Overview

• Falls from ladders or scaffolding
• Machinery accidents
• Repetitive strain injuries (e.g., carpal tunnel)
• Lifting injuries
• Chemical exposure
• Slip and falls

1. Report the Injury Immediately: Notify your employer as soon as the injury occurs.
2. Seek Medical Treatment: Go to an approved provider listed by your employer.
3. Document Everything: Keep records of the incident, treatment, and missed work.
4. Consult with a Workers’ Comp Lawyer: To ensure you're receiving the benefits you're entitled to.

Workers’ compensation in Georgia is a no-fault system designed to protect employees injured on the job. If you qualify, you may be entitled to several types of benefits regardless of who caused the accident.

Workers’ comp covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your workplace injury. This includes:

• Emergency room visits
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Physical therapy
• Prescription medication
• Follow-up visits
• Diagnostic tests (X-rays, MRIs)

You must seek care from an employer-approved physician unless it’s an emergency.

If you’re unable to work for more than seven days, you may receive income benefits equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage (up to the state’s maximum limit). These benefits continue until you return to work or reach maximum medical improvement (MMI).

If you return to work but in a lower-paying or part-time position due to injury restrictions, TPD benefits help cover the gap in income. You may receive two-thirds of the difference between your current earnings and your pre-injury wage.

If your injury results in a permanent impairment—even if you return to work—you may be eligible for additional compensation based on the body part affected and the degree of impairment assigned by your treating physician.

You are entitled to reimbursement for mileage traveled to and from medical appointments, pharmacies, and therapy visits, as long as they’re related to your workplace injury.

In some cases, workers’ comp may offer services like job retraining or placement assistance if you cannot return to your previous role.

If a worker dies as a result of a job-related injury, the worker’s dependents may receive weekly income benefits and compensation for funeral expenses (up to a certain limit).

Understanding the full scope of benefits available helps ensure you’re not leaving anything on the table. If your claim is denied, delayed, or disputed, consulting a workers’ compensation attorney can be crucial to securing the compensation you’re owed.

• Your claim is denied or delayed
• You're forced to return to work before you're healed
• Your benefits are suddenly reduced
• You're offered a settlement you don’t understand

At Barionnette & Eisenhower, we help injured workers in Atlanta and the surrounding areas get full compensation and protect their rights throughout the process.