Savannah Settlement Chart for Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ Compensation in Savannah: A Safety Net for Injured Workers

Workers’ compensation is a vital protection for employees in Savannah and Chatham County who are injured or become ill because of their job. This system provides essential medical benefits, wage replacement, and compensation so workers can recover without financial ruin.

Whether you’ve been injured at the Port of Savannah, on a construction site near Abercorn Street, at Gulfstream Aerospace, or in the bustling hospitality industry along River Street, understanding Georgia’s workers’ compensation settlement process is critical to protecting your rights. The Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC proudly serve injured workers across Savannah, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Garden City, and Thunderbolt, helping employees navigate the complexities of workers’ compensation law.

How the Chart Works for Savannah Workers

When you’re injured on the job in Savannah or Chatham County, the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Settlement Chart provides a formula for calculating your benefits once you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).

How to Use This Chart

• Reach MMI: Your doctor declares that your condition has stabilized.
• Get an Impairment Rating: Your physician assigns a percentage based on your permanent loss of function.
• Check the Chart: Match your impairment rating to approximate weeks of compensation.
• Calculate Your Settlement: Multiply your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) by the number of weeks from the chart.

What is an Impairment Rating?

Your impairment rating measures the long-term impact of your injury on your ability to work and perform daily tasks. Doctors assign this rating using Georgia’s Uniform Permanent Impairment Rating Schedule.

Factors include:

• Mobility limitations.
• Chronic pain.
• Loss of strength or function.
• Impact on self-care and normal living.
• A higher impairment rating means more weeks of compensation under the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Settlement Chart

Injury Type	Impairment Rating (%)
Dislocation (Reduced Without Fusion)	5%
Dislocation (Unreduced)	5-15%
Cervical, Thoracic, or Lumbar Region Ankylosis	2-56% (depending on severity)
Hands and Fingers	Up to 40%
Upper Extremities	Up to 60%
Lower Extremities	Up to 100%
Facial Paralysis	Up to 45%
Pain or Loss of Sensation	0-100%
Respiratory Impairment	1-95%

Calculating Permanent Impairment Benefits (PIB)

Permanent injuries are assessed using impairment ratings, which determine the number of weeks of compensation you may receive. This chart gives a simplified overview to help you understand your potential benefits.

Permanent Impairment Rating (%)	Weeks per Percentage Point	Total Weeks’ Pay
1-10%	2 weeks	2-20 weeks
11-15%	3 weeks (per point above 10%)	23-35 weeks
16-20%	4 weeks (per point above 15%)	41-55 weeks
21% and above	6 weeks (per point above 20%)	61+ weeks

For Example:

Pre-injury AWW: $650 per week (for instance, a longshoreman at the Port of Savannah or a warehouse employee in Garden City).

Impairment rating: 20% to the arm from a machinery accident.

Chart conversion: 20% = 40 weeks of compensation.

Weekly benefit: 2/3 of $650 = $433.

Settlement: 40 × $433 = $17,320.

Understanding Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)

MMI occurs when your condition stabilizes and further recovery isn’t expected. At this stage, your physician assigns an impairment rating that guides calculation of permanent benefits. Our Savannah workers’ compensation lawyers use your MMI rating to negotiate fair settlements or ongoing benefits.

Factors Affecting Workers’ Compensation Settlements in Savannah

Not every workers’ compensation settlement in Savannah looks the same. Several key factors determine the final amount you may receive after a workplace injury. Understanding these factors helps employees across Savannah, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Garden City, and Chatham County know what to expect and how to strengthen their claims.

Severity of Injury

The more serious and long-lasting your injury, the higher your potential compensation. Injuries that cause permanent impairments, chronic pain, or loss of function typically receive more weeks of benefits under Georgia’s settlement chart.

Example:

A longshoreman at the Port of Savannah suffering a spinal injury from heavy cargo could receive significantly more compensation than a hospitality worker with a minor wrist sprain from a River Street restaurant.

Average Weekly Wage (AWW)

Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) is the foundation for calculating benefits. It includes not just your base salary but also overtime, bonuses, and tips — all common in Savannah’s logistics, healthcare, and hospitality industries.

Example:

A bartender on Broughton Street who averages $400 in tips weekly must ensure those are included in the AWW calculation. If ignored, their wage replacement could be underpaid by hundreds of dollars per week.

Age & Work Experience

Georgia considers how an injury affects your long-term earning potential. Younger workers with decades ahead in their careers may receive higher settlements, but older workers in physically demanding jobs can also see larger awards if they can no longer perform their trade.

