If you lose the use of a limb, it is likely to permanently affect your ability to do your job, depending on your job duties. It will likely also affect every other area of your life, including your quality of life. When an accident on the job leads to the loss of bodily function, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance will likely pay you benefits.
According to Georgia Code 34-9-263, losing the use of part of your body may qualify you for permanent partial disability benefits. The amount you receive depends in part on your average weekly wage. Two-thirds of this amount is the weekly benefit your employer will pay you for workers’ compensation, although this is currently subject to a maximum limit of $575 per week.
The maximum number of weeks’ payment you would receive for the loss of an arm or leg is 225 weeks. For a hand, the amount is 160 weeks, and for a foot, it is 135 weeks. The amount for thumbs, fingers and toes varies depending on which digit and how many the accident affects. A disability that affects the body as a whole would result in 300 weeks’ worth of benefits.
The PPD benefit schedule lists traumatic loss of hearing in one ear as worth 75 weeks’ worth of benefits, while benefits for hearing loss in both ears would be 150 weeks. If you lose vision in one of your eyes, the benefits would be a total of 150 weeks.
You may still qualify for benefits if you only lose a percentage of function in a body part, as well.
