Georgia Worker’s Compensation Claim: 5 Common Mistakes to avoid

It’s easy to make a mistake when filing your claim with the Workers’ Compensation Program in Georgia and probably lose out on the monetary benefits you are entitled to. According to Ponton Law, a famous law firm in Atlanta, most personal injury claims are denied because of avoidable mistakes. If you intend to file a workers’ compensation claim, here are the common mistakes you should avoid.

1. Failure to report a workplace injury

Georgia state law requires victims of workplace accidents to notify their employers about the accident and injury in time. Remember, the workers’ compensation program is an insurance service that nearly all employers must maintain for their employees. Thus, you must notify your employer about your injuries and your intent to pursue a personal injury claim. Consider keeping a copy of this notice.

2. Providing incorrect details in your claim forms

When filing your claim, you will be required to gather a lot of details and fill in several workers’ compensation claim forms. Providing incorrect information on these forms or even submitting them late will guarantee a claim denial.

3. Overplaying or downplaying your injury

It is important to ensure that the medical practitioner you see understands the nature and full extent of your workplace injury. Provide clear and true details regarding your injury because your doctor’s reports will be used in the determination of your workers’ compensation benefits.

Though a doctor can easily identify exaggerations about your injury, he or she can’t issues that you don’t explain. Providing incorrect details at any stage of your medical treatment and the process of filing your claim could result in claim denial.

4. Resuming your work too soon

After an injury, nearly every patient wants to resume their work as soon as possible. Probably you need to raise money for your family’s upkeep, or you are afraid you may lose your job. However, returning to work before you have healed could hamper your recovery process.

Sometimes, you may be urged to return to work even if you are not ready and you will be offered light duties. Before you give your consent to such requests, ask for a clear description of your duties and get evaluated by your doctor to determine if you can safely handle those duties.

5. Settling for an unfair disability rating

When a medical practitioner decides that you have recovered from your injuries, you will be assigned a permanent partial disability or a total disability in case you have not fully recovered. Keep in mind that this disability rating is an essential element of your workers’ compensation claim.

In case your disability rating is too low, your workers’ compensation benefits will be lower than if the rating was high. Unless you have fully recovered, back to your work, and you are being paid as much as you were being paid before you were injured, it is recommended to let your personal injury lawyer review your disability rating.