An Overview of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Georgia
Were you hurt on the job in Georgia? You are certainly not alone. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that nearly 80,000 job-related injuries are reported in the state each year.
Georgia law requires virtually all employers to provide no-fault workers’ comp insurance coverage to their employees. You have the right to file for benefits. This raises an important question:
What types of workers’ comp benefits are available? Here, our South Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys provide a comprehensive guide to the workers’ comp benefits that you can recover in Georgia.
Medical Benefits (Reasonable and Necessary Care)
Medical coverage forms the foundation of workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. Through a workers’ comp claim, a person who was hurt on the job has a right to seek coverage for all reasonable and necessary medical care. Medical benefits are comprehensive. Along with other types of care, workers’ comp benefits may be available for doctor visits, hospital stays, medication, surgeries, physical therapy, and other essential treatments.
Temporary Total Disability Benefits (Wage Replacement)
A serious work injury could force you to miss time on the job. Wage replacement benefits are another key form of workers’ comp in Georgia. These benefits are generally referred to as temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. They are calculated at two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage—up to a statutory maximum amount as set by the law.
Permanent Disability Benefits
Some work-related injuries or illnesses are so severe that they leave a person with a permanent impairment. If the work-related injury results in permanent damage, then the employee might be eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. These benefits are calculated, in large part, based on the extent and severity of the impairment. Permanent disability claims are complicated. It is imperative that injured workers consult with an experienced Georgia workers’ comp lawyer.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Due to the scope of your injuries, you may not be able to return to your previous job. However, you may be able to “retrain” into a less physically-demanding position. In Georgia, workers’ comp may provide coverage for vocational rehabilitation. Among other things, this type of benefit could include job training, education, and other resources to help a person re-enter the workforce.
Workers’ Comp Death Benefits
The loss of a loved one to a fatal workplace accident is devastating. Surviving families—particularly surviving spouses and surviving children—have rights under Georgia’s workers’ compensation law. The family can bring a legal claim to seek death benefits. While nothing could ever truly make things right after a fatal workplace accident, these benefits are a much needed form of financial support.
Contact Our South Atlanta Workers’ Comp Lawyer for Immediate Help
At The Jewkes Firm, our Georgia workers’ compensation attorneys go above and beyond to help injured workers secure the absolute maximum financial benefits. Have questions about workers’ compensation benefits? We are here as a legal resource. Contact us right away for your free case evaluation. With offices in Tyrone and Griffin, we handle workers’ comp claims throughout the region, including in Fayetteville, Peachtree City, College Park, Stockbridge, and Riverdale.
