Georgia Workers' Comp Settlement Charts for 2024

There’s no single chart that will tell you how much you’ll get in a workers’ comp settlement in Georgia, but you can estimate the amount you’ll get based on benefit pay rates in the state. In this guide, we’ll explain how much each benefit pays and for how long to give you an approximate total of what you’d get. Keep in mind that your final settlement will depend on various factors like the medical treatment you need and your ability to work moving forward.

How to calculate your Georgia workers’ comp settlement

Your workers’ comp settlement is generally a lump-sum payment meant to cover your lost income from not being able to work and medical care. A fair settlement amount for your condition will depend on the severity of your condition, the future income you estimate you will lose from being unable to work your regular job, and the estimated cost of future medical care related to your injury.

Making these calculations isn’t easy on your own and the insurance company’s lawyers will help the company pay you as little as possible. That’s why we recommend talking to a workers’ comp lawyer to help you negotiate a fair settlement. An experienced lawyer will know what a reasonable offer is for your injury and in your area.

With an Atticus workers’ comp lawyer, your initial consultation is also free. If you do want to work with our lawyers, you won’t pay anything upfront. You only pay the lawyer fee after we get you a settlement. And since the average settlement for Atticus clients is twice as high as clients who don’t have a lawyer, you're still making money after you pay your lawyer fee.

How much workers’ comp pays if you don’t settle

In general, Georgia workers’ comp benefits pay two-thirds of your average wage plus any medical bill coverage you need. For 2024, there is a minimum payment of $50 per week and a maximum payment of $800 per week.

The tables in this article explain the pay and reimbursement rates for different situations.

• If you just started receiving workers’ comp: Check the temporary disability rates. These are the amounts insurance will pay you initially.

• If you need long-term benefits: Use the permanent disability payments tables as a guide. At this point, the insurer may also offer a settlement.

The insurer will also pay for necessary medical care, with reimbursement available if you need to travel for doctor’s appointments. For workers’ who die as a result of their work injury, insurance will pay a death benefit to the worker’s dependents.

Related: A Complete Guide to Georgia Workers’ Compensation

Settlement chart: Temporary disability rates

Georgia’s temporary disability benefits support workers who can’t work temporarily because of a work-related injury or illness.

In 2024, Georgia’s temporary disability benefits are worth two-thirds of your average weekly wage (AWW) from the past year. There is a minimum payment of $50 per week and a maximum of $800 per week.

The exact payment rate you’ll receive depends on the date you got injured or sick. Here are the maximum and minimum payments for Georgia workers’ comp cases:

Settlement chart: Permanent disability rates

Workers’ comp permanent disability benefits go to workers who still can’t work after they reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point where their condition won’t improve further with more treatment.

These payments follow the same rates, maximums, and minimums as temporary disability payments.

Permanent disability payment lengths

How long your permanent disability benefits last is set by law according to the part of your body affected and your level of impairment in that body part. For example, if you lose your index finger or lose full use of it, you can receive the maximum 40 weeks of payments for index finger injuries. If your doctor determines that you lost half of the mobility of that finger, your payments might last only 20 weeks.

The table below shows at the limits for different body parts.

How long workers’ comp payments last in Georgia

The length of your benefits also affects your settlement rate because it affects your total payout over time. These are the maximum lengths for each benefit type:

• Temporary total disability: up to 400 weeks

• Temporary partial disability: up to 350 weeks

• Permanent total disability: For life

• Permanent partial disability: Dependent on injury

Mileage reimbursements for medical travel

As you receive medical care for your injury, workers’ comp will reimburse you for trips to doctor’s appointments. You will need to submit this Mileage Reimbursement Request form with the workers’ comp insurance company. Your reimbursement rate is based on the date of your travel not the date of your injury.

Death and survivor benefits

When a worker dies due to a work-related injury, their dependents can get financial support and coverage for up to $7,500 in burial expenses. Dependents who fully relied on the worker for financial support get benefits at the same rate as what the workers’ total disability benefits would have been worth. Partial dependents, who relied on the worker for only some financial support, get a portion of the workers’ benefits rate based on their level of dependency. In situations with more than one dependent, the total payout is split among all dependents.

The employer’s insurance will pay out death benefits until they reach one of the following maximums:

Maximize your workers’ comp settlement

Estimating a settlement based on your degree of injury, wage-earning potential, and future medical costs is complicated. The insurance company is also looking out for its own profits, so it’s going to offer you as little as possible. The best way to get a fair settlement is to consult with a Georgia workers’ comp attorney.

An attorney is trained to handle workers’ comp in the state and will know how to fight the insurer for a settlement that’s enough for you to recover comfortably. They can also help if you have issues with medical care and missed benefit payments.

Atticus’ workers’ comp attorneys in Georgia also offer a free consultation and don’t charge anything upfront. You only have to pay after they get you a settlement. To get started, by take our 2-minute workers’ comp questionnaire. Someone from our team will  reach out to learn more about your situation, answer your questions, and connect you with a lawyer if you need one.