Accidents at work can destroy the life of an employee within seconds–in terms of health, earnings and even career. Workers compensation laws in Georgia are important to all people who are injured in the workplace since it helps to protect workers because it provides them with financial and medical care and the employer is not subjected to protracted court cases. Understanding your rights and duties would enable you to obtain the benefits due to an injury at the workplace.
Georgia requires all businesses that employ three or more workers to have workers compensation cover. Employees get a cover on their first day of employment regardless of the type of employee; full-time, part-time, seasonal employee. Since the system is no-fault, injured workers are not required to establish negligence in order to be entitled to benefits, as long as they were injured during their employment in their duties.
Key Benefits You May Receive
Various benefits might be applicable to injured workers according to the workers compensation system of Georgia. These may include:
Medical Care: Benefit to cover emergency medical, doctor visits, surgeries, medicines, and physical therapy with a certified doctor.
Income Replacement: Benefits temporarily total disability benefits, which pay a percentage of your average weekly salary should you be unable to work during the recovery period.
Disability Support: The compensation is made to permanent disabilities or long-term physical limitations.
Vocational Rehabilitation: Help and training in a job in case you can no longer fulfill your former position because of the injury.
These benefits should aim at assisting the employees to recover both physically and financially without necessarily having to shoulder the medical expenses and the lost wages.
What to Do When You are an Injured Worker.
Though the law develops a degree of protection to the workers, there are certain steps to be followed by the employees to remain eligible. Significant requirements are:
Report the Injury to be made within 30 days.
Report to your employer immediately, in writing preferably. Failure to report in good time may cut your benefits or cancel them.
Get Medical Intervention of a Licensed Physician.
Employers have to offer a list of physicians who should be approved–workers are to select one of them to cover the care.
File a Claim Within One Year
The claim would be filed in the State Board of Workers Compensation within the one year limit.
Adherence to these rules will contribute to avoidance of conflict and ensure your gains are not delayed.
Obligations of the Employers under the Georgia Law.
The Georgia employers have some legal obligations, including:
- Displaying information on workers compensation at the workplace.
- Maintaining accepted lists of physicians.
- Submission of reports on the reported injury.
- Nothing to do with retaliating against employees.
Employers have no right to threaten, dismiss and/or demote employees because they are exercising their legal rights.
Conclusion
When you know your rights under the Georgia workers compensation system, you are likely to recover better in case of any accident at the workplace. The injured workers can avoid the unwarranted financial and emotional stress when they adhere to reporting policies, seek appropriate medical treatment, and understand what benefits are offered. It could be a rejected claim or be in a position not to know where to start but with the right information and also taking legal advice where necessary could make sure that you are treated justly and that you get the help that you need.
