If you have been injured on the job and you are considering settling your claim, please note that the insurance company does not have your best interest at heart. In fact, they have a vested interested in minimizing your settlement as much as possible.
With that being said, an injured employee and the Employer/Insurer may settle the claim by agreement. There are two types of settlement: (1) compromise and (2) no liability.
A compromise “stipulation” is the vehicle used when the Employer/Insurer has accepted liability and there is a “bona fide dispute” as to future or past benefits. The compromise stipulation include a discussion of the medical treatment as well as the contentions of both parties. The “no liability” stipulation is used when there has been no finding of liability and the parties agree not to pursue a claim under the Workers’ Compensation Act in exchange for money settlement. The parties will keep a contract between them regarding the same.
Both types of settlements must approved by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Once the settlement has been approved, the Employer/Insurer must pay the settlement within 20 days or sooner.
If you have questions about settling your workers’ compensation case, and you would like a free consultation, please feel free to contact Ramos & Law at 404-355-3431 or via email.