Workers' compensation benefits can help ease the financial hardship that an employee may face after being injured on the job. In the event road department personnel, a deputy or other employee is injured while performing his or her job duties, the workers' compensation statute provides for a number of benefits, including payment of reasonable medical expenses. If the injured employee is unable to work, payment for a portion of their lost wages is also provided. What is sometimes overlooked is that volunteers and elected officials are not included in O.C.G.A ?34-9-1 definition of "Employee," unless the county has passed a resolution to provide coverage to those individuals. In other words, if a volunteer firefighter, Sheriff, County Commissioner or other volunteer or elected official is injured while performing their job duties, they are not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits unless the county has taken steps to provide those benefits.

If your county does not currently provide workers' compensation benefits to volunteers and elected officials, and you would like to do so, a resolution should be passed, and your workers’ compensation insurance carrier should be notified. For a sample resolution, click here. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact Ashley Abercrombie at 404-589-7827 or David Uhlman at 404-589-7838 at the ACCG Insurance Offices.