Being hurt while on the job gives you the right to access benefits under the Augusta workers’ comp program. While all injuries that happen while on the job are covered under the program, there are instances when you do not receive the benefits you are entitled to. This can make it difficult for you to move forward from your accident as medical bills start to pile up and you have lost wages due to missing work.
How Do I Know If I Qualify for Augusta Workers’ Compensation?
Virtually all employees that are injured on the job are covered by the Augusta workers’ comp program. This insurance program provides part-time and full-time employees with compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages, if applicable. Your employer is required to have workers’ comp coverage if they have three or more employees as part of their staff. If your employer does not have three employees, they are not required to pay into workers’ comp in Augusta or offer you benefits.
It is a good idea to check with your employer to see if they have coverage for workers’ compensation if you are unsure. You can also rest easy knowing that all accidents that occur on the job are covered under the August workers’ comp program. This provides for coverage even if the accident that occurred was not the fault of your employer. Even if an accident occurs that was caused by your error; you still receive workers’ comp benefits under the laws of the program.
What Happens If My Workers’ Compensation Claim is Denied?
When it comes to having a denied workers’ compensation claim, you have a right to seek a clear reason for the denial and file an appeal. Just because you receive a denied claim for your injuries, it does not mean that you are not entitled to Augusta workers’ comp benefits under the law.
If you receive a denial for your workers’ comp claim, you can file a request to have a hearing before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. In this situation, an Administrative Law Judge hears your claim and makes a determination on your injuries and if you should receive workers’ comp in Augusta.
The judge in these hearings listens to both your side of the case as well as your employer’s. For this reason, it is imperative that you have factual and supportive information to back up your claims and prove the extent and severity of your injuries that you sustained while on the job. This is why it is important to rely on the legal experience of a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney in Augusta, Georgia.
When Will My Augusta Workers’ Comp Hearing Take Place?
The timeframe for a workers’ comp hearing varies. Scheduling typically occurs within 60 days from the time that you have submitted your WC-14 workers’ compensation form. This form is also used to file for Augusta workers’ comp benefits and gets submitted to the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
Your hearing will take place at a location in the county where your employer resides and where you received your injuries. You will need to report for your hearing date and be prepared to present your case in front of a judge. This will determine whether you can receive benefits for your accidental injuries.
Do I Need an Augusta Workers’ Comp Lawyer for My Hearing?
While it is not a requirement to have an Augusta workers’ comp lawyer represent you during your denial hearing, it can make the process of having your case heard easier and more effective. A workers’ comp attorney can present your injury claims to the judge in a clear manner that focuses on the impact of your injuries and its long-ranging effects.
Having an Augusta workers’ compensation lawyer to help guide you through the legal process can often times make the situation of procuring compensation less trying. They know the ins and outs of the complex process and can prepare to present your case in its entirety to the judge.
When you represent yourself during a workers’ comp hearing, you run the risk of potentially forgetting important aspects of your claim or not properly proving the extent of your injuries. This can cause you to have your claim denied without benefits paid. This can also cause a reduced compensation payment if you are unable to accurately portray how your injuries will affect you long-term.
An Augusta workers’ comp lawyer can maximize your case before the judge and to prove that you have been severely injured during the workplace accident and deserve compensation for your injuries. While it is within your right to represent yourself during a workers’ comp case, a lawyer helps assist you in your claims and can often times make the process of a hearing less complex and challenging.
Is There a Deadline to Filing for an Augusta Workers’ Comp Hearing?
Under the laws for workers’ compensation in Augusta, there is a deadline for filing for a hearing when you receive a denied injury claim. The State Board of Workers’ Compensation requires that you file your appeal within one year from the date of the accident.
Because of the deadline imposed by Augusta workers’ comp, it is important that you file for a hearing as soon as you receive a denial of benefits. To field a hearing with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, you need to fill out form WC-14 and submit it to the board. A workers’ comp lawyer can help you file the correct form accurately and in a timely fashion.
Seek Legal Counsel for Your Georgia Workers’ Comp Claim
When hurt during a workplace accident, you can count on the Augusta workers compensation attorneys at Ted A. Greve & Associates to get you the compensation you deserve. They can help you with denied claims and represent you during your hearing before the judge. They will fight for your rights when it comes to workers’ comp claims and make sure you get benefits for your injuries that happened as the result of a workplace accident.
