Reports Show Workers’ Compensation Is Benefitting Insurers and Employers, Not Workers
Workers’ compensation is supposed to protect people who are hurt while on the job. However, recent reports suggest that the system is helping insurers and employers, not the workers it should benefit.
If you suffered a work-related injury or illness, you deserve financial help with your medical bills and more. Insurance companies should pay what they owe, but getting the money you need can be challenging.
Benefits Paid to Injured Workers Are Down
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A recent report from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) outlines many questionable trends in the workers’ compensation system. According to the DOL, benefits paid to sick and injured workers are at a 40-year low. Studies found that over a 20-year period, the number of workers’ comp claims accepted by private insurers decreased by over 60 percent.
Injuries and Illnesses Are Going Unreported
Because workers’ compensation can be so difficult to secure, the DOL states that less than 40 percent of eligible workers even apply for benefits. Obstacles to seeking compensation include long waiting periods, arbitrary benefits caps, and a lack of information about how to file.
Millions of “Non-Employees” Are Uncovered
One way employers avoid paying workers’ compensation is by classifying workers as “non-employees.” Non-employees may include domestic care workers, agricultural workers, and independent contractors. The DOL reports that an estimated 20 million jobs in America are not covered by workers’ comp.
States Are Failing Injured Workers
Many states are failing injured workers by making it harder to secure benefits. Texas, South Dakota, and Wyoming have recently altered their states’ laws to make workers’ compensation optional for employers to some degree. Other states have introduced similar proposals, including Arkansas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Very few states are even evaluating how adequate their workers’ comp benefits are. If you were injured at work, contact our Athens workers’ compensation lawyer today.
Workers’ Compensation Costs Aren’t Hurting Employers
Providing workers’ compensation is cheaper than ever for employers. According to the DOL, the cost of worker’s comp has decreased by a third over the last 20 years. Yet the system pays only 21 percent of workplace accident costs. The rest of the financial burden falls on private healthcare insurers, taxpayers, workers, and their families.
Protecting Your Rights to Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Fortunately, Georgia still requires workers’ compensation. According to the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC), employers must provide workers’ comp insurance if they employ three or more workers, including part-time employees.
Georgia workers’ compensation benefits include medical coverage, wage replacement, vocational training, and death benefits. If you’ve been hurt on the job, a Georgia workers’ compensation lawyer can help with your claim by:
- Preparing and filing insurance paperwork
- Proving your illness or injury is work-related
- Identifying and calculating your covered expenses
- Aggressively negotiating for the maximum compensation possible
- Appealing denied claims
- Taking legal action against the insurance company or a liable third party if necessary
Contact a Georgia Workers’ Compensation Attorney
The team at R. Alan Cleveland, LLC can help with every step of your workers’ compensation claim so you can focus on healing. Don’t miss out on the benefits you’re entitled to under the law. Instead, contact us 24/7 for a free initial consultation with a Georgia workers’ compensation attorney.
An Athens resident Alan Cleveland grew up in Rockdale County. As a founding partner of the personal injury law firm of R. Alan Cleveland, LLC he proudly serves his community and provides skilled representation to injury victims and their families all around Georgia. Alan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and went on to graduate, summa cum laude, from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. He is also a graduate of Gerry Spence’s renowned Trial Lawyers College (TLC) in Wyoming. In his free time, Alan frequently speaks at continuing legal education seminars. He also volunteered as a youth baseball coach and assists with Georgia’s high school moot court competition held annually. Alan serves as a Trustee of Historic Athens and is a member of the Development Authority of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County.
