Curious about What it Means for an Injury to be “Work-Related” in Your Decatur Workers’ Compensation Case? We Discuss Injuries Arising Out of the Course of Employment in Workers’ Compensation Cases Here
When a Decatur worker suffers a serious and debilitating injury while on the job, one of the most important questions that they may be faced with in their workers’ compensation case is whether their injury is considered to truly be “work-related.” Under Georgia workers’ compensation laws, workers’ compensation only covers injuries that arise out of and in the course of employment. But what does it actually mean for an injury to be “work-related”? Understanding what qualifies as a work-related injury can be the difference between receiving benefits and having your claim denied in Decatur. Accordingly, to help Decatur workers better understand this important element of Decatur workers’ compensation claims, we discuss what it means for an injury to be “work-related” here.
The Legal Definition of an “Injury” Under Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
Under Georgia workers’ compensation laws, “‘Injury’ or ‘personal injury’ means only injury by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment and shall not, except as provided in this chapter, include a disease in any form except where it results naturally and unavoidably from the accident.” As such, Georgia workers’ compensation laws make it clear that only accidents “arising out of and in the course of the employment” of the injured worker can be considered when determining an injured workers’ eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. Simply put, the term “arising out of” refers to the cause or origin of the injured worker’s injury. This means that the injury must be connected to the worker’s job duties or work responsibilities. In addition, the language “In the course of,” refers to the time, place, and circumstances of the worker’s injury. Georgia workers’ compensation laws require that covered injuries must occur while the worker was performing tasks related to their job.
Georgia Workers’ Compensation Benefits and Injuries Not Considered “Work-Related”
There are some common scenarios that Decatur workers may wonder about when it comes to meeting the definition of a work-related injury. Some injuries that may not be considered work-related for the purposes of Georgia workers’ compensation eligibility are injuries caused by roughhousing or fighting at work and injuries that are caused by a worker’s intoxication by drugs or alcohol. Injuries that workers suffer during work breaks and at offsite worksites may still be covered under Georgia workers’ compensation laws, but it is best to speak with an experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyer to discuss your case if you are uncertain whether your work injury is eligible for workers’ compensation coverage in Decatur.
If you are in the Decatur area and you need legal help getting important Georgia workers’ compensation benefits due to you, contact the experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyers at the O’Connell Law Firm. The experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyers at the O’Connell Law Firm are here to help Decatur workers get workers’ compensation benefits due to them. Contact the O’Connell Law Firm today and speak to a lawyer about your case now.
