Although relatively uncommon, sometimes workplace accidents can result in life-threatening/altering injuries. These injuries can drastically affect your everyday life leaving you in pain and with a decreased ability to perform your job to the extent that you could prior. Despite the fact that your injury may have had a catastrophic impact, suffering from a serious injury does not automatically ensure that you will be compensated for the treatments, loss of money at work, and other burdens that accompany your injury. In order for you to receive benefits for a catastrophic injury, your injury must get a catastrophic designation under Georgia Workers’ Compensation laws.
If you believe you have suffered from an injury at work that could get a catastrophic designation, it is essential that you contact a worker’s compensation attorney immediately to ensure that your recovery is compensated accordingly.
Catastrophic Designation
Even if your workplace injury has dramatically affected your ability to work, you must be able to prove that it qualifies for a catastrophic designation. Georgia code 34. 9. 200 outlines the various types of injuries that are considered catastrophic. This includes:
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputations
- Severe head/brain injury
- Second or third-degree burns
- Total blindness
- Other injuries that prevent an employee from performing work to his/her prior ability
If your workplace injury does not fall under one of the first five categories, not all hope is lost. The last category is a “catch-all” for any other types of injuries that could be deemed catastrophic. To prove that your injury should receive a catastrophic designation if it is outside of the five types of injuries that are traditionally catastrophic as it relates to workers’ compensation, you must be able to prove that:
1) You are unable to perform your prior work
2) You are unable to perform any work that is available in substantial numbers within the national economy for which you are otherwise qualified.
Find Help As Soon As Possible
If you have suffered from a serious workplace injury but are not sure based on the qualifiers above if your injury will get a catastrophic designation, contact Poirier Law Firm today. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that our clients have the best possible experience throughout the workers’ compensation process. Although your main priority should be to focus on recovering from your injury, filing a worker’s compensation claim for a catastrophic injury can be a time-sensitive matter. It is important that you file a claim as soon as possible to ensure that you face as little issues as possible receiving the compensation and benefits you deserve. Let us help you get your life back and receive the benefits and justice you deserve!
Sources: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-34/chapter-9/article-6/part-1/34-9-200-1