Fort Oglethorpe Manufacturing Injury Lawyer
Manufacturing injuries in Fort Oglethorpe are serious, often leaving employees with long-term or even permanent disabilities. Injured workers should be entitled to medical and income benefits when they suffer injuries in the course of their employment, but workers’ compensation insurers are often reluctant to pay claims.
A Fort Oglethorpe manufacturing injury lawyer could help with both filing workers’ compensation claims and appealing denials from insurers. Our attorneys understand the workers’ compensation system in our state and could advocate on your behalf at all stages of the proceedings to help you pursue the full benefits to which you are entitled.
Applying for Benefits Through a Workers’ Compensation Claim
The first step an injured employee should take toward obtaining workers’ compensation benefits is to notify his or her employer of the injury in writing. Ideally, notification should be given immediately after the incident leading to the injury.
If the condition is caused by repeated motion or long-term exposure to substances, then the employee should notify the employer when he or she learns of the causation of the condition. Either way, if an employer is not notified within 30 days of discovery, the claim may be barred.
The employee should then seek a medical evaluation by an employer-approved physician. A Fort Oglethorpe manufacturing injury attorney may recommend obtaining a second opinion from a different doctor. It is important for injured workers to follow the instructions of their healthcare provider because failure to do so could affect their eligibility for benefits.
To file a claim, an employee must file a WC-14 form with the state Board of Workers’ Compensation. Copies should be sent to both the employer and the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer.
If the insurer disputes the claim, the Board may order the parties to attend mediation. A mediator has no authority to impose a solution, so if parties fail to agree, the matter may be heard before a judge.
Benefits Available for Manufacturing Injuries
An employee injured during his or her manufacturing job may be entitled to medical benefits, as well as income benefits to make up for wages lost while he or she is unable to work. A physician designated by the employer often provides these medical benefits, which may include surgery and rehabilitation.
Income benefits could be awarded on both a temporary and permanent basis. Full or partial income benefits may be provided while the employee is recovering from his or her injury.
When the employee reaches the stage where recovery is not expected to progress any farther, a doctor may evaluate the worker to determine whether he or she should be entitled to benefits for any permanent disabilities. These may be categorized as full disability, preventing all forms of employment, or a partial disability, limiting the use of one or more body parts.
The employee may then receive compensation for the disability according to government schedules. At every stage of this process, a manufacturing injury lawyer in Fort Oglethorpe could provide guidance, support, and personalized legal counsel.
Get Help from a Fort Oglethorpe Manufacturing Injury Attorney
Manufacturing injuries may be catastrophic, in which case injured employees could receive medical and income benefits for the rest of their lives. In other situations, benefits may be limited in duration but nonetheless valuable to you and your family during a difficult time.
If you would like assistance with filing a claim or with appealing a denial of benefits, an experienced Fort Oglethorpe manufacturing injury lawyer could help you move forward toward the right result. Reach out today to schedule an initial consultation.
