Specific Loss
What is a Specific Loss?
Under workers’ compensation law, a specific loss is the permanent loss of a particular body part or the inability to use that body part because of a work-related injury or amputation.
Amputations at work don’t happen very often. Still, they happen more frequently in certain industries, especially among workers who use dangerous equipment like food slicers, meat grinders, printing presses, conveyor belts, milling machines, watertight doors, and other hazardous machines at work.
Losing a limb or not being able to use a body part is one of the worst things that can happen. Any injury you get at work can change your life, but a specific loss can make it impossible for you to work and live the same way you used to.
What Falls Under the Category of a Specific Loss?
A specific loss is any of the following that happened because of an injury you got at work:
- Loss of a limb or appendage, including an arm, hand, finger, leg, foot, toe, eye, or ear
- The inability to use any of the aforementioned body parts
- The inability to see, hear, or speak
- Permanent and severe scarring or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck
What Do I Do if I've Suffered a Specific Loss at Work?
Losing a limb because of an accident at work is a terrible and traumatic thing to go through, and we know there’s nothing we can do to truly make it better.
But you have rights, and those rights can make a big difference in the end. If you or a family member lost a limb at work, you might be able to get financial help and benefits for a prolonged time or even for a lifetime. Since a specific loss can change your whole life, getting the benefits you deserve for your losses and suffering is essential. Discussing your case with a work injury lawyer is the best way to do that.
What Benefits Are Available for a Specific Loss in Georgia?
In some states, if a worker gets hurt and suffers a specific loss, they get benefits for a certain number of weeks based on their loss. Under Georgia law, the amount of money you can get for your injury depends on its severity.
Georgia law says that most amputations at work are “catastrophic” because they are permanent. If you lose a limb or the ability to use a body part, you may not be able to return to work.
If you work in Georgia, your employer must have workers’ compensation insurance (as long as they have three or more employees). Therefore, you’ll need to file a workers’ compensation claim when you get hurt on the job to pay for your medical bills.
Since losing a limb almost always qualifies as “catastrophic” for workers’ compensation benefits, your employer or their insurance company will need to file a Form WC-R1 with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. This form will label the injury as catastrophic and assign a catastrophic rehabilitation provider.
An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help you get fair workers’ compensation benefits for your specific loss or injury. They will look at your situation and the results of your injury, such as:
- Loss of Earning Potential
- The Costs of Your Medical Care
- Loss of Wages
- Emotional Suffering
- Physical Pain
If you suffer a specific loss at work, you have the right to financial compensation for your injuries and future lost wages. Talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer immediately to ensure you get the money you need to pay for your medical care and get back on your feet.
Contact the Personal Injury Lawyers at The Brown Firm
If you have been injured, the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Brown Firm offer free consultations to accident victims in Georgia and South Carolina. Call 800-529-1441 to speak with our personal injury team today!
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