compensation claim, employers can request an Independent Medical Examination (IME) to assess the extent of the injury or illness. The goal is often to downplay the severity to reduce or eliminate benefits. An IME may not always be mandatory, and an Atlanta workers’ comp lawyer can help you determine its necessity.

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP maintains an in-house medical team to ensure workers receive access to the best available medical care and doctors. We guarantee impartial, accurate, and compassionate assessments, which provides the best chance of recovery from injury or illness.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Atlanta, Georgia

Successfully filing a compensation claim entitles injured workers to wage-loss benefits, typically two-thirds of their pre-tax weekly earnings before the injury. Minimum and maximum adjustments vary by state.

Several types of workers’ compensation benefits include:

Wage Loss Benefits: Compensate for lost wages due to total or partial disability.
Death Benefits: Payments to surviving dependents of a worker who died due to a workplace illness or injury.
Specific Loss Benefits: Compensation for loss of a body part, its use, or permanent scarring.
Medical Care: Cover surgical and medical care for workplace-related injuries or illnesses.

In cases of partial disability, benefits may be paid for up to 500 weeks if the worker can return to a lower-paying job with restrictions or is not entirely disabled. The period varies by state.

For total disability, employers or insurers may request a medical examination to determine if the employee’s condition has improved enough to classify it as partial disability.