Workplace injuries happen. When they do, Georgia law provides a system for employees to seek medical treatment and wage replacement benefits. Understanding how this system works can help injured workers protect their rights and avoid common mistakes that could affect their claims. Procedural errors in Georgia workers’ compensation cases often go unnoticed until they have already limited or eliminated a worker’s options.
Report Your Injury Promptly
Georgia law requires injured workers to report workplace injuries to their employer within 30 days of the accident. This deadline exists under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80, and missing it can create serious problems for your claim.
The report should go to your supervisor or another company representative. While verbal reports are permitted, written documentation creates a clearer record. Include basic information: when and where the injury occurred, what happened, and whether anyone witnessed the incident.
After receiving your report, your employer should file a Form WC-1 with their insurance carrier. The carrier then has 21 days to investigate and report to the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
Understanding the Medical Panel System
Georgia employers must post a Panel of Physicians in a prominent location at the worksite. This panel must include at least six doctors, with at least one orthopedic surgeon and no more than two industrial clinics. Where possible, the panel should include at least one minority physician.
You have the right to select any doctor from this panel. Your employer cannot force you to see a specific physician on the list. You also have the right to make one change to a different doctor on the same panel without needing permission from your employer or the insurance company.
Why this matters: If your employer fails to maintain a valid posted panel, Georgia law allows you to seek treatment from any physician of your choosing at the employer’s expense. Panel failures that may give you this right include posting an incomplete list, failing to include required specialties, or not posting the panel in an accessible location.
Some employers use a Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization instead of a traditional panel. If your employer uses this approach, they must provide a 24-hour contact number and post information about available medical services.
When You May Need to File with the State Board
If benefits are voluntarily provided and no disputes arise, you may not need to file anything with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. However, filing becomes necessary when the insurance carrier denies your claim, disputes arise about your benefits, or you want to formally document your injury for potential future claims.
The primary form is WC-14, available at sbwc.georgia.gov. When filing, you must send copies to your employer and their insurance carrier. The form allows you to notify the Board of your claim and, if needed, request a hearing or mediation.
Important distinction: Your employer files the WC-1 form to report your injury to their insurer. You file the WC-14 form to protect your rights with the State Board. These are different forms with different purposes.
The One-Year Filing Deadline
Georgia imposes a statute of limitations on workers’ compensation claims. Under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82, you generally must file with the State Board within one year from the date of injury.
Two situations may extend this deadline. If your employer provides medical treatment, the deadline may run from the date of last paid treatment. If you receive income benefits, you may have up to two years from the last payment.
These extensions apply only in specific circumstances. Relying on them without understanding whether they apply to your situation carries risk. The safest approach is to file within the original one-year window.
Common Claim Traps in Georgia Workers’ Compensation
Several situations frequently create problems for injured workers in Georgia. Understanding these traps before they affect you can make a significant difference.
Trap 1: The Invalid Panel Problem
If your employer’s posted Panel of Physicians is defective, you may have the right to choose your own doctor. Panel defects include: fewer than six physicians listed, no orthopedic surgeon on the panel, more than two industrial clinics, panel not posted in a prominent location, or outdated information about physicians who have retired or moved.
Under Board Rule 201, if the employer fails to provide proper physician selection procedures, the panel is invalid and you may select any physician at the employer’s expense. However, if you treat with a panel doctor without raising the panel’s validity, you may waive this argument. Consider documenting panel problems immediately after injury.
Trap 2: The Controversion Distinction
When an employer or insurer “controverts” your claim, they are formally denying it. This changes your medical treatment rights. Under Board Rule 201(b), the employer cannot restrict you to the panel when your claim has been controverted. You may seek treatment outside the panel during this period.
However, if the controverted claim is later accepted as compensable, Georgia law requires you to select one of the physicians who treated you during the disputed period. That physician then becomes your authorized treating physician.
Trap 3: The Seven-Day Waiting Period
Income benefits in Georgia do not begin immediately. There is a seven-day waiting period before Temporary Total Disability benefits start. The first seven days are only paid retroactively if you remain out of work for more than 21 consecutive days.
This means short-term injuries may not qualify for income benefits even if they keep you from work. Medical benefits, however, have no waiting period.
Types of Benefits Available
Georgia workers’ compensation may provide several categories of benefits:
Medical benefits cover treatment related to your workplace injury, including doctor visits, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation. These benefits continue as long as treatment remains necessary and related to the original injury.
Income benefits replace a portion of lost wages. Temporary Total Disability benefits are calculated at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to state maximums. For injuries on or after July 1, 2023, the maximum weekly benefit is $800.
Death benefits may be available to eligible dependents when a workplace injury proves fatal. A widowed spouse with no children is limited to a total amount of $320,000 unless remarriage occurs.
When Legal Representation May Be Helpful
Georgia allows injured workers to handle their own claims. However, employers and insurance carriers typically have experienced attorneys representing their interests.
Situations involving denied claims, disputed benefits, permanent injuries, or complex medical issues often benefit from professional guidance. An attorney can help ensure deadlines are met, forms are properly completed, and your rights under Georgia law are protected.
Attorney fees in Georgia workers’ compensation cases are typically contingent, meaning the attorney receives a percentage of benefits recovered rather than requiring payment upfront.
Key Deadlines Summary
These deadlines apply to most Georgia workers’ compensation claims. Specific circumstances may affect the applicable timeframes in your case.
Report injury to employer: Within 30 days of accident (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80)
File claim with SBWC: Within one year of injury date (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82)
Medical bill submission: Within one year of treatment date
Appeal of ALJ decision: Within 20 days of award issuance
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a workplace injury in Georgia?
You must report your injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80. Missing this deadline can affect your ability to receive benefits.
Can I choose my own doctor for a work injury?
Generally, you must choose from your employer’s posted Panel of Physicians. However, if the panel is invalid or your claim has been controverted, you may have broader options. You always have the right to make one change to another doctor on the same panel without permission.
What is Form WC-14?
Form WC-14 is the Notice of Claim form you file with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Filing this form protects your rights and allows you to request a hearing or mediation if disputes arise.
How much will I receive in income benefits?
Temporary Total Disability benefits are calculated at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to state maximums. For injuries on or after July 1, 2023, the maximum is $800 per week.
Do I need a lawyer for a workers’ compensation claim?
Georgia law allows you to represent yourself. However, employers and insurers typically have experienced attorneys. Claims involving denials, disputes, or serious injuries often benefit from professional guidance.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Workers’ compensation laws change, and this information reflects general procedures as of December 2025. Contact a qualified Georgia workers’ compensation attorney to discuss your specific situation.
Important: This blog post provides general educational information about Georgia workers’ compensation procedures. It is not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the information here may not apply to your specific circumstances. If you have been injured at work, consulting with a licensed Georgia attorney can help you understand your options.
Sources
Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation: sbwc.georgia.gov
SBWC Rules and Regulations (July 1, 2025): sbwc.georgia.gov/document/publication/2025-rules/download
O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80 (Reporting Requirements): law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-9/
O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82 (Statute of Limitations): law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-9/
O.C.G.A. § 34-9-201 (Panel of Physicians): law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-9/article-6/part-1/section-34-9-201/
Board Rule 201 (Panel Requirements): sbwc.georgia.gov/document/publication/2025-rules/download
SBWC Workers’ Compensation Law FAQs: sbwc.georgia.gov/frequently-asked-questions/workers-compensation-law-faqs