Construction zones are infamous for hazardous working conditions in Dekalb County, Georgia. From heavy machinery to elevated work areas, whether you are a construction worker or a contractor visiting the site on business, catastrophic accidents can occur in the blink of an eye. The construction accident lawyers of The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson truly understand the devastating nature of these accidents.
If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a construction site accident, the costs of medical care, lost work time, and other related expenses, can add up quickly and devastate your financial security. For those working in the surrounding Atlanta communities, the best chance for recovery is through filing a workers’ compensation claim with your employer. But will it be enough? What if you are an employee of a subcontractor? Do you qualify for indemnity benefits if injured on the job? All of these questions can leave you anxious and overwhelmed without knowledgeable legal guidance to advise you. Our construction accident lawyers can assist you in pursuing the indemnity benefits and personal injury compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
Abogados de accidentes de construcción en Atlanta
What Types of Construction Accidents Occur on DeKalb County Job Sites?
While a list of possible injuries on a construction site in DeKalb County would be nearly endless, below are several examples of the most frequent, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In a recent report, OSHA stated that for every five fatal workplace accidents, one occurs on a construction site.
Some of the most frequent accidents that can happen in the construction industry include:
- Falls
- Struck by a falling object
- Tripping and slipping
- Electrocution
- Crushed by or caught in between equipment
- Excavation collapses
In addition to these accident categories, there are other opportunities for workers or site visitors to sustain severe injuries at a construction site. Accidents involving malfunctioning equipment, power tool mishaps, toxic chemical exposure, and overexertion also contribute to current fatality counts for workers in this field.
Whether you suffered a fall due to a scaffolding collapse or a loved one was killed by defective heavy machinery, the construction accident attorneys of The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson are here to represent you. We will be by your side every step of the way and ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation allowed for your situation.
What Kind of Injuries Occur on Atlanta Construction Sites?
Construction site accidents are responsible for some of the most catastrophic injuries possible on a job site. This is due to the level of bodily trauma often caused and the extensive medical care required to treat the victims. When this happens to you because of another’s negligence, Georgia law gives you the right to pursue compensation for your loss and damages.
Construction site injuries that often require a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury suit include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Injured spinal cord
- Severe burns
- Amputations
- Broken or shattered bones
- Death
While the injuries you suffered may allow you to make a full recovery, most who survive construction accidents need long-term medical intervention and suffer ongoing financial struggles to afford such care.
Should I Report My Construction Accident to My Employer?
Talking to an employer after sustaining an on-the-job injury is never an easy conversation to navigate. You may wonder if you even need to report your accident or what you should or should not tell them. If you want their workers’ compensation insurance to cover your lost wages, climbing medical costs, and other related expenses, giving proper notice is required by law.
State law requires you to submit this information to your supervisor within 30 days of the accident occurring. If you are concerned that you may face retaliation in the workplace, or possibly lose your job, consider hiring an experienced construction accident attorney who can submit this notice on your behalf.
Don’t let intimidation or fear cause you to miss this critical deadline because if you miss it, you could potentially lose your right to pursue compensation. Waiting too long also may cause the Georgia Board of Workers’ Compensation to assume that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim them to be.
Avoiding this situation is vital to successfully get the financial relief you need to recover from your construction site accident. The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson has an extensive background in representing these cases throughout Dekalb County and surrounding Atlanta area communities. Give us a call today and set up a free consultation to learn more about what rights you have under state compensation and personal injury laws.
What Steps Should I Take After Suffering a Construction Accident in Cobb County?
Due to the hazardous nature of construction work, employees should know about the steps to take when they sustain injuries on the job. Below is a quick step-by-step summary to help you navigate making a claim, but ultimately, some circumstances could create challenges that an attorney is best suited to help you handle.
Get Treated Right Away
The top priority after being involved in any construction accident is to seek medical treatment immediately. This advice is also good to follow even if you think you’re okay and only have a few minor bumps or scratches. Sometimes, injuries can have a delayed onset, like TBIs, so it’s crucial to get checked out right away to discover issues before they worsen.
Notify Your Employer
After you receive medical attention, let your employer know you got hurt while working. As mentioned before, delaying this step can risk missing state deadlines for injury reporting. This mistake could potentially make it impossible for you to file a workers’ comp claim against your employer’s carrier.
Gather Evidence
Any case, whether a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury suit, will require evidence of what occurred that led to your injury, as well as demonstrate the severity of the harm caused. If possible, take pictures of any machinery, conditions, or other evidence that can support your demand for compensation. Examples of proof could include a photo of what safety equipment you had on at the time of the accident. Try to gather witness statements as well if someone witnessed your accident.