Example:

• A 25-year-old aerospace technician at Gulfstream with a hand injury may lose the ability to perform precise assembly work for decades.
• A 55-year-old construction worker on Bay Street who suffers a knee injury may no longer be able to handle heavy labor, limiting future job options.

Vocational Rehabilitation

If you cannot return to your original job, vocational rehabilitation may be included in your settlement. This can involve job retraining, educational support, or placement services.

Example:

A nurse at Memorial Health University Medical Center with a severe back injury may be retrained for an administrative healthcare role, increasing their overall compensation package.

Impact on Daily Life and Family

Beyond the job itself, settlements may reflect how your injury affects everyday mobility, independence, and family responsibilities. The law recognizes that injuries can limit not only your work but also your ability to care for yourself or loved ones.

Example:

A truck driver based near I-16/I-95 corridors with permanent leg damage may no longer be able to drive long distances. This limits both income and personal independence, increasing the settlement value.

Legal Representation

Finally, the role of a Savannah workers’ compensation attorney cannot be overstated. Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts. Having an experienced lawyer ensures:

• Proper documentation of AWW.
• Accurate impairment ratings.
• Strong negotiation against insurers.
• Access to maximum benefits allowed by law.

Example:

A hospitality worker from River Street might be pressured into accepting a low settlement without realizing their true rights. An attorney can identify errors, appeal denials, and push for a fair outcome.

For Savannah workers, settlements depend on both medical facts and economic realities. From dockworkers at the Port of Savannah to hotel staff in the Historic District, knowing how severity, wages, age, vocational rehab, daily life impact, and legal representation shape your settlement can mean the difference between struggling financially and receiving the compensation you deserve.

Proven Experience in Georgia Workers’ Compensation Law

Founded in 2005, our firm specializes in workers’ compensation and personal injury law. Attorney Humberto Izquierdo, Jr. began his career as an insurance defense lawyer, giving him insider knowledge of the strategies insurers use to minimize payouts.

Recognized on the Super Lawyers list (2017–2025), Attorney Izquierdo has been consistently honored by peers and professional associations for excellence in legal advocacy.

Comprehensive Legal Services for Injured Workers in Savannah

From initial filing to final settlement, our team provides full-service representation for Savannah workers’ compensation claims. We understand the diverse industries fueling Savannah’s economy and tailor our strategies to maximize your claim.

Bilingual Services for Savannah’s Workforce

With Savannah’s diverse labor force, including large numbers of Spanish-speaking employees in logistics, construction, and hospitality, our firm provides English and Spanish legal services to ensure language is never a barrier.

Strategic Location: Serving Savannah and Chatham County

Our services cover all of Savannah, with focus on areas where workers’ comp claims are most common:

• Port & Logistics: Warehouses and docks along Bay Street, Garden City Terminal, and Port Wentworth.
• Aerospace & Manufacturing: Facilities near Gulfstream Road, International Paper on Savannah River, and Savannah Industrial Park.
• Healthcare: Hospitals and clinics near Memorial Health, St. Joseph’s/Candler, and Eisenhower Drive.
• Hospitality & Tourism: Hotels, restaurants, and shops along River Street, Broughton Street, and Historic Downtown Savannah.
• Construction: Road and building projects along Chatham Parkway, Pooler Parkway, and Montgomery Street.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Savannah

Understanding the types of benefits available under Georgia workers’ compensation law is crucial if you’ve been hurt on the job in Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth, or Chatham County. Whether you’re a longshoreman at the Port of Savannah, an aerospace technician at Gulfstream, a nurse at Memorial Health University Medical Center, or a server in a River Street restaurant, these benefits determine how you’ll be supported while recovering.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

TTD benefits are designed for employees who cannot work at all due to their job-related injury or illness. If your doctor places you on “no work status,” you are entitled to weekly checks equal to two-thirds of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW), up to Georgia’s state maximum.

Example:

• Pre-injury wage (AWW): $750 per week
• Benefit = 2/3 × $750 = $500 per week
• If you worked on the docks in Garden City Terminal earning $750 weekly, and an accident left you completely unable to work, you’d receive $500 each week until your doctor clears you for modified or full duty.

TTD is common for workers in construction projects on Bay Street, where injuries like broken bones or back strains might keep you out of work entirely for weeks or months.

How long you can receive TTD:

• Up to 400 weeks for non-catastrophic injuries.
• Potentially lifetime benefits for catastrophic injuries (paralysis, severe brain injury, loss of limb).

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)

TPD applies when you can return to work, but only in a light-duty or reduced-pay capacity. Georgia law provides compensation for 80% of the difference between your pre-injury wages and your post-injury wages.

