The official code of Georgia also makes workers' compensation the exclusive remedy for on the job injuries. This means that you have to use the workers' compensation system if you were hurt on the job. Therefore, even if your employer was negligent, they probably cannot be sued outside of the worker's compensation setting. This sounds harsh, but the tradeoff is that no matter whose fault the injury was, even if it was your own, you can recover under the workers' compensation statute. When you settle your workers' compensation claim, you will sign a package of settlement documents. The Workers' Compensation settlement agreement, called a Stipulation & Agreement, almost always states you and your employer are resolving your entitlement to all past or future workers' compensation benefits. The State Board of Workers' Compensation will review and approve the Stipulation & Agreement. Once this agreement is approved by the State Board, it is final and cannot be appealed by either party. In many cases, the settlement package will also include a mandatory "General Release" agreement. In the General Release, you must agree not to sue your employer for any other reason related to your employment. Employees cannot "sue" their employer for their workers' compensation injuries in most states, including Georgia. The General Release therefore has little impact on most employees. In some cases, the injured employee has a separate claim or lawsuit against their employer that does not relate to the injury itself. By signing the "General Release," the employee could waive their right to pursue the separate claim or lawsuit. If you believe you have a separate claim or lawsuit against your employer, you should discuss this issue with your workers' compensation attorney before you sign the settlement documents. Please contact the attorneys at Gerber & Holder with any questions regarding your workers' compensation case.