Q: Can GA workers' comp provide a rental car due to injury?

A: I’ve never seen Worker’s Comp. provide a rental car. I doubt they would do that in this case. You may be able to get them to reimburse rides that are truly necessary under the circumstances, but technically they are only required to provide transportation or reimburse mileage to and from medical appointments.

A: Andy is mostly correct. O.C.G.A. 34-9-1 et. seq. is the Workers compensation act and it does not require the insurance company to provide you with a rental car. They are also not required to reimburse the specific amount charged by Uber or Lyft or any other rideshare company. It DOES require the insurance company to provide you with mileage reimbursement at $0.45 a mile (currently), when you are traveling for authorized medical care or to get your prescription medications. Only in catastrophic injuries can you get non-medical transportation. None of this really helps you if you are recovering from a surgery and cannot drive. So here's what you can do: Ask your doctor for a prescription/order for medical transportation. Once you have that order, the insurance company is required by law to provide you with transportation to and from medical appointments. Now the downside: most of the transportation companies suck, and they may leave you stranded or fail to show up on time. It's an imperfect solution, but it's your best option. Good luck, and consider hiring a lawyer now, because after surgery it's time to start thinking about maximizing the value of your settlement before the value of your case evaporates.

A: That sounds like an incredibly frustrating position to be in, especially when you’re trying to follow your treatment plan and maintain some independence during recovery. In Georgia, workers' compensation is typically required to cover transportation **only for medical-related appointments**, such as trips to physical therapy or follow-up visits with your doctor. That’s why they offered rides for physical therapy but not for errands like grocery shopping or visiting family.

Unfortunately, Georgia workers’ comp law doesn’t usually extend to covering transportation for personal or non-medical needs, even if your injury makes driving your own vehicle difficult. They may also argue that since transportation to therapy is already being offered, a rental car is not “medically necessary.” However, the fact that your only car has a manual transmission, and your injury makes it unsafe or impossible to use, adds an extra layer of complexity — especially if it’s preventing you from fully participating in your recovery.

If your doctor has provided written clearance to drive an automatic and you've submitted it to the claims adjuster, you should follow up in writing and ask for a formal denial letter if they refuse. That way, you can appeal the decision or raise it with the State Board of Workers' Compensation. Even if they don’t grant a rental for general use, you still deserve to have safe and reasonable access to your medical care. Keep pushing — you’ve done your part by asking for what’s needed.