JUNE 2019
LEGAL INJURY GUIDE
327 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton, GA 30117 WORKERS’ COMPENSATION | PERSONAL INJURY | SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO IF YOU’RE INJURED ON THE JOB
In order to prevent this from happening there are two important things a Georgia worker injured on the job needs to do.
1. Report an injury as soon as it happens.
Always report an injury as soon as it happens. The longer you wait to report it, the harder it is to prove that it’s connected to your job. When you wait to report an injury, the likelihood that a judge will determine the injury happened at home while you were playing with your kids or while you were unpacking boxes in your garage greatly increases.
It’s been a busy couple of months for me! In addition to work, my wife, Katie, and I are expecting our second baby girl next month. Katie is doing well, and our 2 year old, Polly, couldn’t be more excited to have a baby sister. We’re all looking forward to the arrival of this little one. It’s going to be a fun summer! With the warmer weather comes more construction, landscaping, and other outdoor crews working on job sites. Unfortunately, this also means an increase in the likelihood of injuries on the job. Too often, I talk to injured workers who don’t get the help they need. Sometimes they’re not sure about where to turn, which can lead to bad decisions. I’ve had many cases where a worker pulls something on the job, but they don’t feel it warrants reporting. Maybe they visit a doctor, but it’s not through a workers’ compensation claim. A couple weeks go by, maybe another month, and all of a sudden, the slightest movement causes the injured person’s body to give out. The worker’s medical records show they’ve been hurting from the injury for weeks, but they don’t mention anything about a work injury. Even if it happened on the job, the records don’t read that way. The judge will rule it as a preexisting condition, and the worker won’t be able to get coverage for the injury.
Even if you think something is minor, it is always safer to report it.
2. Find the right doctor to treat your injury.
Once you’ve reported your injury at work, there is a preapproved panel of doctors you can receive treatment from. All employers are required to have a panel of which doctors are allowed to treat a workers’ comp injury. If you are injured on the job, it’s important to hire an attorney familiar with the preapproved doctors, as the success of your claim can heavily depend on the doctors you treat with. An attorney can guide you to the doctor who will treat you best, rather than one who wants to rush you back to work. Our experience with these doctors will get you to the best doctors, so you can get the proper treatment and the best outcome in your case. If you have any questions about workers’ comp injuries, please reach out to me. I’ve helped many workers in this area, and I want to continue to help our Georgia workers stay safe and healthy.
–Joseph Brown
1 (770) 214-2500
3 TRICKS TO KEEP YOUR GEAR DRY
Even on a Rainy Outdoor Weekend
Incoming clouds can really rain on a weekend camping trip. Getting wet isn’t just a nuisance; it can be dangerous in cold climates. Outdoor experts, like the instructors at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), know the tricks to keeping dry, even on the wettest days. Here are three tricks these pros swear by. 1. Line your pack with a plastic bag. Garbage bags are an easy and cost-effective way to waterproof your pack. As you’re preparing for your trip, put the garbage bag into your backpack first and place your sleeping bag,
clothing, and any other items that must stay dry inside it. Carefully twist and fold the bag inside your pack to close it up, place any items that are okay to get wet on top, and look forward to having dry, warm clothes. 2. Use your body heat to dry damp clothes. There’s nothing like getting to camp at the end of a hard hike and taking off your pack to finally relax. But if you got caught in a rainstorm or had to cross a river, you might not feel the same sense of relief. An effective way to dry wet socks and other clothes is to use your own body heat. Once you’ve changed into something dry, place wet socks between your layers of clothing, allowing them to warm and slowly dry. Insider Tip: While weight is a consideration for backpacking, it’s worth it to carry an extra pair of socks designated for sleeping so you’ll always have a dry pair to look forward to when you arrive at camp. 3. Suit up your sleeping bag. Moisture that collects in the night can lead to a damp sleeping bag, and you want to do everything you can to retain heat in wet weather. Get better sleep by using your rain jacket to further insulate your sleeping bag. Put your jacket around the end of your sleeping bag and zip it up, creating a heat trap that will keep your toes toasty. Insider Tip: Keep wet gear out of your tent whenever possible by storing it in the vestibule rather than the main space.
Happy trails, and stay dry out there!
A LOOK AT GEORGIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW WHO’S COVERED?
While still far from perfect, Georgia workers’ compensation has evolved over the years from providing little protection for injured workers to an insurance program that provides medical, rehabilitation, or income benefits to those injured on the job who qualify. Here’s a look at how it’s changed in the last 100 years.
