Workplace accidents can have wide-ranging impacts that extend beyond your original injury. For example, if you hurt your leg on the job and it changes the way you walk (such as causing you to favor the leg that wasn't injured), you could suffer pain in your back or other parts of your body as a result. Another example would be if your injury requires surgery and you develop an infection, or a dependence to your prescribed medication.
In a Georgia workers' compensation claim, injuries that occur as a direct result of the primary injury—such as the pain, infection, or prescription drug dependency in the above examples—are considered secondary or "super-added" injuries. Other common secondary injuries include:
- Anxiety or depression
- Chronic pain
- Loss of sensation
- Reduced range of motion
Secondary injuries can develop days, weeks, or even months after your original injury, and they can require costly treatment. However, because they were caused by—or arose from—your workplace injury, they can and should be included in your worker's comp claim. Unfortunately, workers' compensation insurers aren't exactly eager to compensate claimants for secondary or super-added injuries, and often try to claim that the injuries in question are separate and unrelated to the injury you sustained on the job. Fortunately, there's help.
At Rechtman & Spevak, our skilled Atlanta workers' compensation attorneys fight to get injured workers the workers' comp benefits they deserve. In claims involving secondary injuries, this means providing medical evidence that shows a link between your primary workplace injuries and the super-added injuries. We have extensive experience building strong medical evidence for claims and work with workers' comp-knowledgeable doctors who can help.
Talk to Us About Your Georgia Workers' Comp Case
Don't miss out on the compensation you deserve for a secondary injury. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
|
Related Links: |