Top 5 Mistakes Injured Workers in Georgia Make After a Job‑Related Injury (and How to Avoid Losing Your Benefits)

After a workplace injury, even small missteps can jeopardize your workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. Failing to report the injury quickly, seeing a doctor who isn’t on the approved panel, giving statements to the insurance adjuster alone, or missing deadlines can shut down your case before it even begins. At Garner Law Office in Dallas, GA, we regularly help injured workers across Paulding County, Hiram, Douglasville, and Carrollton avoid these preventable pitfalls.

1. Not Reporting the Injury Immediately

Georgia law requires you to report a job-related injury to your employer within 30 days. Waiting too long—or assuming the pain will go away—can give the insurance company an excuse to deny your claim.

Why It Matters: Insurance adjusters often argue that delays mean the injury happened outside of work. A quick report helps protect your credibility and preserves your rights.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Tell your supervisor verbally and in writing as soon as possible.
• Document who you notified and when.
• If your employer has a specific reporting form, complete it right away.

2. Seeing Your Own Doctor Instead of the Employer’s Panel Physician

Under Georgia workers’ comp rules, your employer must provide a Panel of Physicians —a list of approved doctors you can choose from. If you go to your own family doctor instead, the insurance company may refuse to pay for treatment.

Why It Matters: The law requires injured workers to start care with a doctor from the approved list, unless it’s an emergency.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Ask for the employer’s posted Panel of Physicians immediately after the injury.
• Select one doctor from that list for your initial treatment.
• If you are unhappy with that doctor, you may have the right to make one change—ask an attorney before switching.

Learn more about your rights here: Workers’ Compensation

3. Talking to the Insurance Adjuster Without Legal Guidance

Insurance companies may seem friendly, but their job is to minimize payouts. Anything you say—especially in a recorded statement—can be used to devalue or deny your claim.

Why It Matters: Adjusters often ask questions designed to suggest your injury is minor, preexisting, or unrelated to work.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Do not give a recorded statement before speaking with an attorney.
• Keep conversations short and factual.
• Let your lawyer handle communications when possible.

4. Trying to “Tough It Out” or Returning to Work Too Early

Many injured workers push themselves to return before they’re medically ready—often because they don’t want to upset an employer. But going back too soon can worsen your condition and hurt your wage-loss claim.

Why It Matters: If you ignore medical restrictions, the insurance company may claim you are refusing suitable work, which can stop your weekly checks.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Follow all doctor’s orders and physical restrictions.
• Don’t return to work until cleared by your authorized treating physician.
• Document any pressure to return early.

5. Missing Important Deadlines or Assuming You Don’t Have a Case

Georgia workers’ compensation has very strict deadlines. For example, you generally have one year from the date of injury to file a claim (Form WC‑14). Missing this timeline can prevent you from receiving benefits—no matter how severe your injury is.

Why It Matters: Workers often think they don’t need to file because the employer “is taking care of it,” but insurance companies can deny claims at any time.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Track all dates related to your injury, treatment, and missed work.
• Consult an attorney early—before deadlines sneak up on you.
• Review what benefits you may qualify for: Workers’ Compensation Benefits Explained

Worried You Already Made One of These Mistakes?

If you’ve delayed reporting your injury, saw the wrong doctor, or talked with the adjuster already, don’t panic. These issues are common—and attorney David Garner and the team at Garner Law Office in Dallas, GA help injured workers correct them every day.

Contact us for a free consultation. We proudly serve workers throughout Paulding County and nearby communities including Hiram, Carrollton, and Douglasville. You don’t have to navigate the workers’ comp system alone—let us help protect your rights and get your claim back on track.