Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC has released educational guidance addressing common workers compensation filing errors that cause injured Georgia workers to lose benefits, responding to state data showing a 60 percent increase in fatal workplace injuries over the past decade.
The Cumming-based firm's guidance comes as Georgia confronts troubling workplace safety statistics. The state experienced 193 fatal workplace injuries in 2023 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ranking third nationally for the increase in workplace fatalities from 2012 to 2021. Transportation incidents caused 69 workplace fatalities, representing 36 percent of the total, while the construction sector recorded 37 fatal workplace injuries, with 14 resulting from falls, slips, and trips.
Despite workers compensation insurance rates decreasing 8.8 percent for the voluntary market effective March 1, 2026, many injured workers continue losing thousands in benefits due to preventable procedural mistakes. Common errors include missing Georgia's 30-day reporting deadline under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80, submitting incomplete Form WC-14 documentation, accepting inadequate settlements, and misunderstanding the state's one-year statute of limitations for filing with the State Board.
"Workers often lose legitimate claims not because they lack merit, but because they make procedural errors that insurance companies systematically exploit," said Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., founder of the Law Offices Of Humberto Atlanta workers compensation lawyer firm. "Having spent years as an insurance defense attorney before founding this practice in 2005, I witnessed firsthand how carriers use technical violations to deny, delay, and devalue valid workplace injury claims. Georgia's strict procedural requirements mean that even minor filing mistakes can cost injured workers their entire compensation."
The guidance addresses critical filing deadlines and documentation requirements that frequently derail workers compensation claims. Georgia law awards 225 weeks of benefits for loss of an arm or leg under the permanent partial disability schedule, yet many eligible workers never receive these benefits due to filing errors. Transportation and material moving occupations, which experienced 56 fatal injuries in 2023, face particular challenges navigating the claims process. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers alone accounted for 35 fatalities, while specialty trade contractors represented 23 of the 37 construction fatalities.
Contact incidents caused 35 workplace fatalities in Georgia, representing 18 percent of the total. White non-Hispanic workers comprised 53 percent of workplace fatalities. These statistics underscore the widespread nature of workplace hazards across industries and demographics, making proper claims filing procedures essential for all Georgia workers.
The firm's guidance emphasizes that injured workers should seek legal representation immediately after a workplace accident to avoid costly procedural mistakes. As an Atlanta workers compensation lawyer practice with experience dating to 2002, the firm has observed how insurance companies capitalize on workers' unfamiliarity with Georgia compensation procedures.
Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC specializes in workers compensation, personal injury, auto accidents, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area and Georgia. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis with bilingual services, with every staff member speaking fluent Spanish. Humberto Izquierdo, Jr. serves on the State Board of Workers' Compensation Chairman's Advisory Council and as President of the Georgia Workers' Compensation Claimant's Lawyers Association.
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For more information about Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC, contact the company here:
Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC
Humberto Izquierdo, Jr.
+16787838610
hi@humbertolaw.com
108 Colony Park Dr STE 100, Cumming, GA 30040