Did you suffer an injury on the job in Atlanta, GA? You may have different legal options, including the right to claim workers’ compensation or file a personal injury lawsuit. An experienced Atlanta workplace accidents lawyer at Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can help you evaluate your legal options and pursue the best course of action.
Our top-rated attorneys have over 50 years of experience helping injured workers like you. To date, we’ve successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of our satisfied clients.
The laws governing your case can be complicated. Don’t expect your employer to have your back. If you have questions about your options, contact our law offices in Atlanta, Georgia at (770) 900-9000, to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer who can help.
Why Trust Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers to Handle My Workplace Accident Claim in Atlanta?
Workplace injury cases come with their own set of challenges. Workers’ compensation provides an important safety net. That said, the process is anything but simple. If there is one mistake in the paperwork, your claim might be denied.
Many injured workers don’t fully understand their rights. The workers’ compensation insurance companies often use that to their advantage. An experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney can protect you.
When you hire Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, our team will:
- Explore every available legal option to ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible
- Investigate and collect evidence to build your case
- Handle the paperwork and claims process
- Take steps to get your claim approved if it was unfairly denied
- Hire leading experts if necessary
- File a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf
- Negotiate with the other side for the most compensation possible
Your initial consultation is completely free of charge. Call our Atlanta personal injury lawyers to learn more about how a lawyer can help today.
How Common Are Workplace Accidents in Georgia?
Georgia stopped reporting data on non-fatal workplace accidents to the Bureau of Labor Statistics after 2019. That year, however, 78,000 non-fatal workplace injuries were reported.
The workers’ compensation board does publish financial statistics that show workplace injuries are incredibly common–and expensive. In 2023, the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation paid out about $840,627,162 in indemnity claims. It paid an additional $672,777,833 in medical claims that year.
What is My Atlanta Workplace Accident Case Worth?
Every workplace accident case has a unique value. Key factors that will impact your case include:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- Your average weekly wages prior to the disability
- The length of your recovery time
- How much income, if any, you’re able to earn during recovery
- Whether you’ll ever be able to return to work, and at what earnings level
- Whether you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit
Workers’ comp benefits are always limited. While all of your medical costs should be covered, your weekly check will only cover about ⅔ of what you earned prior to the disability. It’s also important to understand that the maximum amount you can receive is $800 per week (the amount changes from time to time), even if you previously earned much more.
What Are My Options for Recovering Compensation If I Was Injured on the Job in Atlanta?
Your options will depend primarily on who caused your injuries. You may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, damages under Georgia personal injury laws, or both.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Georgia employers with at least three employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. You’re covered by workers’ compensation the moment you start working.
You’re eligible for benefits if:
- You’re classified as a traditional employee, not an independent contractor
- You suffered an injury or illness in the “course of employment.”
Any work-related medical condition qualifies. The only ways you can lose your right to workers’ compensation is due to drug use, alcohol use, or intentional misconduct.
Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury lawsuits are your second option. Your right to sue for damages outside the workers’ compensation system depends on who was responsible for your injuries. Georgia workers’ compensation laws only prevent you from suing your employer.
For example, if you were injured in a car accident due to a negligent driver, you can still file a claim against that driver. Personal injury lawsuits can provide much more compensation than workers’ comp claims, so it’s critical to have a lawyer evaluate your case if you suspect a third party was responsible.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Workplace Accident Victims in Atlanta?
The damages you might receive depend on whether your claim was made through workers’ compensation or a personal injury lawsuit.
Damages Under Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation provides specific types of financial assistance, including:
- All reasonable and necessary medical expenses, such as hospitalization, doctor’s visits, medications, rehabilitation, and transportation costs
- Disability benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Benefits for the loss of an arm, leg, sight, or hearing
- Benefits for the loss of use of a body part
- Death benefits
Your disability benefits will depend on the nature of your disability. You’re eligible for wage replacement benefits if you miss at least seven days of work. Note that if you miss at least 21 days, you’ll be paid for the first seven days of missed work.
Both temporary and permanent disability benefits are available. The nature of those benefits will depend on whether the injury allows you to work in some capacity or completely prevents you from working.
Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
In a personal injury case, victims can pursue damages for their economic and non-economic losses. Any losses you’ve suffered due to the accident will be relevant.
Examples of the types of economic (monetary) damages you can pursue include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitation costs
- Property damage
Examples of non-economic damages you might be entitled to include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Every dollar counts when you’re struggling with a serious injury. You can count on our lawyers to pursue the full compensation allowed under the law. To learn more about your options, call our lawyers in Atlanta for a free case review today.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle My Workplace Accident Claim?
Like most personal injury law firms, we work on a contingency fee basis at Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers. When you decide to hire our team, you’ll agree to pay a percentage of the compensation we win for you.
Can Georgia’s Comparative Fault Laws Impact My Right to Compensation After a Workplace Accident in Georgia?
Your workers’ compensation benefits will not be impacted if you share some blame for an accident.
In personal injury cases, you lose your right to damages under the state’s modified comparative negligence laws if your share of fault exceeds 49%. If you’re allocated less blame, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20% at fault, your final recovery will be reduced by 20%.
Serious Workplace Accidents Can Leave Victims Struggling With Life-Changing Injuries
At Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we have experience handling all types of work injury claims, including cases involving:
- Broken bones
- Dislocations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Amputations
- Lung damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Electrocution injuries
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Atlanta workplace accidents attorneys if you were injured on the job. We know how to help with any challenges you’re facing.
What Causes Most Workplace Accidents in Georgia?
There’s a nearly endless list of ways you can get hurt on the job. Some factors, however, are more common than others.
Some of the most common causes of work-related accidents include:
- Lack of proper safety protection
- Communication failures
- Failure to follow state and federal safety regulations
- Lack of proper training or supervision
- Slips and falls
- Dangerous property conditions
- Inadequate security
- Exposure to dangerous chemicals or live electricity
- Defective work tools or equipment
- Dangerous construction site conditions
- Failure to properly maintain work materials
- Workplace violence
- Repetitive motions
- Heavy lifting
You deserve to understand your legal rights if you suffer a workplace injury. Contact our lawyers in Atlanta today for a free case evaluation. We’re always here to discuss your case.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Claim for Compensation After a Workplace Accident in Georgia?
Always report a workplace injury to your supervisor as quickly as possible. You technically have 30 days to report the injury. Sooner is always better. After the initial notice, you have one year to file a formal claim for benefits.
The personal injury statute of limitations in personal injury cases gives you two years to sue for damages.
Of course, you don’t want to wait until the last minute. Doing so can both weaken your claim and jeopardize your right to fair compensation. Our attorneys know the paperwork alone can be overwhelming, so we’re here to help from the start.
Call a Trusted Atlanta Workplace Accidents Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You may deserve compensation if you were injured on the job. While workers’ comp is your first option, you may also be entitled to seek additional compensation. Contact an Atlanta workplace accidents lawyer at Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about your options today.