How Georgia Business Owners and Employees Should Handle Workplace Injuries- The Do's and Don'ts of Workers Compensation

According to government statistics, there are approximately 3 million work-related illnesses and injuries reported every year, or approximately 2.9 cases per 100 full-time employees. Benefit payments totaled nearly $62 billion for the most recent year in which figures were available.

Construction, as you might imagine, sees its fair share of work-related injuries but so does manufacturing, the retail sector and even finance and insurance, among others.

So, what are some of the do’s and don’ts for employers and injured workers considering filing a workers’ compensation claim? Let’s start with employers:

• Do get medical treatment for your employee. Give your employee your designated provider list notification letter and take your employee to the doctor. Your employee will appreciate your concern, and you will gain important information about the injury, recommended treatment and outlook for returning to work.
• Do investigate the accident. Use your carrier’s Accident/incident Investigation Report and Employee Accident Report. Complete your investigation immediately, before memories fade and evidence is lost.
• Do report the injury to your carrier, don’t wait to report if you don’t have all the information.
• Do complete a plan for modified duty if your employee is unable to return to regular duty work.

Here, too, are a few do’s and don’ts that, if you’re an employer, you can share with your workers:

• Do file a claim on a timely basis. Waiting does no one any good and only raises questions about the seriousness of your injury.
• Do take time to review the important information about your rights, responsibilities, benefits and assistance available to you sent by the claims examiner and the state workers’ compensation agency. It’s important to understand your benefits and to be actively engaged in helping to manage your claim.
• Do be honest and upfront about the injury and any prior injuries or accidents to the affected body parts. It’s crucial to be thoroughly transparent about your injury or risk losing your benefit.
• Do communicate with the employer and the claims adjuster about your medical status and work status to avoid delays in receiving benefits and the necessary medical treatment.
• Do follow the doctor’s orders. Ignoring them puts your health at risk, not to mention your benefits. Along these lines, don’t discontinue medical treatment before being released.
• Don’t seek medical treatment from unauthorized providers. Going to a doctor who’s out of your network could leave you without coverage.
• Don’t delay returning to work once you’re able.

The Roberts Insurance Group is a Georgia Insurance Broker specializing in commercial and personal insurance for our clients throughout the state of Georgia. We help our clients lower their cost of insurance with our superior claim and risk management expertise and our extensive carrier access. We are in the business of building relationships with our clients to help them grow and succeed. Contact us today to see what we can do for your business. 

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