What If My Employer Doesn’t Have Workers’ Comp Insurance?
It is incredibly stressful to sustain an on-the-job injury. After all, your job is how you provide food and shelter for yourself and your family. Georgia workers’ compensation insurance is designed to provide some relief to you if a work-related injury seriously harmed you and left you with expensive medical bills.
Workers’ compensation insurance is intended to provide a safety net in the event of a workplace injury. Unfortunately, not all employers in Georgia carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you sustain an injury at work and discover that your employer does not offer workers’ compensation benefits, you may be frustrated and unsure of what you should do.
If you’ve suffered an on the job injury and your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, contact our experienced Atlanta work injury lawyers at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers. With more than three decades of experience and a reputation for aggressively advocating for injury victims, we can advise you about your legal options and ensure that your rights are protected.
To set up a free, initial consultation, call (404) 939-9470 or submit the request online.
Georgia Laws Regarding Workers’ Comp Insurance
Workers compensation benefits are designed to compensate employees for medical bills and lost wages that they incur after getting hurt at work. Under Georgia law, businesses employing three or more people on a full or part-time basis are required to have workers’ compensation insurance.
Unfortunately, many employers that are required to carry worker’s compensation insurance cut corners by not purchasing it. If a business chooses to disregard that law, it can be penalized with hefty fines. It might also be required to pay injured workers an increase in their workers’ compensation benefits.
What Happens If My Employer Fails to Invest in Workers’ Comp Insurance
If the business that you work for has three or more employees that work full or part-time and it does not have workers’ compensation insurance even though it should, you might be unsure what to do if you’re injured at work. The fact is, your employer is responsible for covering your losses in the same way that it would be if it had workers’ compensation insurance.
Therefore, you might be able to receive comparable compensation to the benefits that you would have been entitled to receive if your employer invested in workers’ compensation insurance. In addition, the Georgia Board of Workers’ Compensation might require your employer to pay for your attorney fees and grant you a 10 percent increase in workers’ compensation benefits.
What to Do If Your Employer Does Not Have Workers’ Comp Insurance
The Georgia State Board of Worker’ Compensation enables you to check whether a business operating in Georgia carries workers’ compensation insurance coverage. If your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance and they are legally required to purchase it, you should report that violation to the enforcement division of the Georgia Board of Workers’ Compensation. The Board will investigate the case and determine whether to penalize your employer.
In addition, you should contact an Atlanta work injury lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer can help you develop your claim and ensure that your rights are protected. With legal representation, you can increase your chances of securing complete workers’ compensation benefits, even if your employer does not have insurance.
Injured at Work? Contact Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers
If you’ve been injured at work and you find out that your employer didn’t purchase worker’s compensation insurance, you need to hold your employer accountable. Don’t let them add insult to your injuries by claiming that there is no insurance to compensate you for your losses. Call Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers right away. We will help you recover the compensation that you deserve for your losses.
For a free, initial consultation with a work injury attorney, call (404) 939-9470 or submit the request online.