Georgia Work Injury Blog

What is a panel of physicians?

briansumrall — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:26:18 +0000

In Georgia, employers are required to maintain a list of doctors called a panel of physicians. If you sustain a work related injury, you have a right to be seen by a workers’ compensation doctor on the panel of physicians. You also have the right to change doctors to a panel doctor if you are unhappy with the care you are receiving. If you have sustained a work related injury in Georgia, and you would like to discuss your claim, contact Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney Brian Sumrall at (404)924-4595, or visit

http://www.sumrallfirm.com

Work related heart attacks and strokes.

briansumrall — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:18:27 +0000

In Georgia, heart attacks and strokes can be considered compensable workers’ compensation claims. However, these cases require a medical evidence relating the heart attack or stroke to the deceased employee’s job. Employers and Insurers frequently incorrectly deny these claims simply because of the heightened level of proof that is required. If you or a loved one have suffered a heart attack or stroke which you feel is work related, contact Atlanta attorney Brian Sumrall at (404)924-4595 or visit

www.sumrallfirm.com

Workers’ compensation carrier refuses to pay for surgery.

briansumrall — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:57:29 +0000

Workers’ compensation carriers frequently refuse to pay for surgery. However, the workers’ compensation claims adjuster is not the final decision maker in the process. If you need surgery as a result of a work injury, and the adjuster has refused to pay for the surgery, you have the right to a trial in front of an administrative law judge. If you need assistance in getting surgery authorized by a workers’ comp carrier, contact experienced workers’ comp lawyer Brian H. Sumrall at (404)924-4595, or visit

http://www.sumrallfirm.com

Survivors of oil rig explosion off Louisiana coast were forced to give statements before they were allowed to go home.

briansumrall — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:47:34 +0000

By now, everyone is familiar with the recent explosion of an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana. However, not everyone is familiar with the shocking treatment of the surviving workers from the oil rig after the explosion. Amazingly, lawyers representing the owner of the oil rig required employees to remain at a hotel and provide statements on whether or not they were injured before they were allowed to return to their homes. This behavior by the owner of the oil rig provides an extreme example of how some employers attempt to get injured workers to state that they were not injured on the job. For more details on this story visit

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126565283

What is Workers’ Compensation Fraud?

briansumrall — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:06:19 +0000

The most common example of workers’ compensation fraud is an individual who accepts weekly income benefits while working, and does not report that he or she is working to the workers’ compensation carrier. Though most workers’ compensation claimants are unable to work, individuals do occasionally attempt to defraud a workers’ compensation carrier. Unfortunately, those individuals committing fraud give honest injured workers a bad name. Sadly, this also leads to the denial of legitimate claims. If you are unable to work because of your job injury, contact Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney Brian Sumrall at (404)924-4595, or visit

www.sumrallfirm.com

What is my Georgia workers’ compensation case worth?

briansumrall — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:15:34 +0000

Determining the value of your Georgia workers’ compensation claim for settlement purposes is no easy task. In doing so, you must consider three things: your entitlement to future income benefits (TTD or TPD), your entitlement to Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits, and the cost of future medical treatment in your claim. If you need help in determining the value of your Georgia workers’ compensation claim, contact experienced Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer Brian Sumrall at (404)924-4595, or visit

www.sumrallfirm.com

Common Georgia workplace injuries.

briansumrall — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:36:48 +0000

Back injuries, neck injuries, carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome, fractures, and closed head injuries are all examples of common Georgia workplace injuries. If you have been injured on the job, and you would like to discuss your claim with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, call Brian H. Sumrall at (404)924-4595, or visit

www.sumrallfirm.com

Have you received a WC-206 Notice of Intent to Become a Party at Interest in your Georgia workers’ compensation claim?

briansumrall — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:57:43 +0000

A WC-206 Notice of Intent to Become a Party at Interest is a form used by a third party to put the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation on notice that they have some interest or stake in your claim. For instance, your group health insurer may file a WC-206 if they have paid medical bills on your behalf which they believe relate to your workers’ compensation claim. The form puts you and the workers’ compensation carrier on notice that the group carrier expects to be reimbursed for payment of those bills. The filing of this form can delay settlement of your workers’ comp claim. If you have received a WC-206, and you would like to discuss the form with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, contact workplace injury lawyer Brian Sumrall at (404)924-4595, or visit

www.sumrallfirm.com

What is a WC-243 credit and how does it apply to your workers’ compensation claim?

briansumrall — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:38:24 +0000

A WC-243 allows an employer/insurer to reduce the amount of your workers’ compensation benefits based on a credit. Generally, an employer/insurer can take an offset against your weekly workers’ comp income benefits for a wage continuation plan such as short term disability benefits, long term disability benefits, or unemployment benefits. However, the amount of the credit often varies. If you have received a WC-243 and you have questions about your Georgia workplace injury claim, call Atlanta attorney Brian Sumrall at (404)924-4595, or visit

www.sumrallfirm.com

WC-240 Offer of Light Duty Employment and Georgia workers’ compensation claims.

briansumrall — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:28:31 +0000

If you are receiving income benefits as a result of your work injury and you have received a WC-240 Offer of Light Duty Employment, the employer is putting you on notice that you are to return to work at a specified time and place. Presumably, your employer has received approval from your workers’ comp doctor that you are physically capable of returning to the light duty job. The process by which an Employer/Insurer returns an injured worker to work based on a WC-240 is certainly a complicated one. If you need assistance or advice on what to do if you have received a WC-240 from your employer, contact Atlanta workplace injury attorney Brian Sumrall at (404)924-4595, or visit