Key Takeaways
A Georgia workers' compensation claim must generally be filed within one year of the date of injury, or one year from the last employer-furnished remedial treatment, or two years from the last payment of weekly benefits (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82). Georgia has no two-years-from-injury rule for workers' compensation. You must notify your employer of a workplace injury within 30 days (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80). Weekly income benefits are subject to a statutory maximum that is adjusted over time (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-261); confirm the current figure with the State Board of Workers' Compensation. A denied claim can be challenged before the State Board. Roden Law represents injured workers across Georgia on a contingency fee: no fees unless we win.
A work injury can leave you hurting, out of work and unsure how the bills will get paid, while your employer’s insurer decides what it owes you. Roden Law’s Georgia workers’ compensation lawyers make sure you meet every deadline, pursue the medical care and weekly benefits the system provides, and push back when a claim is delayed or denied. We serve injured workers across Georgia from our offices in Savannah and Darien, on a contingency fee: you pay nothing unless we win.
How long do I have to file a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia?
You generally must file a Georgia workers’ compensation claim within one year of the date of injury (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82). The same section extends that period in two situations: if your employer furnished remedial treatment, you have one year from the last such treatment, and if you received weekly income benefits, you have two years from the last payment. There is no two-years-from-injury rule for workers’ compensation, so the deadline you may have heard about for car accident lawsuits does not protect a comp claim.
How soon must I report a work injury to my employer in Georgia?
Report the injury right away, and no later than 30 days after it happens (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80). Tell a supervisor, write down who you told and when, and keep a copy of anything you sign. Reporting the injury to your employer and filing a claim with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation are two separate steps, and each has its own deadline.
What benefits does Georgia workers’ compensation provide?
Georgia workers’ compensation provides medical treatment for the work injury and weekly income benefits while the injury keeps you from working. The weekly benefit is subject to a statutory maximum that is adjusted over time (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-261). The State Board of Workers’ Compensation administers the system and publishes the current figure, and we confirm it for your claim rather than relying on a number that may be out of date. Keep every medical record, work-restriction note and pay stub, because those documents are the proof behind any dispute over your benefits.
What should I do if my Georgia workers’ comp claim is denied?
Challenge the denial before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, which resolves disputed claims. The filing deadlines in O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82 still apply after a denial, so it is the moment to act. Common reasons for a denial include late notice, a dispute over whether the injury happened on the job, and gaps in the medical record. A lawyer gathers the evidence that answers each of those reasons and presents it to the Board.
Can I bring a claim against someone other than my employer?
Sometimes, yes. If someone other than your employer or a co-worker caused the injury, such as a negligent driver from another company who hit you during a work trip, you may also have a separate personal injury claim against that person. That claim has its own deadline and its own rules, separate from the workers’ compensation deadline, so we review it at the start of every workplace case. Our car accident practice handles the most common version: an on-the-clock crash.
Do I need a lawyer for a Georgia workers’ compensation claim?
A lawyer helps most when a claim is denied, weekly benefits stop, the insurer disputes your treatment, or you are offered a settlement. Those are the points where a mistake can cost you benefits you are owed, and the insurer’s adjuster handles these disputes every day. Roden Law handles workers’ compensation claims on a contingency fee, and injured workers in the Savannah area can learn more on our Savannah workers’ compensation lawyers page.
Talk to a Georgia workers’ compensation lawyer for free
Roden Law represents injured workers throughout Georgia from our Savannah office and our Darien office. A workers’ compensation attorney will review your claim at no cost, confirm which deadline applies to you, and help you through the State Board process. There are no fees unless we win. Explore our workers’ compensation practice to learn more.
Georgia Law That Affects Your Case
Deadline to File a Claim
1 year from injury, extended by employer-paid treatment or benefits (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82)
Notify your employer
right away, and no later than 30 days after the injury (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80)
Fault
No-fault — benefits do not depend on proving employer negligence
Roden Law Offices Serving Georgia
Frequently Asked Questions
Free Case Review — No Fee Unless We Win
If you were injured in a Georgia workers' compensation, a Roden Law attorney will review your case at no cost and explain your options. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover for you.