Example:

• Pre-injury wage: $900/week (say, a machinist at International Paper).
• Post-injury modified job wage: $500/week.
• Difference: $400.
• Benefit = 80% of $400 = $320/week.

This is common in healthcare jobs at St. Joseph’s/Candler, where nurses may return on light duty, performing paperwork or administrative tasks instead of patient lifting. Even though they earn less, TPD ensures they don’t face financial devastation.

Duration:

• TPD benefits can be paid for up to 350 weeks from the date of injury.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

Once you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) — meaning your condition has stabilized — your doctor may assign an impairment rating. This rating is converted into weeks of compensation using the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Settlement Chart.

Example:

• Pre-injury wage: $800/week (longshoreman at the Port of Savannah).
• A hand injury results in a 15% impairment rating.
• Chart converts this to 30 weeks of benefits.
• Weekly benefit = 2/3 of AWW = $533.
• Settlement = 30 × $533 = $15,990.
• PPD is often applied for manufacturing workers at Gulfstream or construction workers on Chatham Parkway who can return to work but with permanent limitations (reduced mobility, loss of function, or chronic pain).

Why it matters:

Even if you return to work full time, you may still receive PPD compensation for lasting impairments.

Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

PTD benefits are reserved for the most severe injuries — those that prevent you from working in any capacity again. These benefits pay two-thirds of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) indefinitely, subject to Georgia law.

Example:

• Pre-injury wage: $1,200/week (heavy equipment operator on a Pooler Parkway construction site).
• Benefit = 2/3 × $1,200 = $800/week.
• Payments continue for life if the injury is catastrophic (for example, paralysis from a fall).

PTD claims are unfortunately common in port-related accidents, where machinery injuries can result in amputations, or in construction falls from scaffolding on Downtown Savannah projects.

Additional benefits:

• May include vocational rehabilitation, retraining for a less physically demanding job if partial work is possible.
• Access to lifetime medical care for work-related injuries.

Industries in Savannah with High Workers’ Compensation Claims

Port & Logistics

Dockworkers and truckers at the Port of Savannah, Garden City warehouses, and along I-16/I-95 trucking corridors face frequent injuries from lifting, machinery, and heavy cargo.

Aerospace & Manufacturing

Gulfstream Aerospace and International Paper workers may face repetitive strain, machinery accidents, and chemical exposure.

Healthcare

Nurses and staff at Memorial Health University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital face injuries from patient lifting, slips, and long shifts.

Hospitality & Tourism

Savannah’s thriving River Street and Downtown Broughton Street entertainment district leads to frequent injuries among hotel, bar, and restaurant workers.

Construction

Ongoing growth along Pooler Parkway, Bay Street expansion, and Chatham Parkway puts construction crews at high risk for falls, equipment injuries, and heat stress.

Why Local Expertise Matters in Savannah

Our team understands the unique risks in Savannah industries. We’ve represented workers from:

• Longshoremen at the Georgia Ports Authority.
• Technicians at Gulfstream Aerospace.
• Nurses at Memorial Health.
• Servers and bartenders in the Historic District.
• Construction crews on Bay Street revitalization projects.

This local insight ensures claims are tailored to real workplace conditions.

About Our Firm | Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC

At the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC, we’ve been fighting for injured workers across Georgia since 2005, with a dedicated focus on workers’ compensation law. Over the years, we’ve recovered millions in benefits for employees injured in high-risk industries like logistics, construction, healthcare, aerospace, and hospitality.

For workers in Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth, and Chatham County, we bring more than legal knowledge — we bring a proven track record of results and a deep understanding of the industries that drive Savannah’s economy. Whether you were injured at the Port of Savannah, in a River Street restaurant, or at Gulfstream Aerospace, our team is ready to fight for your rights.

Why Savannah Workers Choose Us

• Free Initial Consultations – Speak with an attorney about your case with zero upfront cost.
• No Fees Unless We Win – We work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay unless we recover benefits for you.
• Bilingual Legal Services – Serving both English and Spanish-speaking workers to ensure no language barrier stands in the way of justice.
• Insider Knowledge – Attorney Humberto Izquierdo, Jr. began his career as an insurance defense lawyer, giving him firsthand insight into how insurance companies undervalue claims — and how to fight back.
• Recognized Excellence – Named to the Super Lawyers list 2017–2025, a distinction reserved for top attorneys across Georgia.

If you’ve been injured on the job in Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, or Port Wentworth, don’t face the workers’ compensation process alone. The Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC will help you secure the benefits you deserve.

Call us today at (770) 888-8901 or complete our online form for a free consultation.

Let our experience work for you so you can focus on recovery and your future.