Each year, thousands of workers in Georgia file for compensation due to work-related injuries or illnesses. Some of these claims proceed smoothly, and the workers receive full compensation. In other cases, workers are either denied compensation or accept lower amounts than they deserve.
As a worker, you may accept the first workers’ comp settlement offer because medical bills are piling up. Financial constraints make it feel as if you are getting the best deal. Many times, you end up getting less than you deserve. Moreover, you may not have a clear understanding of how the worker’s compensation system operates. By accepting the first settlement, you forfeit your right to seek further compensation.
Some insurance companies outrightly deny your claim without giving any good reasons for contesting it. By rejecting your claim, they hope that you are inexperienced enough not to appeal or that you will give up easily. Their ultimate objective is to avoid the financial obligation that comes with honoring claims. At Gearhart Law Group, we work around the clock and aggressively to ensure the insurer respects and honors your claim. We also make sure that you receive all your benefits.
How Workers’ Comp First Settlement Claims Work
Workers must report work-related injuries quickly if they are to succeed in seeking and obtaining compensation. You should notify your employer of any injury sustained at work within the first 30 days. However, the best practice is to do so immediately after the injury. Your employer may then provide some claim forms for you to fill in. When you fail or delay in reporting an incident within the legal time frame, you give the insurer reasons to contest your claim.
What happens if you don’t report the injury in good time?
Some injuries are life-changing, and you may not get the chance to report them in time. Treatment procedures are arduous, and this prevents you from reporting accordingly. If you miss the deadline, you may jeopardize your chances of getting compensation. Nonetheless, there are some legal exceptions. At Gearhart Law Group, our lawyers can help fulfill your legal obligations and receive full workers’ compensation benefits.
What to do in the face of a worker’s first settlement offer
When you sustain a work-related injury, it’s important not to accept the first settlement offer. Insurance providers only table an offer quickly with the hope that you will take it and they can avoid the future cost. Otherwise, the workers’ comp first settlement offer does not come too soon after claiming. It may take a year or more before payment.
CALL US TODAY
If you’re looking to start the process of claiming your workers’ comp, we, Gearhart Law Group, can help. Schedule an initial case evaluation, free of charge, by calling us at 404 445 8370.
FAQs
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What should a full workers’ compensation account for?
A fair full workers’ compensation should account for lost wages, past medical bills, future medical bills, and so on.
What can you expect from the first worker’s comp settlement offer?
Usually, your first settlement is lower and will not capture the future expenses brought about by the injury.
How soon will the workers’ comp offer a settlement?
You may receive the first settlement offer in as little as a couple of days, but it may take up to a couple of months and even years depending on the complexity of the case and injury. It is also important to note that workers’ compensation settlements are voluntary. This means that you don’t necessarily have to agree to the settlement offer given to you by your employer or their insurance company. Conversely, you also cannot force your employer to settle your workers’ compensation claim.
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