What to Expect During the Workers’ Compensation Process

Atlanta, Georgia

Workers’ compensation is intended to help defray medical costs and lost wages for employees who are injured on the job. It can also help provide money for the family of an employee who is killed on the job. All companies over a certain size are required to provide workers’ compensation for their employees. Sometimes, though, securing workers’ compensation can be a complex and frustrating process.

Determining if You Qualify for Workers’ Compensation

In order to qualify for workers’ compensation, your injury or illness must meet certain criteria. An injury suffered as a direct result of performing your job duties will in most cases be eligible for workers’ comp. Workers’ comp also can cover the medical expenses of long-term illness that is a direct result of working conditions. A common example is repetitive stress injury that results from intensive keyboarding required by your everyday work. In order to file for a workers’ comp claim, you will have to follow exact instructions and fill out specific forms provided by your employer or your employer’s insurance company.

In many cases, the workers’ compensation process continues smoothly from there. After you file your claim, your case is evaluated, your compensation is determined, and you receive reimbursement for medical expenses and/or lost wages.

Sometimes, though, the process is not so simple. Employers have the right to deny workers’ compensation cases on the grounds that the injuries or illness were not a direct consequence of the job being performed. A workers’ compensation claim might then have to go to court in order to prove eligibility. This can be particularly difficult in the case of an illness due to working conditions, such as exposure to dangerous chemicals on the job.

Determining the Size of the Settlement

In the majority of cases, the size of a workers’ compensation settlement is based upon the cost of necessary medical treatment. In the case of lost wages, it is usually determined based upon a percentage of your salary. This is also the case when workers’ compensation is paid out to the family of an employee who has been killed on the job, or in the case of long-term disability.

These figures, too, can be complex and difficult to determine, especially if the employer protests the validity of the claim or the settlement amount. When the validity of a claim or the amount of the settlement is disputed, a workers’ compensation lawyer from Robbins & Associates can be a great help in ensuring you receive appropriate compensation.

If you are in the Atlanta, Georgia area and need help with a workers’ compensation claim, please contact a lawyer well-versed in workers’ compensation at the Atlanta offices of Robbins & Associates, P.C.

6000 Lake Forrest Drive Suite 315, Atlanta, Georgia 30328

404-252-8117 | 800-772-5555 | Contact Us

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