Workers’ Compensation Claims for Job-Related Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Injuries in Georgia

On-the-job orthopedic injuries can happen to anyone, whether you have a sedentary and cozy office job or you perform physically demanding work on a hectic construction site. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over a third (37 percent) of total workplace injuries that required days off work to recover in 2015 involved orthopedic injuries such as sprains, strains and tears. Most of these injuries were caused by overexertion or bodily reaction, and a majority of injuries were to the back, shoulder and knee.

“Orthopedics” is a specialized practice of medicine that deals with injuries and deformities to your bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Any injury that occurs to the musculoskeletal system as a result of trauma or repetitive motion is considered an orthopedic injury.

If you believe you suffered an orthopedic injury (or another serious injury) while working, you should report it to your employer and seek medical attention immediately. The sooner a doctor or orthopedic specialist can diagnose your injury, the less chance that you will further injure the bone or tissue, resulting in a faster recovery. It’s likely that your employer or their insurance company will give you a list of workers’ compensation doctors that you must visit. You can ask to use a physician of your choosing instead, but this must be pre-approved by your employer or their insurance company.

After you’ve received treatment and notified your employer, it’s important to go through all the necessary steps to filing a workers’ compensation claim — starting with completing and submitting a WC-14 form with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.