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

Atlanta Law Firm

Offices in Atlanta, Athens & Columbus Georgia

(678) 802-8650 Free Consult

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Workers’ Compensation for Catastrophic Injury Claims

Work Injury Lawyers (Home) / Work Injuries / Serious Injury

A serious accident or death can change your life forever.

Contact our Atlanta workers’ comp attorneys as soon as possible for a free consultation.


    How much is your injury worth?

    Schedule Your Free Consultation

    Some workplace injuries and illnesses are so severe that a person is never able to return to work. In the worst cases, an accident can be so severe that it results in loss of life. The term “catastrophic” is used to describe the most severe injuries a person can suffer, resulting in the highest levels of pain, cost and impairment. Catastrophic injury cases differ from other personal injury cases in that it’s often much more difficult to calculate the long-term costs associated with a serious injury and demonstrate the true impact of the injury on the person’s life and their family.

    Just because an injury is catastrophic doesn’t mean it’s visible. For instance, internal damage such as a traumatic brain injury or serious back injury may greatly impact a person’s quality of life, but they aren’t always evident to anyone other than the person suffering from these conditions.

    In the workplace, serious accidents or occupational illnesses may result in expensive medical bills and prevent a person from being able to work, causing tremendous financial hardship and stress. With typical workers’ compensation claims, 400 weeks is the maximum amount of time someone can collect benefits.

    But what do you do if you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury? Or what if you’ve suffered a serious back injury that’s permanent but not so clearly defined in Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation law? What if a loved one was killed?

    Every catastrophic injury is different, but almost all cases have a common theme: they could have been prevented. These injuries are often caused by human error or recklessness. For instance, maybe a distracted driver hit into your vehicle, causing severe whiplash and chronic back pain. Or perhaps an employer failed to provide a safe work environment which contributed to your head injury.

    Thousands of American workers face these scenarios each year. If you or a loved one are in this predicament, it’s time to talk to an Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyer at the law firm of Gerber & Holder Workers’ Compensation Attorneys to learn your legal rights to workers’ compensation.

    We can make sure you get the lifetime benefits you need in your case.

    Contact us today for your free consultation.

    Client reviews

    Legal Service  |  Georgia
    Overall Rating: 5 / 5
    He got it done
    “Ben got me the medical treatment I needed when the insurance company didn’t want to let me see a doctor, even though I needed knee surgery. He got it done. I recommend Ben Gerber and Associates to anyone with a workman’s comp issue.”
    Brian P
    Legal
    Amazing attorney
    “My experience with Benjamin Gerber was amazing from the first day. He is very knowledgeable and was very patient with me. Amazing attorney!!!! He is a Bulldog!!!”
    Wendy B
    Legal
    Friendly, honest, professional
    “Ben is friendly, honest, professional. After being injured at work, my former employer played some games with my paycheck and health coverage; I never would have known they weren’t allowed to do that without Ben. He recovered money owed, had my coverage reinstated, and insisted they pay a penalty.”
    Kate B

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    Georgia catastrophic injury law & permanent disability benefits

    As defined by state law, a “catastrophic injury” qualifies an injured worker for permanent disability benefits and is considered when a physician determines that a person is completely disabled, and not able to return to work in any capacity. According to Georgia law (statute 34-9-263), “the employer shall pay weekly income benefits equal to two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage for the number of weeks determined by the percentage of bodily loss or loss of use…” This number is then multiplied by the maximum weeks allowed, which varies depending on which body part(s) was affected and ranges anywhere from 20 (toe) to 300 (total body paralysis).

    If a worker is killed as a result of a workplace accident, their surviving dependants (spouse and children) may receive workers’ comp benefits for loss of income, pain and suffering, loss of consortium and other damages. This compensation is typically two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage, up to the maximum allowed under Georgia law. A one-time $7,500 check for funeral expenses may also be paid.

