Workers Compensation Settlements in Georgia
Being injured on the job can cause you to miss time from work and be stuck with expensive medical bills. Fortunately, most injured employees will receive workers’ compensation benefits.
These benefits will compensate you for a portion of your losses, but they aren’t usually enough to live on alone. In that situation, you may need to look into a settlement.
Workers’ compensation settlements in Georgia will vary from person to person. That is why you should contact an experienced Cartersville workers’ compensation attorney first.
A knowledgeable attorney can help you determine what your case is worth.
What Workers’ Compensation Provides in Georgia
If your workplace injury takes you out of work for a minimum of seven days, workers’ compensation benefits may provide you with temporary disability benefits, they include:
- They may pay you up to two-thirds of your average weekly salary each week.
- This amount is capped at $675.
- You can only receive benefits for up to 400 weeks unless it’s a catastrophic injury.
- While 400 weeks is typically the maximum, most workers will not receive benefits for that long.
- Your workers’ compensation benefits should also provide coverage for your medical expenses, including hospital stays, doctor visits, prescription medication, diagnostic tests, etc.
- If you need long term treatment like physical therapy, your benefits may provide coverage as well.
- If your injury prevents you from earning as much as before, you could receive a reduced benefit once you return to work.
- If you pass away from your work-related injuries, your dependents could be eligible to receive death benefits up to two-thirds of your salary.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Georgia Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Clients often want to know what they can get in a settlement if they opt to pursue that route. Unfortunately, there is no specific range for the average workers’ comp settlement in Georgia.
Every injured worker’s settlement amount will be different because every injury is different.
Someone who suffers a minor injury and is back to work in three weeks will have a different value than someone who cannot return to work for six months.
Numerous factors affect the value of a workers’ compensation settlement amount. Some of these include:
- Your pre-injury salary;
- What body part you injured;
- How severe the injury was;
- Whether you can return to work;
- Your current medical expenses;
- Anticipated future medical expenses;
- Your current age; and
- What your percentage of disability is.
When you retain a Georgia workers’ compensation attorney, we will negotiate with the workers’ compensation lawyer to reach a fair settlement.
How Workers’ Compensation Settlements Are Paid
GA workers’ comp settlements are a lump sum payment amount. In some cases, it may be better to opt for payments under a structured settlement arrangement.
- Structured settlements would provide you with settlement funds at specified time intervals.
- Those payments can be monthly, annually, every two years, etc.
- This arrangement is more common in cases involving severe injuries or permanent disability.
Contact a Georgia Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
If you have a pending Georgia workers’ compensation claim, it’s best to speak with an experienced lawyer before resolving it on your own. When you settle directly with your workers’ compensation carrier, the settlement is typically final. That means if your condition worsens, later on, you cannot come back and ask for additional benefits or financial compensation.
How We Can Help
At the Pritchard Injury Firm, we have years of experience helping clients resolve their workers’ compensation claims.
Contact our office today to learn more about how we assist you. Let us protect your rights and negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement for your workplace injury.
