• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Atlanta, GA Workers Compensation Lawyer Gerber & Holder Workers' Compensation Attorneys

Atlanta Law Firm

Offices in Atlanta, Athens & Columbus Georgia

(678) 802-8650 Free Consult

  • Team
  • Common work injuries
    • Back and neck
    • Car accident
    • Catastrophic
    • Spinal cord
    • Construction
    • Truck accident
    • Head and brain
  • Workers’ compensation
    • Workers’ comp benefits guide
    • Workers’ comp FAQs
    • Help with claim denials
  • Who we represent
  • Resources
    • Reviews
    • Verdicts
    • Scholarships
    • Videos
    • Blog
  • Contact
  • Español

Why Workers’ Compensation Cases Need Better Communication

Work Injury Lawyers (Home) / Blog / Georgia Workers & Industry News / Why Workers’ Compensation Cases Need Better Communication

By Benjamin Gerber

One of the main complaints in a workers’ compensation case from both the perspective of the injured worker and the insurance company is communication — more specifically, the lack of communication between all the involved individuals and parties.

Who’s involved in a workers’ compensation case?

There are 4 main parties or groups in a workers’ compensation case. 

  1. Claimant. First, there is the injured worker and their representatives. This includes attorneys who represent the injured worker, family members of the injured worker and maybe even friends of the injured worker. 
  2. Employer. The second party in a workers’ compensation claim is the employer. The list of representatives for the employer may include supervisors, safety managers, members of the human resource department and witnesses to the accident.
  3. Insurer. A third party that is involved in a workers’ compensation case is the insurance company and those who represent the insurance company. These folks include adjusters, attorneys for the insurance carrier, and nurse case managers. What they all have in common is that they are paid to represent the insurance company.
  4. Medical providers. The fourth group in a workers’ compensation case are the medical providers.  Medical providers include doctors, physical therapists, nurse practitioners and medical assistants.

As you can see, there are many different individuals who may be involved in a workers’ compensation case. Ensuring proper communication between all of these parties is essential in achieving the objective of a workers’ compensation claim, which is ensuring that the injured worker receives medical treatment that allows them to return to work.

Why communication is key

It is important that there is constant communication between all of the parties because so much of the workers’ compensation system is built around the injured workers’ treatment with the authorized treating physician. The authorized treating physician determines when an injured worker can return to work, when they are unable to work, or when they can work but with certain restrictions.

There are times when an insurance carrier will hire a nurse case manager in an attempt to coerce a doctor to release an injured back to work before it is medically prudent. Sometimes these nurse case managers will draft correspondence to doctors omitting relevant and important facts about the claim in pursuit of their objective. 

Other times, nurse case managers attempt to attend the appointment with the injured worker. Georgia law allows the injured worker to request that the nurse case manager not be present with them when they are seeing the doctor.

New Jersey law aims to improve communication

New Jersey recently proposed a law in an attempt to deal with the communication problem commonly present in workers’ compensation cases. This new law will require the employer or insurance company to notify the injured worker or their representative of the time, date and substance of any communication they have with the authorized treating physician.

We’ll see if this new rule helps to reduce the nefarious actions that commonly take place on behalf of the insurance company with the authorized treating physician. If it does,  rest assured that we’ll advocate for similar legislation here in Georgia.

If you have any questions about workers’ compensation law, don’t hesitate to contact us at Gerber & Holder for your free consultation.

5-star review image
The BEST!
Other Work-Related Injury  |  Atlanta
Knee injury while at work
2020-04-25
"Natalie really went above and beyond to assist me on my case. She took care of everything and ..."
Martina R, Verified Customer
5-star review image
Workmans Comp
Other Work-Related Injury  |  Atlanta
hand and wrist injury
2019-09-25
"Natalie was great. Her advice was exactly what she said it would be. Very pleased with her."
Yvonne, Verified Customer
5-star review image
Amazing firm to work with
Back and Neck Injury  |  Atlanta
Head and back injury
2020-08-10
"This firm handle my case exceptionally. Chris was so amazing in keeping me informed throughout my case. I ..."
KW, Verified Customer

Primary Sidebar

    How much is your injury worth?

    Schedule Your Free Consultation

    Categories

    • Community
    • Firm News
    • Georgia Workers & Industry News
    • Workers' Compensation

    Footer

      How much is your injury worth?

      Schedule Your Free Consultation

      Scroll back to top

      Georgia workers' compensation lawyers with offices in Atlanta and Athens

      (678) 802-8650

      Facebook LinkedIn Twitter
      “YouTube” “Instagram” “TikTok”

      Gerber & Holder Workers' Compensation Attorneys: Georgia Enjuris Partner Attorney

      Quick Links

      Benjamin Gerber Thomas Holder Common Work Injuries Car Accidents On-the-Job Injured in Atlanta

      Workers' Compensation Who We Represent Reviews File for Bankruptcy Contact Us

      Locations

      Atlanta office
      16 Lenox Pointe NE
      Atlanta, GA 30324

      Athens office
      337 South Milledge Ave, Ste. 209-7
      Athens, GA 30605

      Columbus office
      1340 14th St
      Columbus, GA 31901

      Copyright © 2023 · Gerber & Holder Workers' Compensation Attorneys · Workers' Comp Lawyer in Atlanta · Disclaimer · Privacy Policy

      Lawyer Marketing & Web Design by SEO Advantage, Inc.