Columbus Workers' Compensation Lawyer

Were you injured on the job in Columbus, GA? If so, having an experienced Columbus workers’ compensation lawyer on your side can significantly reduce your stress. A lawyer will protect your legal rights and work to get you all the benefits you need for a work-related injury. 

Injured workers deserve to receive the compensation they are entitled to by law and be treated respectfully. Attorney Mark Casto has over 25 years of legal experience. He is an aggressive litigator and skilled negotiator with a winning track record. 

Our legal team at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm has secured millions of dollars in jury verdicts and personal injury settlements since opening our law firm. Attorney Casto will devote his time, resources, and skills to getting you the best possible outcome for your workers’ compensation claim. 

Contact our Columbus workers’ compensation attorney at (706) 940-4030 for a free consultation. We are here to alleviate the stress of dealing with a workers’ comp claim so you can focus on your recovery. 

How Our Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help if You’ve Been Injured On the Job 

How Our Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help if You’ve Been Injured On the Job 

Georgia workers’ compensation laws require most employers to have workers’ comp insurance coverage. However, even though your employer has workers’ compensation insurance, it does not guarantee that you will receive the benefits you are entitled to by law. Your employer and/or its insurance provider might fight your claim.

If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, you are being forced to return to work too early, you are not receiving benefits, or you experience other problems with your workers’ comp claim, we want to help. 

Attorney Mark Casto is a top-rated Georgia personal injury lawyer, appearing on the Top 100 list by The National Trial Lawyers. He has received numerous honors and recognition for his legal services, including being included among the best workers’ compensation lawyers in Columbus by Expertise.com. 

Avvo awarded him the 2019 Client’s Choice Award, and he maintains a perfect 10.0 rating with Avvo. Since 2017, Attorney Casto has appeared on the Georgia Super Lawyers list. He has high ratings with his peers and clients and was ranked in the top 10% in the USA – Lawyers of Distinction. 

You can trust that our legal team, led by an award-winning Columbus workers’ compensation lawyer, will work diligently to get you the benefits you deserve. 

When you hire Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm to handle a workers’ compensation claim, we will:

  • Investigate the circumstances surrounding your work injury, including reviewing documents, interviewing witnesses, and working with leading expert witnesses when necessary
  • Determine what types of workers’ comp benefits you are entitled to receive and fight to get you those benefits
  • Analyze your case to identify third-party personal injury claims that could result in additional compensation
  • Document your damages to determine the value of your claim
  • File a workers’ comp claim and handle all matters with the insurance company
  • File appeals for denied claims 
  • Advocate for you during settlement negotiations and hearings

If you were injured at work, you deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. Our Columbus personal injury attorney at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm will stand up for your rights. 

Call today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Columbus, Georgia.

What Benefits Can I Receive in a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Georgia?

Georgia workers’ compensation laws can be confusing. You might not understand the benefits you could receive in a workers’ comp claim. Here is a rundown of workers’ comp benefits in Georgia:

Medical Benefits 

If you are injured at work, the insurance company or your employer is responsible for medical bills related to your work injury. 

Examples of medical expenses and bills an injured worker may incur include:

  • Doctor’s bills
  • Surgeries
  • Hospital costs
  • Emergency medical services
  • Physical and/or occupational therapy
  • Medications and medical equipment
  • Dental work

Workers’ comp insurance covers nearly all types of medical care if the medical treatment is reasonable and necessary. 

It is crucial that injured workers understand they must see a doctor that is pre-authorized by their employer. Workers may go to the hospital or other emergency facility for treatment in emergencies. 

Wage Replacement Benefits

Workers’ compensation benefits include disability payments if your injury prevents you from returning to work. There are several types of lost income benefits. 

The type of benefits you receive depends on the severity of your injury and other factors:

  • Temporary partial disability compensates you for wages lost if your injury restricts your work hours or duties. You can receive two-thirds of the difference between your average weekly wage and what you can earn after the injury.
  • Temporary total disability covers two-thirds of your average weekly wages if you cannot work during your recovery period.
  • Permanent partial disability compensates you for an impairment sustained at work. The number of weeks you receive partial disability payments depends on the impairment rating and the type of injury sustained.
  • Permanent total disability applies if you are 100% disabled because of a work-related injury. You can receive these payments for the rest of your life. 

Workers may also receive vocational rehabilitation if they are unable to do the work they did before the accident. The intent is to help an injured employee prepare for a different type of work based on the restrictions and limitations caused by the injury.

Our Columbus workers’ compensation attorney will work to obtain the maximum benefits for your claim. We’ll work with your doctors to determine maximum medical improvement and impairment ratings to ensure you receive a fair workers’ comp settlement. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Georgia?

If you are injured at work, you should report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. If you do not report the injury within 30 days, you might lose the right to workers’ comp benefits. You have up to one year to file a claim with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.

What Happens if I Am Partially to Blame for Causing My Injury at Work?

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Therefore, you can receive workers’ comp benefits even if you are partly at fault for causing a work accident. However, there are exceptions. 

If you intentionally caused your injury or acted with extreme recklessness, your workers’ comp claim could be denied. Furthermore, if you were taking drugs or drunk at the time of injury, you might not receive workers’ comp benefits. 

Typically, you cannot sue your employer for a work accident. An exception exists if your employer does not provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Another exception is made when an employer intentionally harms an employee.

However, you are not barred from suing a third party for a work accident if that party negligently caused your injury. 

Examples of third-party claims for a workplace accident include:

  • Suing a manufacturer for an injury caused by a defective tool
  • Filing a lawsuit against a property owner for unsafe property conditions
  • Suing the driver of a vehicle for causing a traffic accident while you are on the job
  • Filing a lawsuit against a contractor or other party for negligence 

Third-party claims are personal injury claims. Therefore, they have different filing deadlines. You must also prove negligence or fault to recover compensation for damages. However, you can receive additional damages in a third-party claim you cannot recover in a workers’ compensation case.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Columbus, GA?

Understandably, you might be worried about how to pay the fees for a workers’ compensation lawyer. Workers’ comp benefits for wage loss do not compensate for all loss of income. Therefore, you might find it difficult to make ends meet, so paying a retainer fee to an attorney might be impossible.

However, our lawyer at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm takes workers’ compensation and workplace accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay any fees upfront to hire our law firm. Instead, we agree to accept a percentage of the amount we recover for your case as payment for our legal services.

In other words, we do not receive payment for services until we recover money for your claim. Therefore, you pay nothing out of pocket for attorneys’ fees. 

Furthermore, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation must approve workers’ compensation fee agreements with attorneys. The maximum compensation rate for workers’ compensation cases set by law is 25%, which is lower than a contingency fee of 33% or higher for personal injury cases. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Columbus Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Knowing who to trust after a workplace accident can be challenging. The insurance company and your employer tell you not to worry because they will provide for your damages. However, most employers and insurance companies are only interested in one thing – limiting their liability for your claim.

Contact Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm today at (706) 940-4030 to schedule a free case review with an experienced Columbus workers’ comp attorney.

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