Georgia Workers' Comp Settlement Chart: What Your Case May Be Worth

Every workers' comp calculation starts with your Average Weekly Wage (AWW). Here's how it works.

Take your total gross pay from the 13 weeks right before your injury. Divide that number by 13. That's your AWW.

Your weekly compensation rate is two-thirds of your AWW — but Georgia caps this amount based on when your injury happened.

For injuries after July 1, 2023, the current caps are: Temporary Total Disability (TTD) maximum $800 per week, Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) maximum $533 per week, and the minimum for all benefits is $50 per week.

These benefits are not taxable. You keep the full amount.

Let's say you earned $10,400 in the 13 weeks before your injury. Your AWW would be $800. Your weekly compensation rate would be two-thirds of that: $533. Since that's under the $800 cap, you'd receive $533 per week in TTD benefits.

Georgia law assigns a fixed number of weeks of Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits to each body part. This schedule is the backbone of most settlement calculations.

When your doctor determines you have a permanent impairment, they assign a percentage rating using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition. That percentage is multiplied by the maximum weeks for your body part to determine how many weeks of PPD you receive.

The formula is straightforward: Impairment Rating (%) x Maximum Weeks for Body Part = Weeks of PPD Benefits. Then: Weeks of PPD x Your Weekly Compensation Rate = Total PPD Payout.

Let's walk through a real-world example.

Say you injured your hand at work. After treatment, your doctor assigns a 15% permanent impairment rating. Your Average Weekly Wage before the injury was $900, giving you a compensation rate of $600 per week (two-thirds of $900).

Step 1: Find your body part on the schedule. Hand = 160 weeks maximum.

Step 2: Apply your impairment rating. 15% x 160 weeks = 24 weeks of PPD benefits.

Step 3: Calculate total PPD. 24 weeks x $600 per week = $14,400 in PPD benefits.

But that's just the PPD portion. Your total settlement value also factors in past TTD payments, future medical care needs, and other elements we'll cover below.

Every case is different, and no attorney can guarantee a specific amount. But based on publicly available data and common settlement patterns, here are realistic ranges.

Minor injuries — sprains, simple fractures, soft tissue injuries — typically settle in the range of $5,000 to $15,000.

Moderate injuries — herniated discs, torn rotator cuffs, knee surgeries, broken bones requiring surgery — typically range from $20,000 to $75,000.

Severe injuries — traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple surgeries, significant permanent impairment — commonly settle between $75,000 and $250,000.

Catastrophic injuries — those qualifying for lifetime benefits under Georgia law, such as amputations, paralysis, or severe brain damage — can result in settlements of $200,000 to over $1,000,000. See our guide on catastrophic injuries and lifetime benefits for more.

The average workers' comp settlement in Georgia falls in the $20,000 to $40,000 range. But averages can be misleading — your case could be worth significantly more or less depending on the factors below.

Your impairment rating is the starting point, not the finish line. Several other factors drive the real value of your case.

Severity and permanence of the injury: A 10% impairment to your back is worth more than a 10% impairment to your little finger — because the back affects your entire ability to work.

Your pre-injury wages: Higher earners receive higher weekly benefit rates, which directly increases settlement value.

Your age: Younger workers have more years of lost earning capacity ahead, which pushes settlement values higher.

Future medical needs: If you'll need ongoing treatment, surgeries, or medication for years to come, the settlement must account for those costs.

Ability to return to work: If your injury prevents you from returning to your previous occupation — or any occupation — the settlement should reflect that lost earning capacity.

Pre-existing conditions: Insurers will try to attribute your symptoms to a prior condition to reduce the payout. Strong medical documentation is your defense. Our guide on pre-existing conditions explains how this works.

Catastrophic designation: If your injury qualifies as catastrophic, you bypass the 400-week cap and become eligible for lifetime benefits — which dramatically changes the settlement math.

Timing: Settling before you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) is almost always a mistake. Your impairment rating may not be finalized, and you could be leaving significant money on the table.

Most Georgia workers' comp cases settle as "stipulated settlements" — a one-time lump sum payment. When you accept a lump sum, you typically sign a full and final agreement that closes your case permanently. Even if your condition worsens later, you generally cannot go back for more.

This is why timing and preparation matter so much. You need to know your full medical prognosis and future needs before agreeing to any number.

Some settlements include a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) — money set aside to cover future Medicare-eligible medical expenses. This is especially relevant in catastrophic cases or cases involving workers over 55.

Never accept a settlement offer without having an experienced attorney review it first. The insurance company's first offer is almost never their best.

Insurance companies are businesses. Their profit comes from paying out less than they collect in premiums. Adjusters have targets and incentives to close claims cheaply.

Common tactics include pressuring you to settle quickly before you reach MMI, scheduling an Independent Medical Examination (IME) with a doctor known to give low impairment ratings, disputing that your injury is work-related, attributing your symptoms to a pre-existing condition, and delaying payments hoping you'll get desperate and accept less.

Attorney Jodi Ginsberg has spent 30+ years watching these tactics play out — and knowing how to counter every one of them. If you've received a settlement offer and aren't sure whether it's fair, call us. We'll review it at no charge.