Georgia doesn’t have a chart listing a set dollar amount for each injury. What individuals call a “workers comp settlement chart” is really the state’s permanent partial disability (PPD) schedule, which assigns a maximum number of weeks of benefits to each body part. What you ultimately receive depends on your impairment rating, the body part involved, and your average weekly wage, so every claim is different.
Getting hurt on the job is stressful enough without trying to figure out how Georgia determines what your injury is worth. You’re in pain, the bills are piling up, and you’ve probably seen charts online promising an exact dollar figure for a hand, a back, or a knee. The truth is more nuanced, and understanding how the numbers actually work can help you make better decisions about your claim.
Our award-winning, top-rated Warner Robins workers’ compensation attorneys at Griffin Law Firm, P.C., help injured workers across Georgia and understand what really goes into a settlement. Below, we’ll walk you through:
- What a Georgia workers’ comp settlement chart really is
- Georgia’s permanent partial disability body parts chart
- How an impairment rating turns into a payout
- How ratings factor into a settlement
- What to do if you disagree with your rating
What is a Georgia Workers’ Comp Settlement Chart?
A Georgia workers’ comp settlement chart is really the state’s permanent partial disability schedule, not a price list of guaranteed payouts. Under Georgia law, “permanent partial disability” means a disability that is partial in character but permanent in quality, resulting from loss or loss of use of body members or from the partial loss of use of the employee’s body. The law sets a maximum number of weeks of benefits for each body part, and that number is the starting point for determining what you may receive.
So when you see a “workers comp chart” online, you’re really looking at this schedule of members. It tells you how many weeks of benefits a body part is worth, not how many dollars you’ll walk away with.
Georgia’s Permanent Partial Disability Body Parts Chart
Georgia’s permanent partial disability rating workers’ compensation body parts chart assigns these maximum weeks of benefits:
- Arm: 225 weeks
- Leg: 225 weeks
- Hand: 160 weeks
- Foot: 135 weeks
- Thumb: 60 weeks
- Index finger: 40 weeks
- Middle finger: 35 weeks
- Ring finger: 30 weeks
- Little finger: 25 weeks
- Great toe: 30 weeks
- Any other toe: 20 weeks
- Loss of hearing in one ear: 75 weeks
- Loss of hearing in both ears: 150 weeks
- Loss of vision in one eye: 150 weeks
- Body as a whole: 300 weeks
Back, neck, and spine injuries are generally rated under the body as a whole category, which carries the 300-week maximum.
How Does an Impairment Rating Turn into a Payout?
Your benefits are calculated by paying weekly income benefits equal to two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage for the number of weeks determined by the percentage of bodily loss or loss of use, multiplied by the maximum weeks, subject to the maximum and minimum limitations on weekly income benefits.
Here’s how the math works. Say your authorized treating physician assigns a 25% permanent partial disability rating to your hand. Georgia allows up to 160 weeks of PPD benefits, so 25% of 160 equals 40 weeks. You’d receive those 40 weeks at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the state cap.
The rating comes from an authorized physician who rates you in accordance with the Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, fifth edition, published by the American Medical Association.
Why maximum medical improvement matters
Your rating usually isn’t assigned until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is the point at which your doctor decides that your condition has stabilized and isn’t likely to improve with further treatment. Because the rating drives your PPD benefits, the timing and accuracy of that evaluation can have a real impact on your claim.
How do Body Part Ratings Factor into a Settlement?
Body part ratings set the floor for your PPD benefits, but a full workers’ comp settlement usually covers much more. A lump-sum settlement can also reflect future medical treatment, ongoing income benefits, disputed issues in your claim, and the risk each side faces if the case goes to a hearing.
That’s why two workers with the same rating can end up with very different settlements. Your average weekly wage, the body part involved, whether you can return to work, and the strength of your medical evidence all matter. Every case is different, and no chart can promise you a specific dollar amount.
What if You Disagree With Your Impairment Rating?
You have options if you believe your rating is too low. Ratings are medical opinions, and doctors don’t always agree. You may be able to receive a second opinion or an independent medical evaluation, and a low or premature rating can often be challenged with the right evidence.
This is where having our attorneys review your claim matters. We know how to spot a rating that doesn’t reflect the true extent of your injury, and we work to advocate for a fair evaluation of your impairment.
Hurt on the job in Georgia? Rich Griffin can help you understand your settlement. Call our Warner Robins office at 678-968-2414 for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Georgia Workers’ Comp Settlements
Is there a set dollar amount for each body part in Georgia?
No. Georgia’s schedule sets a maximum number of weeks of benefits for each body part, not a dollar amount. Your actual payout depends on your impairment rating and your average weekly wage, so any online chart showing fixed dollar figures can be misleading.
Who decides my impairment rating?
Your authorized treating physician assigns your permanent partial disability rating in accordance with the Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition, published by the American Medical Association. If you disagree, you may have the right to a second opinion or an independent evaluation.
How much does it cost to hire a workers’ comp lawyer?
Your consultation is free. We handle Georgia workers’ compensation claims on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay attorney fees unless we recover benefits for you.
Does a rating mean my claim is over?
Not necessarily. A rating triggers your PPD benefits, but you may still be owed ongoing medical care and income benefits, so talk to an attorney before you accept any settlement.
Talk to a Warner Robins Workers’ Comp Attorney Today
Understanding Georgia’s settlement chart is one thing. Making sure your rating and your settlement actually reflect your injury is another. The award-winning, top-rated team at Griffin Law Firm, P.C., handles workers’ compensation claims throughout Warner Robins, Snellville, and the surrounding Georgia areas, and we’re ready to help you understand what your claim may be worth.
Hurt on the job? Contact our Warner Robins office at 678-968-2414 for a free consultation. You don’t pay attorney fees unless we recover benefits for you.