    Some types of catastrophic injuries that are especially common in the workplace and may qualify a person for permanent total disability (PTD) benefits include:

    • Head trauma/brain injury
    • Paralysis/paraplegia/quadriplegia/severe spinal cord injury
    • Back or neck injury
    • Construction accidents
    • Car accidents
    • Truck accidents
    • Severe burns (second or third-degree)
    • Total or partial blindness
    • Amputation or a lost limb
    • Neurological disorders
    • Multiple bone fractures

    A catastrophic injury or illness often results in severe damage to the central nervous system such as the brain or spinal cord, which can impact a wide range of bodily systems.

    Common symptoms of a catastrophic injury include loss of movement, cognitive problems, respiration conditions, gastrointestinal issues and more. These chronic health problems often require costly long-term care and create other financial burdens for the victim and their family.

    Short & long-term costs of a catastrophic injury:
    1. Emergency room visits
    2. Hospital stays
    3. Ongoing medical care
    4. At-home nursing care
    5. Medications
    6. Physical and occupational therapy
    7. Counseling
    8. Adaptive equipment & technology (hospital bed at home, wheelchairs, a lift, etc.)
    9. Retrofitting a home to accommodate a wheelchair
    10. Lost wages
    11. Diminished earning capacity
    12. Pain and suffering
    13. Emotional distress
    14. Disfigurement

    Death benefits: A state by state guide to eligibility requirements

    Death benefits: A state by state guide to eligibility requirements
    Workers’ comp eligibility requirements for death benefits vary significantly by state. The laws can be particularly confusing for grieving families of employees killed in job-related accidents.

    It’s vital that you understand your state’s unique rules and what benefits your family is entitled to receive.

    Complete guide to workers’ comp death benefits in the U.S.

    Types of injuries covered by Georgia workers’ compensation claims

    • Back injury
    • Brain injury
    • Burn injury
    • Car accidents
    • Construction accidents
    • Eye injury
    • Hearing loss
    • Heavy equipment accidents
    • Hip injury
    • Amputation
    • Overexertion
    • Pre-existing conditions
    • Serious injury
    • Slip and fall
    • Spinal cord injury
    • Truck accidents
    • Unsafe working conditions
    • Overview
    Workers’ compensation resources

    If you’re injured on the job, you should know that you have certain rights, benefits and responsibilities.

    Read more

    Client Successes

    Our record for workers’ compensation catastrophic work injury claims speaks for itself:


    $175,000Man ruptured his left biceps and injured his left shoulder while lifting a large toolbox with his co-employees.Catastrophic Injury
    $200,000Truck driver severely injured his left hip, kneecap and foot when involved in a head-on collision caused by another driver.Catastrophic Injury
    $650,000Police officer was shot and paralyzed from the waist down.Catastrophic Injury

    Read More

    Recover from your catastrophic work injury or illness

    The most common initial response to a non-fatal catastrophic injury is depression. In fact, according to studies, about 6% of patients with a spinal cord injury commit suicide. If you or a loved one recently suffered a catastrophic injury at work or elsewhere, first and foremost it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Second, know that you have legal rights to compensation.

    People who’ve suffered a catastrophic injury, or the family of a worker who was killed in a workplace accident, may qualify for lifetime income benefits. However, when workers’ compensation isn’t enough, seriously injured workers or their families must turn to civil litigation to recover the full costs of a catastrophic work injury or illness.

    The Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyers at Gerber & Holder Workers’ Compensation Attorneys have the experience to fight for your rights and secure those benefits. Our compassionate attorneys have over 75 years of combined experience advocating for seriously injured workers and are two of the most well-regarded workers’ compensation attorneys in Georgia. They can also help when your injury is permanent but isn’t so clear-cut, such as back injuries or other problems.

    If you or a loved one has a permanent catastrophic injury because of work, contact us today for your free consultation.

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      Georgia workers' compensation lawyers with offices in Atlanta and Athens

      (678) 802-8650

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      16 Lenox Pointe NE
      Atlanta, GA 30324

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

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      1340 14th St
      Columbus, GA 31901

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