How Long Do You Have to Report an Injury in Order to Receive Workers’ Comp in Georgia?
When you suffer a workplace injury, there are two things that you must do promptly, so that you are taken care of properly. The first is to seek medical attention. The second is to report your injury to your employer. In the state of Georgia, you have a 30-day window after you are injured on the job to report the accident to your employer. Failing to do so could result in missing out on the benefits of workers’ compensation entirely.
It is always best to report your injury as soon as possible after it occurs so that you can get the ball rolling and start receiving benefits. Reporting an injury does not require filling out several long and complicated forms. Simply telling your supervisor should be enough.
Although, you might be better served by sending an email confirming your injury to your supervisor. Having proof of your actions can be helpful if someone drops the ball and your claim is disputed.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?
After you have reported your injury, your employer should give you the proper paperwork to fill out so that you can start receiving workers’ compensation. After you complete the form, your employer will file the workers’ comp claim with their insurance company. In Georgia, you can file a workers’ comp claim up to a year after the injury. However, the sooner, the better.
If you have been injured on the job, you are likely facing substantial medical bills, and if the injury is preventing you from working, then your financial situation is probably not ideal. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.
How Does Workers’ Compensation Work?
Workers’ compensation was created to provide relief for those injured on the job while also protecting employers and easing the burden on the courts. This three-pronged system is universally beneficial and has been adopted as a mandatory requirement in every state except Texas.
Benefits for the Workers
Without workers’ compensation, employees would have no other recourse than to file lawsuits against the companies they work for every time an employee is injured on the job. Because of the time and money associated with doing so, along with the fear of losing the job which these workers rely upon, many people would be in a very tough spot if they got injured.
Fortunately, workers’ compensation is a relatively straightforward process that does not pit employees against their employers. Instead, this insurance guarantees that workers injured on the job are able to get their medical expenses paid for, as well as receive a portion of their lost wages if their injury prevents them from working.
Benefits for the Employers
Workers’ compensation insurance protects employers from lawsuits. While there are still certain circumstances in which an employer could face a lawsuit from an injured employee, most cases will go through workers’ comp.
For small businesses, this insurance is a critical protection, as a single lawsuit from a severely injured employee could bankrupt the company. Large businesses working in industries with high accident rates would likely find themselves constantly facing one lawsuit after another without this insurance to protect them.
Benefits for the Courts
Over four million people are injured in workplace accidents in the United States every year. Without workers’ compensation, even if only a tenth of those who suffered injuries filed lawsuits against their employers, that would still be over 400,000 additional lawsuits that U.S. courts would have to process every year.
By requiring businesses to carry workers’ compensation insurance, the courts are able to free up space to process all of the other cases that come before them.
What If Your Claim Gets Denied?
Having your workers’ comp claim denied can put you in a very difficult situation. While workers’ comp claims are generally fairly routine, that does not mean that they are guaranteed. You are still ultimately dealing with an insurance company. While these companies like to portray themselves as your helpful neighbors, the truth is, all they really care about is the bottom line.
Insurance companies are notorious for digging deep to find a reason to deny any claim they receive. You probably won’t face too much scrutiny for a small claim. However, if you are filing a claim for a serious injury or have a history of filing workers’ comp claims, you can expect an insurance investigator to follow your every move.
You can expect an investigator to:
- Use video surveillance
- Talk to your friends, family, and neighbors
- Monitor your social media
Use Video Surveillance
Investigators will often attempt to use video surveillance to prove that you are not injured as severely as you claim. A time-stamped video showing you participating in activities that should not be possible with the injury you claim is damning evidence against you.
Talk to Your Friends, Family, and Neighbors
You can expect an investigator to contact the people close to you to try and discover any information they can use to deny your claim. While they can not use fraudulent names to obtain information, they have plenty of techniques for getting people to reveal the information they desire.
Monitor Your Social Media
One of the greatest tools for insurance investigators is social media. The job got a lot easier once everyone started posting all the information about their lives online. It is advisable to stay off of social media following an accident. Even a post that you feel is completely innocuous can come back to bite you.
If your claim gets denied, it is important to contact a workers’ compensation lawyer in Atlanta. A workers’ comp attorney can help sort through the mess and get you the compensation you deserve.
Don’t Miss Out on Workers’ Comp Benefits
Workers’ Comp Benefits are vital in many situations. If you have been injured, make sure to report the accident and file your workers’ comp claim as soon as possible. Then, follow all medical advice and stay off social media. A workers’ comp lawyer can help advise you along the way. If your claim gets denied, your attorney will be there to help appeal the decision and fight for your rights.
