Proving these occupational injuries can be challenging.  In short, the workers’ compensation judges will rely on the medical evidence, the injured workers’ reports to the supervisor or the human resource departments, as well as the type of job the employee had.  Furthermore, the workers’ comp judge will consider how long the employee was working that job.  The longer the injured employee worked the repetitive motion job, the better chances he or she has in proving the claim.

If you have been hurt while working on an assembly line at Kia or any other Georgia employee and you would like a free consultation about your workers’ compensation rights, please contact the Ramos Law Firm.

In Georgia, we suspect that these closures will produce a substantial amount of lay-offs including employees injured on the job. It is important to note that these injured employees who have been laid off have certain responsibilities before workers’ compensation benefits are started. It is recommended that these injured employees return to their authorized treating physician immediately. This will help certify their work restrictions. Subsequently, we recommend that the laid off and injured workers begin to document a search for employment within the recently certified work restrictions. Additionally, it would be prudent to seek unemployment benefits.

Those Georgia workers’ desiring a free consultation regarding their rights under workers’ compensation should call the Ramos Law Firm.

The injured worker will feel pain in his back or spine, be directed to a Concentra, Urgent Care, or Choice Care in Atlanta or DeKalb County, and the “doctor” may dismiss the worker with a “back strain or sprain.”  Hopefully, an x-ray will be done and the worker will be given some prescription medication.  However, the injured worker may remain in pain.  After a few days, the employee (hurt at work) would return to the industrial clinic complaining of pain.  Hopefully, an MRI would done.

If the MRI scan demonstrates a disc herniation, this means that there may be a tear in the outer ring of a spinal disc.  Generally, inflammation may occur and cause pain.  The symptoms may depend on the level where the herniation occurred and whether it is touching a nerve.  For example, a herniation in the low back may cause pain in the buttocks or down the injured worker’s legs.  Treatment for back pain may include physical therapy, and potentially surgery.  It is important that injured workers understand their course of treatment and options.

If the employee’s pain is bad enough that he or she is losing time from work, he or she may be entitled to income benefits under the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act, in addition to the medical treatment (provided at the expense of the Employer/Insurer).  There also may be a permanent impairment rating issued  at some point in the life of the claim.

The employee tends to feel lost between the pain level, trying to maintain their life and navigate the workers comp claim. If you find yourself or someone you know in this position, have them contact our office for a consultation. We can help so that you can focus on getting better.

If you need some advice as to your rights under the workers’ compensation system, please contact our office at the Ramos Law Firm.

In Georgia, the insurance company is responsible for providing injured workers with medical benefits such as trips to the emergency room, hospital stays, prescription medication, mileage, and visits with the doctor.  If the injured worker is unable to return back to work because of his or her work injury, then the injured employee may receive weekly income benefits up to $500 per week.   These weekly benefits will expire after some time or until the physician releases you to “full duty” work status.

If you have been injured on the job, please contact the Ramos Law Firm for a free consultation.

Under the Georgia Workers’ Compensation system, the Employer and the insurance company have the power to preselect 6 physicians or facilities to treat your workers’ compensation injury.  You do get to choose which doctor you want to see from that “pre-approved” list or “panel of physicians.”  One physician testified in a deposition that it is very competitive to be on these pre-approved panels.  As you can imagine, the insurance company has the power to remove or place doctors as it sees fit.

Your employer must provide you the list and educate you as to how to use.  If it does not, then you get to choose the doctor.  As the goal is for you to “get better”, it is always best if the injured worker can make an informed decision as to who he or she treats with for the occupational injury.

If you have been hurt at work and need some advice as to your rights under the workers’ compensation system, please contact our office at the Ramos Law Firm.

Generally, the PPD rating is issued by the authorized treating physician after the injured employee reaches “maximum medical improvement” where the employee is “about as good as he or she is going to get.”  The physician will make the determination of the PPD rating by using the American Medical Associations’ Guide to Impairment.  This rating will be issued in percentage compared to overall functioning.

Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Act provides compensation in relation to the physician’s impairment assessment.  This table is found in O.C.G.A. §34-9-263.  In certain circumstances, doctors may disagree as to the ratings and they can differ.  Also, you may have the option of seeking a second opinion.  If you have any questions about the PPD rating, please contact the Ramos Law Firm at 404-355-3431.

Unfortunately, this is a common problem.  The workers’ compensation law provides that this injured Thomaston worker is entitled to medical treatment at the Employer/Insurer’s expense.  Moreover, the hurt employee is not limited only to treatment at Upson Regional Medical Center.  If the treatment for the back injury requires specialized treatment, the Employer/Insurer would be responsible for that treatment as well.

In addition, if the employee could not return to work because of his work injury, or even was fired because of his work injury, then the Employer/Insurer would be responsible to pay for the employee’s weekly income benefits.  Unfortunately, these benefits are limited by the “workers’ comp rate” and the injured worker’s “average weekly wage.”  This determination is made on a case by case basis.

If you have been injured on the job and you would like a free consultation, please contact the Ramos Law Firm at (404) 355-3431.

The workers in the “service industry” appear to suffer more work accidents than other Georgia industries.   In 2009, approximately 66,500 service workers reported on-the-job injuries.   In contrast, the manufacturing industry recorded 13,500 reported cases.  These manufacturing jobs included workers in the food and beverage industry; textiles; apparel; printing; and paper industries.

When a worker is injured on the job, he or she has two basic benefits (1) medical care and (2) weekly income payments.  These benefits are dependent upon its relationship to the occupational accident.  There is no “pain and suffering” awarded in workers’ compensation cases.  However, the injured employee may be compensated for any permanent impairment he or she may receive based on the severity of the work injury.

If you have been hurt at work and believe you have the right to select your physician, please contact the Ramos Law Firm.

Not everyone would consider being in the school a high risk job but consider the cafeteria workers who deal with food in bulk meaning heavy lifting and repetitive motion. These workers often experience injuries such as carpal tunnel, back injuries and shoulder injuries.

Special education teachers are also among the high risk category as their job often involves a physical aspect in lifting and restraining children, pushing wheelchairs and more.

There also workers who commute or travel that will be impacted by the higher traffic volume on the roads. The increased traffic means more employees may be involved in automobile accidents which may be related to their job. This would include the thousands of bus drivers employed in the state.

If you have been injured on the job, give our law firm a call today to schedule your free consultation.

In our case, an employee was responsible for cleaning the airplane cabins.  As she was being transported to the airplane, the truck was involved in an accident.  As a result, she and two other employees were injured.  The injuries involved pains in her back, neck and head.  She also missed time from work.

Generally,  the Employer/Insurer may control medical treatment if

1. it properly posts a valid panel of physicians, and
2. it trains its employees as to the use and function of the panel.

If it did not do both of these steps, the injured employee may select her own doctor.   Medical treatment is very important to a workers’ compensation case as it provides the best chance for the injured worker to heal from the occupational injury.  Moreover, quality medical treatment provides the best chance for the hurt worker to return to work and regain his or her quality of life.  Sometimes, it appears that the Employee’s “panel” doctors are biased and favor the employer.  Having the power to select your physician is very important.

If you have been hurt at work and believe you have the right to select your physician, please contact the Ramos Law Firm.