An Uphill Battle: What an Injured Worker in the Early 1900s Faced
Employees around the turn of the 20th century could file lawsuits, but these legal actions were generally unsuccessful. Trials were long and expensive, and injured workers often came away from the experience with no way of paying for medical bills and other costs. Both sides of the labor equation realized something big needed to change, and they eventually struck a bargain: Workers would relinquish their right to sue for injuries at work (with some exceptions) in exchange for guarantees of compensation. In 1920, the Georgia Legislature instituted the State Board of Workers’ Compensation to oversee this process. Today, the Board serves over 250,000 Georgia employers and over 3.8 million employees. It receives funding from self-insured employers and insurance company assessments. Any Georgia worker who is injured at work and who is covered under the law may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and physical therapy services, among other benefits. Georgia Workers’ Compensation Today
Georgia’s current workers’ compensation law applies to all employers with three or more full-time or part-time employees, including public corporations and nonprofits. Some categories of workers are exempt from the law, including federal government employees, farmers and farm hands, independent contractors, and railroad workers. Otherwise, the law allows employees with job-related injuries to receive specific benefits without regard for negligence or fault. It also provides employers with limited liability. Per state regulations, Georgia employers receive coverage for workers’ compensation either through private insurance companies or self-insurance programs. A worker’s rights under the workers’ compensation law disqualify him or her from taking other legal action against the employer in the event of a work-related injury. If you’ve been injured in a work-related incident and are unsure what to do next, turn to the team at Smith, Wallis & Scott. With over 80 years of combined experience looking out for Georgia workers, we will advocate for you and your rights to compensation.
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Setting some time aside to be with family is important, but it can be difficult when everyone is always on their cellphones. Constant cellphone use has become a global problem, and the habit is hard to break because we rely on mobile devices heavily for work, school, and keeping in contact with friends and family. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that can reduce how often you’re on your phone and minimize distractions. Siempo After you install Siempo on your phone, it will ask which apps are likely to distract you. Once you select them, the app will move those apps away from the home screen and place the important ones, such as the messaging, contacts, email, and calendar apps, on the first screen. You can also designate times for specific apps to be used throughout the day. Stay Focused Stay Focused is like Siempo, but there are some significant differences. You can set times to access certain apps and put the most distracting ones on lock. Stay Focused also has a “strict mode” that prevents you from uninstalling it, so be sure to think carefully before activating the lockdown because you won’t have access to those specific apps until the timer runs out. By Taking a Break From Your Phone ENJOY YOUR FAMILY TIME
Forest In the time that Forest takes control of your device for a set time limit, the app starts growing a tree. Once the tree is fully grown, your time is up, and it joins the other trees that were grown during other breaks. If you pick up your phone and try to access an app, Forest will send you a notification asking you if you want to kill your baby tree by giving up. Who says guilt isn’t a good motivator? Besides Apps Aside from using these apps, silencing your phone and putting it in another room, leaving it in your car if you’re out at dinner, or keeping it in your purse or back pocket during a social event can also reduce your screen time. Having your phone out of sight and out of reach will keep the temptation of pulling it out at bay.
Spending time with your family is crucial, and with these apps and tips, you’ll enjoy each other’s company without too many screen distractions.
TAKE A BREAK
BLT DOGS
Is a hot dog a sandwich or not? We’re not here to weigh in on the ever-contentious debate, but when you combine a hot dog with a BLT, it definitely becomes more sandwich-like — and way more delicious.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat a skillet to medium and fry bacon until rendered and crisp. Transfer to a paper towel to drain. 2. Fry hot dogs in bacon drippings, creating a crust, and cook until warmed through. 3. Using a dry skillet or oven, toast buns. 4. Spread mayonnaise on buns, place hot dog and bacon inside, and top with tomatoes and lettuce. Serve.
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4 strips bacon
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4 hot dogs (ideally Boar’s Head Beef Frankfurters, but any all- beef variety will do)
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4 hot dog buns
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1 tbsp mayonnaise
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1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
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1 large tomato, seeded and diced
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Salt and pepper, to taste
3 (770) 214-2500
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(770) 214-2500 swslawfirm.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE
327 Bankhead Hwy Carrollton, GA 30117
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What You Need to Know for Workers’ Compensation
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How to Stay Dry While Camping in the Rain
Georgia Workers’ Comp, Then and Now
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Take a Break From Your Smartphone
BLT Dogs
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Local Events
Upcoming Events
MOVIES, THEATER, AND HEALTH
If you’re looking for something to do this July, there are some great events happening in and around Carrollton. Check out three of them below!
THE AMP MOVIE NIGHTS July 18, July 26, and August 23 at 8:45 p.m. The AMP at Adamson Square
Part of the free summer concert and movie series, The AMP Movie Nights bring the big screen to Adamson Square. On July 18, the featured move is “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” On July 26, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John keep you entertained in “Grease.” And on August 23, you can enjoy the classic “Top Gun.” Bring blankets and chairs and enjoy movies against the backdrop of downtown Carrollton. Small coolers are allowed. Visit CarrolltonMainStreet.com for more information and to see additional dates. GOLDSTAR ATLANTA PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS PRESENTS ‘EAST TEXAS HOT LINKS’ July 20–28 at 7:30 p.m. Southwest Arts Center, Atlanta Set in 1950s rural Texas, this play takes place during an intense part of the state’s history and tackles greed, corruption, and racism in a small community. When some of their own are threatened, the community must come together to protect them against dire consequences. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through Goldstar Atlanta.
REFLEXOLOGY CLASS July 27 at 10:30 a.m. Neva Lomason Memorial Library, Carrollton
By applying pressure to specific areas of the body, reflexology seeks to relieve pain and stress and improve the immune system’s functions. Reflexologist Bridget Echols leads a free class on the topic at the Neva Lomason Memorial Library each month, honing in on a different area of the body. In July, the focus is on the spinal column and the benefits reflexology can bring to this part of the body.
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