Workers' compensation insurance is a type of mandatory insurance coverage that most businesses in Georgia are required to purchase. It is a mutually beneficial agreement in which your employer provides insurance which pays out benefits if you are injured on the job, and in return you cannot sue your employer for said injuries.
While in theory workers' compensation insurance will fairly pay you while you cannot work due to injury, in reality many insurance companies will try their best to devalue or even outright deny your claim. Insurance companies are looking out for their own bottom line, and will fight to pay you as little as they can get away with.
Workers' compensation lawyer Humberto Izquierdo Jr., PC has years of experience helping clients get the full benefits they are owed from their employer. If you have been injured on the job, call us today at 770-888-8901 to schedule your complimentary consultation.
Who Is Covered Under Workers' Compensation Insurance?
In the state of Georgia, employers are required to purchase workers' comp insurance if they have 3 or more employees. If you work for a company that meets this criteria, you should be covered if you are injured on the job. A company that fails to purchase workers' compensation insurance when they are legally obligated to can face fines and even imprisonment, and may lose their right to operate a business in the state.
Workers' compensation benefits may cover the following situations:
- Injury while performing job-related duties
- Injury that occurred at work, at a job site
- Job-specific illness, such as black lung
- Injury while driving a company vehicle
- Injury while using a personal vehicle to perform a work-related duty, such as a client visit
Workers' compensation benefits do not cover you if were in a car accident on your commute. However, if you were driving your own car or a company vehicle on a business trip or for a work-specific task, then you may be covered.
Can You Ever Sue Your Employer for a Job Related Injury?
If your employer offers workers' compensation, then you cannot sue them. However, you may be able to sue a third party if your injury was caused by lax safety standards or other negligence. If you sue a third party, you can still claim your workers' compensation benefits.
You may wonder what the benefit of suing a third party is if you are already claiming workers' compensation benefits. In fact, it can be very beneficial to do so. Workers' comp benefits are capped, which means you are limited in how much you can receive from them. Suing a third party can help you recover more money to pay for your hospital bills, recovery, and time off of work. If you have a family, it can be hard to live on workers' comp benefits alone. The extra compensation you can receive from a lawsuit is often well worth it.
Schedule Your Workers' Compensation Consultation Today
If you have been in an accident on the job, don't hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC by calling 770-888-8901 today. We offer complimentary, no-obligation consultations, and we don't take payment until we reach a successful outcome for you.
We serve clients in Marietta, Cumming, and nearby Atlanta, Georgia.
