Workers’ Compensation
What is Workers' Compensation?
Employees in the United States are entitled to workers’ compensation payments regardless of their industry or occupation.
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides financial support to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job. The system is designed to help employees recover from their injuries or illnesses without having to go through a lengthy and expensive legal process.
Workers’ compensation is typically paid for by employers, and the specific requirements and benefits provided by the program vary depending on the state in which the employer is based.
The primary goal of workers’ compensation is to provide medical care and financial support to employees who have suffered job-related injuries or illnesses. This can include payment for medical expenses, reimbursement for lost wages, and compensation for permanent disabilities. In some cases, workers’ compensation can also provide death benefits to the surviving family members of an employee who has died as a result of a job-related injury or illness.
What Expenses Does Workers' Comp Cover?
Workers’ compensation will pay for everything associated with an injury you sustain on the job, including:
- Treatment from medical professionals, such as checkups, hospital stays, surgeries, and physical therapy
- Cost of medications
- Reimbursement of mileage expenses incurred while visiting healthcare providers, pharmacies, etc.
In addition, workers’ compensation will provide a monetary benefit to help compensate for lost wages if you miss work due to your injury.
Whether you are totally or partially unable to work, as well as whether your disability is short-term or long-term, will determine the amount of your benefit.
Although the cash benefit will be less than your regular wage, it will be received tax-free.
Who is Covered by Workers' Comp?
Coverage begins on the first day of employment for every employee. Workers’ compensation claims are most common in construction and warehouses, but the law covers all businesses.
While most situations do not qualify an independent contractor for workers’ comp, there are always exceptions.
In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation, an employee must typically be able to prove that their injury or illness is directly related to their job. This can often require medical documentation and other forms of evidence. Additionally, some workers’ compensation programs may have specific requirements, such as a certain amount of time worked or a minimum threshold for the severity of the injury.
Despite these requirements, workers’ compensation is often seen as a vital safety net for employees who have suffered job-related injuries or illnesses, providing much-needed financial support and assistance during a difficult time.
What Kinds of Injuries Are Covered By Workers' Compensation?
Your employer’s workers’ compensation policy covers all work-related injuries, even if the company itself is not at fault.
While the vast majority of workers’ comp claims are filed on the job site, there are scenarios in which an off-site claim could be just as valid:
- Traveling to a different location for work, such as a client meeting
- Carrying out a delivery for a business
- Running a quick work-related errand
- Working away from the office, like telecommuting
- Taking a business trip
Injuries sustained on the way to or from work are typically not covered, but those suffered in a company parking lot or elsewhere on company property are.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Pursue a Workers' Comp Claim?
In the event of a work-related injury, Georgia employees are barred from suing their employers and must instead rely on the workers’ compensation system. But your employer and their insurance provider can try to downplay your injuries and guide you toward less intensive treatment than you require. In the event of a workplace accident, you should see an attorney immediately to ensure you get the compensation you are owed.
Contact the Workers' Compensation Lawyers at The Brown Firm
If you have been injured on the job, the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Brown Firm offer free consultations to accident victims in Georgia and South Carolina. Call 800-529-1441 to speak with our personal injury team today!
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