Conyers GA Workplace Injury Attorney
The jobsite is one of the most dangerous places in Georgia. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 171 employees were killed in 2016 on the job. Another 103,000 suffered injuries on the job as well that caused them to miss work or required a job transfer.
If you have suffered an injury at work, you should pursue all avenues for compensation. To better understand your options, meet with a Conyers workplace injury attorney right away.
Sources of Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries cause billions of dollars of damage to company profits every year. The leading causes of workplace injuries are:
- Overexertion. This includes doing any task too hard or for too long, including pushing, holding, carrying, lifting, throwing, or pushing. Overexertion accounted for about a quarter (25.3%) of all workplace injuries.
- Falls onto the same level. Tripping and falling or slipping and falling can cause serious injuries and account for about 15.4% of all workplace injuries.
- Struck by equipment or another object. These types of injuries account for 8.9% of all workplace injuries.
- Falls to a lower level. These can be particularly deadly, especially when the fall is from a great height. These falls account for 8.6% of all workplace injuries.
- Roadway accidents. Some workers must travel as part of their job. Getting into an accident on the roadway accounted for 5.3% of all injuries.
- Slipping or tripping without falling. The act of trying to stay upright can lead to injuries and accounts for 3.6% of injuries at a workplace.
- Repetitive tasks. Any motion can eventually cause injury when it is done too frequently. About 3.1% of all workplace injuries are from repetitive motion.
Workplace Injuries and Workers’ Compensation Claims
Georgia’s workers’ compensation system exists so that injured workers can receive necessary medical care without the need of showing that their employer was responsible for the injury. Because a worker does not need to show fault, they can receive medical treatment and a partial replacement of their lost wages much faster than they could before the workers’ compensation system existed.
You Cannot Sue Your Employer For Your Injuries
However, workers’ compensation comes with a severe limitation—you cannot sue your employer for your injuries, even if they are responsible. As a tradeoff for workers’ compensation benefits, you lose out on the ability to get more money from your employer. As a result, many injured workers do not receive full and fair compensation for the entirety of their injuries:
- You will only get medical care paid for if the insurer deems it is reasonable and necessary. However, some helpful treatments, like massage, might not be covered even if it is helpful.
- You will not get full replacement of your wages. Instead, workers’ compensation only pays a fraction of what you would have made.
- You will not receive any compensation for pain and suffering or for loss of enjoyment of life, even when you suffer a permanent disability.
As a result, workers’ compensation is often a raw deal for many of our clients. Nevertheless, this is the system the state chose, so you should try to maximize your workers’ compensation benefits by submitting your claim in a prompt manner.
Third Party Lawsuits
If someone other than your employer is to blame for your injuries, you might be able to bring a third-party lawsuit against them. Doing so will allow you to receive full and fair compensation above and beyond what workers’ compensation benefits provide. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you might be able to sue:
- A jobsite owner, who might have created hazards or not properly warned you of them. For example, it might have been dangerous to set up scaffolding on a certain piece of land because of shifting soil. If the owner does not tell you this, they might be responsible if the scaffolding collapses.
- A vendor whose negligent conduct injures you. The vendor might have struck you with their vehicle or harmed you in some other way. They might be legally responsible for your injuries.
- A member of the public who intentionally or negligently harms you. People who work in service professions are sometimes attacked by members of the public. You might have a lawsuit against them.
- The manufacturer of a defective product that injures you. Unreasonably dangerous construction equipment can lead to deaths and severe injuries. You can sue manufacturers of defective products.
In third-party lawsuits, you can sue for the entire amount of lost wages, as well as intangible harms like pain and suffering or reduced quality of life. The key will be showing that the third-party is responsible, or at least shares responsibility, for your injuries.
Many injured workers do not know whether they have a valid claim against a third party. Rather than assume you don’t, you should meet with a Conyers workplace injury lawyer who can review your case. A third-party lawsuit is a good way to supplement skimpy workers’ compensation benefits, so this is an avenue you should pursue.
The MG Law Advantage
Lawsuits are complicated and require detailed knowledge of legal rules and court procedures. Injured workers who try to bring lawsuits themselves quickly become overwhelmed and sometimes lose cases that were entirely winnable.
At MG Law, our team can handle the legal issues so that you can focus on getting well. As part of our representation, we can:
- Investigate the cause of the workplace accident.
- Gather witness statements from people who saw you get injured.
- Consult with experts who can analyze the severity of your injuries.
- Work with experts to identify whether any products are defective and unreasonably dangerous.
- Negotiate a settlement with any third parties, if settlement is in your best interest.
INJURED AT WORK? SPEAK TO A CONYERS WORKPLACE INJURY LAWYER TODAY
In the immediate aftermath of a workplace accident, you might be scared of how you will provide for yourself and your family. Workers’ compensation disability benefits might be inadequate, and you need to find other sources of support.
At MG Law, we have helped injured workers obtain the compensation they deserve. Our workplace injury attorneys in Conyers are aggressive advocates who always put their clients first. To schedule a free consultation, please call (770) 766-1649 as soon as possible.