Understanding Disability Benefits

Lawyers ready to fight for your right to compensation

When workplace accident victims are permanently injured, the law can protect them. Call 1-800-898-HAYS today and rely on our experienced attorneys to build the strongest possible case for you.

The purpose of workers' compensation disability benefits is to compensate somebody who has suffered some degree of permanent loss of ability to work due to a work-related accident. Disability benefits are determined by the disability rating given to the accident victim by the authorized treating physician.

What type of benefits am I entitled to receive for a permanent disability?

Based on the extent of your disability and the type of the disability, you may receive weekly benefits.  When care providers have done all they can for you, your health status is described as "maximum medical improvement," or MMI. An evaluation based on American Medical Association guidelines will then determine your percentage of disability. This establishes the disability rating used to determine your Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits.

If you miss more than seven days of work because of an injury, you would be entitled to receive Temporary Total Disability benefits. If your disability becomes permanent, you may be eligible for TTD benefits for as long as you remained disabled.

Georgia provides four types of basic income benefits:

• Temporary Total Disability: Benefits paid when you are unable to work.
• Temporary Partial Disability: Benefits paid when you are able to return to work but working a job that pays less as a result of the on-the-job accident.
• Permanent Partial Disability: Benefits paid when you suffer a permanent disability from the workplace accident.
• Death Benefits: Benefits paid to eligible dependents in the event of a death on the job.

Common types of permanent disabilities in a workplace accident

• Loss of limbs - Such accidents can happen if you work with heavy machinery or you are professional driver. Arms or legs may be amputated or crushed
• Loss of sight or hearing - Workers may go blind or deaf for any number of reasons. A loss of sight injury may occur in an explosion or due to toxic exposure. A loss of hearing injury may occur from a sudden exposure to a loud noise or long-term exposure to noise.

Benefits for loss of limbs in work accidents

The loss of an arm or leg or other part of your body qualifies as a permanent disability. The law states that someone who loses an arm or leg will receive benefits of 225 weeks.  If you cannot use a part of your body, the authorized doctor will determine your benefits.

If you feel your benefits are not in line with the extent of your disability, our experienced workers' compensation attorneys may be able to help. We have experience challenging the rating assigned to our clients, or we may be able to arrange an independent medical examination.