Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Macon, Georgia

Workers’ compensation (sometimes referred to as “workers’ comp,” “workman’s compensation” or “workman’s comp”) is a set of laws designed to provide medical and wage benefits to workers who are injured or become ill on the job or while performing a job-related activity without the need for litigation.

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning that injured workers can receive these benefits regardless of who’s to blame for the injury or illness.

According to the State Board of Workers’ Compensation:

Workers’ compensation is an accident insurance program paid by your employer which may provide you with medical, rehabilitation and income benefits if you are injured on the job. These benefits are provided to help you return to work. It also provides benefits to your dependents if you die as a result of a job related injury.

Georgia workers who are injured during job activities or who become ill as a result of their work are generally entitled to financial benefits that provide reimbursement for the following expenses:

Workers’ compensation requirements vary from state to state. In Georgia, most employers with 3 or more full-time, part-time or seasonal employees are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. For incorporated or LLC businesses, the corporate officers or members are included in this count of 3 or more employees.

Employers must also post a notice that they are compliant with state laws in a place that is prominent and easy to see. They must also clearly display the State Board of Workers’ Compensation Bill of Rights for injured workers as well as a list of approved doctors so that injured workers can easily see where to get treatment.

Exceptions to this rule are rare. Only railroad carriers, U.S. government agencies, farm laborers and domestic servants are exempt from this requirement.

If your employer doesn’t carry workers’ compensation insurance, they can be held both civilly and criminally liable.

The State Board of Workers’ Compensation may fine the non-compliant employer $100 to $1,000 per violation and assess civil penalties, as well as a 10 percent increase in compensation for the injured employee. If the employer lied about having workers’ compensation or made false statements in order to mislead an injured employee about the benefits available to them, they can also be fined $1,000 to $10,000 per violation. In addition, employers can be fined $500 to $5,000 (per violation) for intentionally failing to offer coverage to employees as directed by the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Not only do employers who fail to provide workers’ compensation coverage face civil penalties, but they can also be criminally prosecuted. Failing to provide workers’ compensation when directed by law is a misdemeanor offense in Georgia, punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and 1-year prison sentence.

Just because your employer didn’t provide workers’ compensation coverage like they were supposed to doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily stuck paying the bills without an income. In such cases, you might be able to sue your employer to recover from the cost of your workplace injury or illness — including medical expenses and lost wages. In addition, you may be able to sue for emotional distress such as pain and suffering due to your job-related accident. Lastly, you might be able to get punitive damages from their employer to punish them for willfully endangering their employees by not providing workers’ compensation coverage.

Also, if you’d like to learn more about your legal options when it comes to suing your employer, consult our top-rated Georgia workers’ compensation attorneys immediately. Suing your employer in court is a much more complex and lengthy process compared to normal workers’ compensation claims. We can help you calculate the total costs and determine what’s the best move for you and your family.

Yes! Unlike Georgia personal injury cases, which must be filed within 2 years, most workers only have 1 year to file a workers’ compensation claim. After this deadline, your ability to receive benefits will likely be barred or denied. The clock starts ticking from the date of the accident, or from the date your work-related injury/illness was discovered.