Workers’ compensation is an important insurance system that allows workers in Georgia to obtain financial compensation for the expenses related to their occupational injuries and illnesses. A workers’ comp settlement can pay for related medical bills, lost wages and more to help a worker move forward from a workplace accident.
The value of your case will depend on many different factors that are unique to you. If you have questions about how much your specific workers’ comp claim might be worth in Georgia, consult with an attorney who specializes in this practice area. In the meantime, learn more about how much these claims are worth in general for a better idea of your case value.
Types of Benefits Available
A successful workers’ compensation claim in Georgia can deliver important benefits to help you and your family recover and move forward in the aftermath of a serious workplace accident. In Georgia, the law requires most employers to purchase workers’ compensation insurance policies. If you are eligible for coverage, you and your family could receive benefits for the following losses:
- Medical bills. 100 percent of your medical expenses, including both existing medical bills and future necessary medical care. Georgia currently has a 400-week limit on medical benefits if your injury happened after July 2013, unless your injuries are catastrophic.
- Lost wages. Replacement for about two-thirds of your lost wages, up to a state-imposed weekly maximum that changes year by year. This replaces the wages you will miss while you in the hospital or recovering.
- Disability benefits, if applicable. If the workplace injury or illness gave you a long-term disability, you can recover compensation for temporary or permanent full or partial disability-related expenses.
- Death benefits. If you lost a loved one in a workplace accident in Atlanta, your family may be eligible for death benefits. These benefits may pay for a lifetime of lost wages, plus funeral and burial expenses.
Under Georgia law, you will be entitled to receive disability benefits if your injury or illness takes you out of work for at least seven days. Your disability benefits will equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $675 per week for a total disability and $450 for a partial disability, as of July 2021.
What Is the Average Value of a Georgia Workers’ Comp Claim?
Some injured workers receive settlements of a few hundred dollars through workers’ comp, while others recover thousands of dollars for past and future losses. There is no average workers’ compensation claim amount that will accurately estimate the value of your particular case. Every case is unique. The factors that can impact the value of your workers’ comp claim include the severity of your injuries, how much medical care you require and your income level. Discuss your case in detail with an attorney for more information about its potential value.
What’s Better – Workers’ Comp or a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
The answer to this question will depend on the unique aspects of your claim. Both legal processes have pros and cons. A personal injury lawsuit could result in greater financial compensation for your injuries and losses, but it is more difficult to win. A personal injury lawsuit allows you to recover an award for pain and suffering and punitive damages, if applicable.
However, to have a successful personal injury lawsuit, you or your lawyer will need to prove that another party was negligent and that this caused your injury. Negligence is any example of carelessness that causes harm or injury to someone else. Keep in mind that once you accept a workers’ compensation settlement, you will be unable to file a lawsuit against your employer.
You may, however, retain the right to file a lawsuit against a third party, such as a product manufacturer or contractor, after accepting a workers’ comp claim. Discuss your specific workers’ compensation case with an attorney in Atlanta for more information about how much your case might be worth. An attorney can analyze your case and suggest the best way to proceed for maximum financial compensation.