Back injuries and repetitive motion injuries such as carpel tunnel syndrome are among the most common work-related injuries for which workers' compensation benefits are paid. Contact an attorney to determine whether you have a valid claim.
Decatur, Georgia, Workers' Compensation Attorney
If you have suffered a workplace injury in Decatur, Atlanta or the surrounding communities of Georgia, contact an experienced workers' compensation lawyer right away and get the help that you need. Attorney Hank Barnett and the Barnett Law Firm have helped people with their workers' compensation claims for over twenty years and remain committed to providing the help people need and the respect that they deserve.
Contact the Barnett Law Firm by e-mail or call us toll free at 866-854-4723 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Thank you for contacting The Barnett Law Firm. Your message has been sent.
Call us now
or use the form below.
At the Barnett Law Firm, attorney Hank Barnett knows that injured workers are dealing with many issues all at once. Medical bills and other expenses may be piling up, and without being able to work, there is no income coming in to pay for those expenses. Our firm works hard to help people with their workers' compensation legal problems, whether filing their initial claim or fighting for their benefits when any part of their claims have been denied.
The Barnett Law Firm is located in Decatur and provides legal assistance and representation to injured workers throughout Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Find out more about your potential benefits by contacting experienced lawyer Hank Barnett and talking with us at a free initial consultation. Call 866-854-4723 to get started.
What Are the Vocational Rehabilitation Rights of Injured Workers?
Vocational rehabilitation is the process of rebuilding work skills as part of recovering from an injury or illness. Sometimes an injured individual can eventually return to his or her previous job. If an injury places long-term or permanent limitations upon the person, retraining for a new type of job may be necessary. Depending upon the law of your state, if you require vocational rehabilitation after a job injury or industrial illness, your employer or its workers' compensation insurer, or the state, or some combination of these three resources may be required to pay for your vocational rehabilitation services as part of your workers' compensation benefits.
If you or a loved one was injured or sickened on the job, consult an attorney as soon as possible at The Barnett Law Firm in Decatur, Georgia, to learn what types of workers' compensation benefits are available, including vocational rehabilitation.
Examples
The amount and types of vocational rehabilitation provided to injured employees vary from state to state. Some of the vocational-rehabilitation services to which an injured worker may be entitled include:
- On-the-job training
- Transferable-skills analysis and testing
- Resume and job-application services
- Interview coaching
- Labor-market surveys
- Job analyses
- Job-search assistance
- Wage-assessment evaluations
- Counseling
- Ergonomics assessment
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reasonable-accommodation assistance
- Education and tuition payments for retraining
The actual vocational-rehabilitation benefits to which an injured employee will be entitled are determined not only by the employee's specific situation, but also by state statutory and regulatory limitations.
Employee Responsibility
In many states, employees have a responsibility to accept appropriate vocational rehabilitation services. Inherent in this responsibility is the requirement that the employee cooperate with vocational-rehabilitation efforts and make a valid attempt to return to suitable employment. Other states have different types of requirements. In certain states, for example, an injured employee is not required to participate in either physical rehabilitation or vocational rehabilitation, but a refusal to participate may affect eligibility for other workers' compensation benefits.
- Warning to Employees: Depending on the state, if an employee does not cooperate with rehabilitation service providers, the workers' compensation carrier may reduce, if not suspend, wage-loss benefits during the time the employee refuses services. There may also be other negative consequences.
Employer Responsibility
Employers or their workers' compensation carriers may have statutory and regulatory responsibilities related to vocational rehabilitation. For example, a state may require an employer to offer rehabilitation counseling services to any employee who has injuries that result in a particular amount of lost time from work and the offer must be made within a certain number of days after the threshold has been reached. The details of such requirements may vary depending on the type of injury.
In some states, an employer may be required to pay for items such as tuition, living expenses, room and board, child-care expenses and travel expenses in addition to regular wage-loss benefits while an employee is participating in certain vocational-rehabilitation programs. Sometimes only specifically qualified individuals are allowed to provide vocational rehabilitation assistance to injured workers. For example, only individuals who are Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs), Certified Disability Management Specialists (CDMSs) or Certified Case Managers (CCMs) may provide vocational-rehabilitation assistance to injured employees in some jurisdictions.
Speak to a Workers' Compensation Lawyer
The laws regarding the vocational-rehabilitation responsibilities of employers, insurers and claimants vary by state. If you or a loved one has a work-related injury or disease, a lawyer at The Barnett Law Firm in Decatur, Georgia, can answer your questions about the right to vocational rehabilitation.
Copyright © 2011 FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.
