Workers’ compensation settlements for spine surgery tend to be higher than for injuries requiring less extensive medical treatment. However, every workers’ compensation case is different. To learn the factors that might affect your back injury settlement after surgery in Georgia, talk to an experienced Albany workers’ compensation lawyer at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. today.
For nearly 15 years, our law firm has operated with the mission of putting Albany workers first. Contact us now for a free consultation.
Will Workers’ Compensation Cover Back Surgery in Georgia?
Workplace injuries involving the back or spine are common, especially among construction workers, landscapers, healthcare workers, factory workers, warehouse workers, and transportation employees. These injuries frequently result from repetitive motions, lifting heavy items, and making awkward motions, such as twisting, turning, and bending while working.
Generally, workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia should cover your back or spinal injury as long as you can show that you are an eligible employee who suffered the injury during the course of your work-related activities. Benefits can include:
- Coverage for all reasonable and necessary medical expenses to treat your back injury, including surgery and hospitalization
- Partial wage replacement if you miss work due to the injury and while recovering from spine surgery
- Vocational rehabilitation, or training for other work within your physical abilities if your back injury leaves you unable to get back to your old job
- Permanent disability payments if you suffer a permanent loss of working ability after you undergo back surgery or spinal surgery
If you need help filing a workers’ compensation claim or determining whether you received a fair settlement offer, reach out to a skilled lawyer immediately.
How Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Maximize My Back Surgery Settlement?
At the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., our workers’ compensation attorneys can help you maximize your back surgery settlement by conducting a thorough investigation into the case to identify:
- The work-related cause of your injury
- The severity of the injury
- Costs of all necessary medical treatment, including spine surgery
- Impact on your ability to do your old job or work at any other job
By carefully preparing your claim, we will be well-positioned to demand the maximum amount in your workplace injury claim. Our attorneys have successfully obtained multiple six-figure settlements for Georgia workers needing back or spine operations, including:
- $195,000 for a client who needed neck surgery and lower back surgery after a workplace accident
- $175,000 for a worker who required multiple back surgeries with a catastrophic designation
- $125,000 for an employee who was recommended for back surgery after a job injury
Top-quality client service is a cornerstone of our firm. Throughout your workers’ comp case, our experienced attorneys will answer your questions to put your mind at ease.
Factors Influencing Settlement Amounts in Spine Surgery
The total amount of a workers’ compensation settlement for a back injury with surgery varies. Factors that influence the different outcomes in these cases include:
- Medical expenses – A workers’ compensation settlement should cover the full amount of necessary and related treatment, including the costs of your spine surgery, hospitalization, medication, and physical therapy.
- Lost wages – If your back injury requires you to miss work, you should be compensated for your weekly wage losses in the form of temporary total disability or temporary partial disability benefits, which may cover two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a certain amount.
- Extent of disability – A settlement should also reflect your ability to return to your former job (or work at another suitable job) and earn wages post-surgery.
- Vocational rehabilitation costs – A settlement may also be influenced by the costs of undergoing retraining and preparing yourself for another line of work that you can perform despite your back injury.
Do I Get to Choose My Surgeon?
Under Georgia workers’ compensation law, you cannot directly choose your own surgeon for back injuries sustained on the job. Your employer must provide a list of approved workers’ compensation doctors, called a “panel of physicians.” For workers’ compensation coverage to apply to your injury, you must choose from any of those doctors. That provider becomes your “authorized treating physician” and will oversee your care.
Having back surgery or spine surgery typically requires a referral to a specialist. Because your authorized treating physician controls your treatment, your referral to a specialist for surgery should fall within your workers’ compensation medical benefits coverage.
Types of Back Surgery
Unfortunately, for many injured workers, the only way to effectively treat their back or spine injury is through surgery. Some of the most common surgical procedures for back and spine injuries include:
- Artificial disc replacement – Replacing a degenerated or damaged disc in the spinal column with an artificial one
- Spinal fusion – Permanently connecting two or more bones in the spine (vertebrae) through the use of rods, screws, or metal plates
- Foraminotomy – Removing bone or soft tissue to relieve pressure on a compressed nerve, which often serves as the source of back pain
- Laminectomy – Easing pressure on a compressed nerve by removing lamina, which covers the spinal cord
- Nucleoplasty – Using a needle-like device to remove disc tissue to relieve a patient of pain and allow greater mobility
A surgeon specializing in spine surgery can guide you through the options available to you.
What to Do if the Insurance Company Disputes Your Workers’ Comp Surgery Claim
Insurance companies look for any reason to deny even the most valid workers’ compensation cases. One of the best ways to protect yourself is by learning your rights and responsibilities as an injured worker.
If you suffer any type of workplace injury, report it to your employer as soon as possible and no later than 30 days after it occurs. You should also seek immediate medical treatment from your employer’s approved panel of providers. Follow your doctor’s orders, which may require you to consider going through back surgery, spinal surgery, or some other form of treatment. You will have one year from when you suffered the injury to apply for benefits.
If your employer or its insurer disputes your workers’ comp claim, you should seek help from an experienced workers’ compensation attorney without delay to fully protect your rights and pursue coverage for the treatment you need to maximize your recovery.
Contact Our Albany Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you have suffered a back or spine injury on the job that required surgery, don’t take advice from your employer or an insurance company. Their only goal is to protect themselves. Reach out to a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer from the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. Contact us today for a free case review.
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