The Workers' Comp Appeals Process

How an Attorney Can Help You Appeal a Denied Claim

Typically, a workers’ compensation case is decided by a judge of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation after a hearing. During the hearing, the judge reviews the evidence and arguments presented by both sides. Then, they issue in writing their decision on what payments the claimant should receive.

This may be the end of it, but if you believe the judge decided in error on your case, you do have the option to appeal. With a Woodstock workers’ compensation appeals attorney at The Warlick Firm, you have a better chance of winning your workers' compensation appeal and receiving enough benefits to cover your medical expenses, lost income, and more.

Did the workers' comp judge decision not go your way? Call the denied workers' compensation attorneys at The Warlick Firm at (678) 797-7705 to ask for help starting the appeals process. We look forward to helping you.

How to Appeal a Workers' Compensation Claim

To appeal a workers’ compensation case in Georgia, you must have a legal reason. This means you believe the judge based their decision on an error of fact or understanding or did not follow some aspect of the law. Asking to be awarded more money in damages may not be a good enough reason to appeal, unless the judge did not follow a legal guideline in deciding your award.

Why Would a Workers' Comp Claim Be Denied?

There are several reasons your initial claim could be denied. These include:

• A missed deadline in the reporting or claims process
• An allegation by your employer that the injury did not happen at work, or happened outside the normal scope of your job
• Insufficient evidence to support your medical claims, according to the judge

A claim can be dismissed for even a minor mistake in the claim process. So, you will need to know the precise process of how to appeal a workmans' comp denial if you are hoping to improve your odds of winning a workers' comp case.

How to Win a Workers' Comp Appeal

To determine whether your case is strong enough to merit an appeal, you should consult a Woodstock workers’ compensation attorney. A lawyer’s familiarity with Georgia workers’ compensation law, as well as with the appeals process, can mean the difference between a denied appeal and a successful appeal. For some cases, your chances of winning your workers' comp appeal can increase drastically by securing strong representation.

What Is the Workers' Comp Appeals Process In Georgia?

You (or your lawyer) have 20 days from the date of the workers' comp hearing to appeal the decision on your claim.

• To appeal, an application must be submitted, as well as a document explaining the errors you believe the original judge made.
• Then you have 20 days from the date the appeal was filed to submit your brief, a written argument containing all the facts of the case.
• The opposing party also submits a brief. Appeals are entirely document-based, unless your lawyer requests to be allowed an oral argument, which is limited to five minutes.
• The appeals court judge then renders a decision. It is possible to appeal to a higher court, though not all appeals are accepted.

Appealing a decision on a claim is a complicated process. One mistake can mean a dismissal. It is always best to trust your case to a determined, capable lawyer who can help you make sure everything is done correctly.