Learn more: http://www.garymartinhays.com or call 770-934-8000
SCRIPT FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS IN A WC CASE

This is an excerpt from one of the recent episodes of ‘Do I Need a Lawyer?’ hosted by: Gary Martin Hays.


“Hi Gary.  I have a question for you about my workers’ compensation claim.  I have a lower back injury from lifting a heavy box onto my work truck.  The doctor sent me for an MRI and he is telling me I have a herniated disk.  I am scheduled for epidurals next week.  All of this is a bit overwhelming.  I haven’t been able to work in a month.  These medical bills are going to be crazy expensive.  My wife and I are worried about all of these bills - not only now, but in the future.  Who pays for the medical bills?  The surgery if I need it?  Honestly - I’m lost.

Do I need a lawyer?

 -Sam G. in Atlanta

Sam, thanks for your email.
I’m sorry about your injury and that you are going through this.
Worker’s compensation claims can be very overwhelming.
To answer your last question, Yes!  You do need a lawyer.

Let me bring in Kellie Henson to help us address this question in more detail.  Kellie is a supervising attorney in my law firm’s workers’compensation division.


Gary: Kellie, I think it would be good to give Sam and all of our viewers a brief summary of what medical benefits an injured worker can receive under Georgia’s Workers’ compensation Act.

Kellie:  Georgia law requires employers and insurance companies to pay for medical treatment that “shall be reasonably required and appear likely to effect a cure, give relief or restore the employee to suitable employment”.

Kellie:   But the law puts some conditions on this medical treatment.  The Insurance company, to some extent,  can control who provides medical treatment to the injured worker.  By law, the employer has to post a “panel of physicians” at your work site.  It is usually pink in color and located in the break room area at your workplace.
Kellie: If you are hurt on the job, you must select one of the doctors on the panel to provide treatment to you.

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http://www.garymartinhays.com/posts/do-i-need-a-lawyer-workers-compensation-who-pays-for-my-medical-bills-526/

Learn more: http://www.garymartinhays.com or call 770-934-8000
This is an excerpt from one of the recent episodes of ‘Do I Need a Lawyer?’ hosted by: Gary Martin Hays.

Now let’s go to a question from one of our viewers:

Dear Gary:

Last week was extremely traumatic for me and my family.  We were returning from a long weekend trip with our extended family on Lake Martin in Alabama.  It was about 10:00 p.m. and we were in the far right lane of the interstate.  A tractor trailer quickly came up on us in the lane to my left.  All of a sudden he merged into our lane.  His back trailer tire struck the front driver’s side of my car causing me to lose control of my car and spin down the embankment.  The back end of my car struck a large tree.  Glass shattered, air bags opened.  Our two teenage girls were screaming hysterically in the back seat.

Thankfully, the truck driver stopped and ran down to help us out of the car.  We were afraid it was going to catch on fire.  Someone called 911 and the state troopers were there in a matter of moments.

The truck driver apologized and said he didn’t see us.  He was getting over to exit off of the interstate so he could get a cup of coffee.  He said he had been putting in too many hours on the road and wasn’t paying attention.

We were all taken to the hospital by ambulance.  Everyone is still sore and we need more treatment, but thankfully, nothing was broken.  It could have been a lot worse.  And that is what has me mad and upset now.  He could have killed us.  He shouldn’t have been on the road if he was that tired.

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http://www.garymartinhays.com/posts/do-i-need-a-lawyer-tractor-trailer-wrecks-478/