Work-related injuries can be incredibly disruptive to your life. Medical bills, physical pain, and lost income from an inability to work can quickly make a painful situation feel even worse.
Fortunately, workplace injuries can qualify for workers’ compensation benefits from your employer’s insurance company. Correctly following what to do after a workplace accident in Cleveland increases your chances of receiving comprehensive benefits. A workers’ compensation attorney from Smith Hulsey Law can advocate for your rights to improve the success of your case.
An injury is considered work-related if it occurred at the workplace or at an offsite work environment, per the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s standard 1904.5(a). Injuries that occur offsite while attending to personal matters are unlikely to qualify as work-related, even if they took place during work hours.
Qualifying injuries include illnesses caused by exposure to dangerous environmental conditions, such as chemical contaminations. If a pre-existing injury or illness has been worsened because of a workplace incident, it may qualify for workers’ compensation. After a workplace accident, consult a Cleveland attorney about possible next steps for securing workers’ compensation benefits.
According to the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation Bill of Rights for the Injured Worker Art. 1, employers are required to post information for at least six doctors who can provide care for an injured employee. Long-term treatment for workplace injuries should come from one of these doctors.
If the injury requires emergency medical care, employees can receive short-term treatment from a provider outside of the posted list.
Medical coverage from workers’ compensation may include emergency services, ongoing or follow-up medical treatment, rehabilitation services, and, in some cases, coverage for related prescriptions. After a workplace accident, a Cleveland attorney can help an injured employee understand what to do and what to keep track of to receive fair coverage for medical costs.
Georgia has time limits for reporting a workplace injury. Failure to meet these procedural requirements can result in benefit denials.
After a workplace injury occurs, the injured employee must report it to their employer within 30 days, per O.C.G.A. 34 § 9-6. This report can be made orally, though it is a good idea to have the conversation documented in writing.
After this 30-day window, an employee who has not yet made the verbal report to their employer must submit their report in writing.
Once an employee has notified their employer about their injury, they must then file their claim with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC) using Form WC-14. There is a one-year time limit for submitting this form, though claims should be filed as soon as possible so the injured employee can start receiving benefits. Falsifying information in this report can lead to civil and criminal penalties.
A skilled lawyer can assist injured employees in Cleveland with filing a workers’ compensation claim after a workplace accident.
Knowing what to do after a workplace accident in Cleveland can improve your chance of making a successful claim. A seasoned lawyer from Smith Hulsey Law can help you throughout this process, advocating for the compensation you need and deserve. Call now to speak with a member of our team.
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