Book excerpt: IF YOU'VE BEEN HURT ON THE JOB IN GEORGIA, WILL YOU KNOW HOW TO TAKE ON THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEIR LAWYERS BY YOURSELF?Think about that for a moment . . . You've been hurt on the job. And now you have a lot of questions, but not a lot of answers: * Who will pay for all of your medical bills? * You don't have health insurance, so how do you get the medical treatment you need for your injuries? * How can you recover your lost wages? * You are receiving workers' compensation checks, but how do you know it is for the right amount? * Do you have to treat with the company doctor?This is a lot for anyone to handle - all of the phone calls back and forth, the emails, the paperwork, the releases. Will you be able to navigate the workers' compensation law and the State Board of Workers' Compensation Rules on your own? Will you have the time or the knowledge to handle this by yourself?"The Authority On Workers' Compensation Claims In Georgia: The Definitive Guide For Injured Victims And Their Lawyers" was written by Gary Martin Hays, an attorney with over 26 years of experience handling workers' compensation claims in Georgia. A former insurance defense lawyer, he now only represents injured victims and their families. Since starting his own firm in 1993, he has helped over 35,000 clients.In this handbook, Attorney Hays provides you a peek behind the curtain to see how his law firm successfully represents his clients. Topics include: * What is Workers' Compensation? * Definitions: Employer, Employee, Independent Contractor * What is an "accident" in Georgia? * What injuries and other illnesses are covered? * Benefits to injured workers: -Indemnity -Medical -Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) * Typical Defenses Employers/Insurers will try to use * Can I sue my Employer? * Third Party Lawsuits * Employee Rights * Employer/Insurer Responsibilities * Statute of Limitations * What can I expect at a hearing? * Settlements * How can I afford an attorney? * How do I select an attorney?