What Is My Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?

One question I am often asked whenever a potential client calls my firm is: “What is my workers' compensation case worth?”

This is a great question and I can certainly understand why clients would want to know the answer. Their lives have been turned upside down because of their on-the-job injury. You may also have other questions such as:

Who will pay for my medical bills?
Will I be able to receive wage checks while I’m out and disabled?
Do I have to treat with company doctors or can I see a doctor I know and trust?

These are all very important questions that I have addressed on my website and in other videos. But in this video, I really want to hit this question:

What is your workers’ compensation claim really worth?

I wrote extensively about this very question in my #1 best-selling book on Amazon.com The Authority on Workers’ Compensation Claims in Georgia. When I meet with my clients, I actually give them a copy of this book and we discuss their claims in great detail.

The only honest answer that I or any attorney can give offer, especially if the accident and injury were very recent, is: “It depends.”

Run from anyone that tells you they know upfront what your case is worth because they are not being honest with you.

Let me put this in more context for you.

If any attorney could be in a position to tell you the value of your claim, I’d be the one.

My firm has recovered $1 billion for our clients since 1993 in workers’ compensation and wrongful death claims. This is all we do — day in and day out.

Prior to 1993, I would defend the employers and the insurance companies in workers’ compensation cases.

Here’s my point: Before anyone can provide you with the value of your case, there are questions that need to be answered.

It is difficult to list all of the items we consider when we put a “value on a claim.” But let me at least cover some factors that affect overall value.

Under Georgia law, every injured worker may be entitled to receive three different types of benefits:

Wage benefits
Medical benefits
Additional benefits if the authorized doctor assigns a permanent partial disability rating

The amount of your wage benefits is determined by how much you made in the 13 weeks before your accident. This amount will vary from person to person depending upon your pay and work history.

In most situations, the insurance company is required to pay the wage benefits as long as your authorized doctor has you disabled from work. But there are few things we need to know, like:

Who is your authorized doctor?
What injuries have you sustained?
How long will they last?
How much are your weekly checks?
Is the insurance company actually paying you the correct amount?
How long do you think you will be totally disabled and unable to work at all?
When do you anticipate being released to light-duty work?
Does your employer even have light-duty work available?
When, if ever, do you anticipate being released to work without any restrictions whatsoever?

And here are some more issues we must address:

What additional medical testing and treatment will be necessary?
How much will this treatment cost?
Will the insurance company put up a fight to try and prevent you from getting the medical testing and treatment you need?
Who will compensate you if your injuries are permanent?
How are insurance companies supposed to calculate this amount?
Are you eligible to receive social security disability benefits?

These are just a few of the questions we must answer before we can arrive at a value — which brings me to another important point.

Chances are the fact that you are browsing my website means something bad has happened to you or a family member or friend and you are looking for answers. If that is the case, then I am very sorry that you are going through these difficult times.

Should you hire me and my firm, we shall do all we can:

to protect you,
to answer your questions,
to educate you about the process,
to alleviate your worries and concerns, and
to fight to get you all the cash and benefits you are entitled to receive under the law.

Nothing can replace a consultation with an experienced attorney to discuss the facts about your particular claim. You can learn more about the workers’ compensation process here.

For a free consultation regarding your claim, give us a call right now at (770) 934-8000. You have absolutely nothing to lose by calling me. But think of all you can lose if you don’t.