Cummings & Middlebrooks Share New Changes on Atlanta Workers' Compensation Benefits

    NORCROSS, GA, August 07, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Atlanta workers compensation attorneys, Cummings & Middlebrooks, would like to briefly comment on the recent laws which were passed by the Georgia state legislature concerning workers comp. Among a slew of new laws, the Atlanta workers compensation attorneys note the new changes to O.C.G.A 34-9 and State Board Rules effective July 31, 2013.

Pursuant to Board Rule 203, an injured worker can claim mileage reimbursement for the reasonable cost of travel to and from the employee's home address and the place of the medical examination or treatment, which includes a doctor's office, physical therapy locations and trips to and from the pharmacy. The reimbursement rate is 40 cents per mile.

According to the Atlanta workers' compensation attorney, the reimbursement time deadlines are governed by O.C.G.A 34-9-203. Under the 2012 statutory scheme, the workers' compensation insurance companies had thirty (30) days from the date of receiving a reimbursement request within which to issue the reimbursement check to the injured worker. In the event the reimbursement check was not issued within the thirty (30) day period, then late payment penalties would become due. Under the 2013 law, "the insurance company now has fifteen (15) days to pay the medical mileage reimbursement," as observed by Will Cummings, partner of Cummings & Middlebrooks, LLP. This is a very important change for the injured workers and necessitates prompt action by the insurance companies. The Atlanta workers comp attorneys say, "It is important for the injured workers to know their respective rights and an experienced Atlanta workers comp lawyer can assist the individual through the process."

In 2012, and pursuant to O.C.G.A 34-9-261, the most money (temporary total disability benefits) an injured worker could receive while remaining out of work, either through a doctor's excuse or due to an Employer's inability to accommodate the employee with suitable light duty employment, was $500.00 per week. In fact, this maximum rate has been in effect since July 1, 2007. Fortunately, effective July 1, 2013, this maximum rate has increased from $500.00 to $525.00 per week. Thus, for an accident occurring after July 1, 2013, the injured worker is eligible to receive up to $525.00 per week. Similarly, under O.C.G.A 34-9-262, the maximum compensation rate for temporary partial disability benefits has been increased from $334.00 per week to $350.00 per week.

This is a great gain to employees, as anyone who has ever been out of work knows how difficult it can be to make ends meet, even while represented by an Atlanta workers' comp lawyer.

If you are in need of an Atlanta workers' comp lawyer, the experts at Cummings & Middlebrooks have been helping residents throughout Georgia for many years. To learn more about their services and to speak with a lawyer today, please visit http://www.cmlawllp.com/index.php.

About Cummings & Middlebrooks:
Cummings & Middlebrooks is a worker's compensation and personal injury firm serving Atlanta and other areas of Georgia. They specialize in helping people who have been injured on the job to get the income and medical benefits they are entitled to in the aftermath of their tragedy. Their team has the experience to take on a variety of cases which include a wide range of injuries.

For more information, visit http://www.cmlawllp.com/index.php.

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