Keep a Recovery Log
As you go through medical treatment, keeping track of the doctors you spoke to, the medications you are taking, as well as updates to your care is vital to your claim. Medical records and bills that you receive should be kept with your recovery log so that you can easily find them when keeping your attorney updated on your progress.
Will Workers’ Compensation Cover All of My Construction Accident Losses?
Despite Georgia workers’ compensation laws providing injured construction workers with the ability to pursue compensation to recover lost wages and money spent on medical bills, there are times when it may not be enough. State law also has time caps on how long you can receive indemnity benefits. Even if you are catastrophically injured, the current limits on how much you can receive if permanently disabled may be insufficient for your needs.
For construction accident victims hurt by defective heavy equipment or other third-party contributors, you may have to consider bringing a personal injury claim against them, as well. Just like your workers’ comp claim, you will need to provide evidence to the insurer of any third-party you believe is liable for the harm that came to you. This area of law has different deadlines and rules to follow.
If you are in this position, it’s highly recommended you work with an experienced DeKalb County attorney who has extensive experience in both personal injury and workers’ compensation law, like The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson.
Who is Liable for My Construction Accident?
Assessing how and why your construction accident occurred will help determine what parties are liable for the injuries you sustained while working at a job site. Workers’ compensation in Georgia doesn’t necessarily focus on who is at fault, which protects companies against lawsuits, though, you could still do so in cases where egregious or purposeful behavior caused you harm.
Parties that often have part or total responsibility for a construction worker getting hurt on the job include:
- General and subcontractors
- Construction Site Owner(s)
- Architects and engineers
- Prime contractors
- Equipment Manufacturers
It isn’t all that uncommon for more than one party to hold some level of fault for what you suffered. Your employer could have knowingly given you a power tool that was recently recalled for electrical issues. This situation means that not only would your employer be liable for their part in giving you hazardous tools they knew were defective, but possibly the manufacturer, too. Hiring a DeKalb County personal injury lawyer will ensure that these types of circumstances do not get overlooked when building your case.
What Are Common Mistakes that Injured Construction Workers Make on Their Injury Claims?
Trying to balance the stress of recovering from a painful construction job injury and meeting the demands of insurers, your employer, doctors, and day-to-day obligations can make trying to handle an injury claim overwhelming. Mistakes are a frequent cause for claim denials, leading to long delays and even a denial of benefits.
If you are considering handling your claim on your own, watch out for these pitfalls that frequently cost hurt construction employees thousands in benefits:
- Failing to report your injury to your employer within 30 days as required by state law
- Not submitting a claim to the Georgia Board of Workers’ Compensation within a year of your accident
- Not going to necessary doctor appointments and therapy visits.
- Over exaggerating your injuries
- Underreporting your symptoms or hiding pre-existing conditions
- Failing to hold on to any evidence
- Sharing information about your injury on social media
- Not speaking with a qualified personal injury attorney about your case
Even if you receive a claim denial because you made one of these common mistakes, you may be able to appeal. Keep in mind that requirements are much more strict for this process. To be successful, you will need an aggressive workers’ compensation attorney trained in Georgia personal injury law.
What Qualities Should I Seek in a Cobb County Construction Accident Attorney?
If you are getting the runaround from your employer or their insurer regarding your construction site injuries, you may have decided to consult with an attorney. This step can seem daunting without knowing what qualities to look for before allowing them to represent your case. Typically, there are three main factors to consider before entering an agreement with a workers’ compensation attorney in DeKalb County, Georgia:
- Do they have demonstrated knowledge and success representing construction worker accident cases?
- Will they be dedicated to your best interests, or are they simply a personal injury mill?
- How many years of experience do they have in workers’ compensation law, and do they have experience handling personal injury cases, as well?
At The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson, our legal team brings over thirty years of combined experience to your case. We also have won over $250 million in settlements and litigation awards for thousands of construction workers and their families throughout DeKalb County and the surrounding Atlanta areas.
Our years of dedicated service to our clients and our community have made us one of the premier construction injury law firms in Atlanta. We would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about injuries you suffered while working in construction and help you get the compensation you deserve.
How Can Construction Accident Lawyers Help Atlanta Construction Workers?
If you or a loved one sustained injuries working on a construction site or died because of the trauma caused, trust The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson to represent your interests during this challenging time.
When we represent you, we look out for your best interests and long-term well-being by ensuring that any settlement or award you receive takes into account any of the below factors impacting your life:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages
- Property damage
- Counseling costs
- Pain and suffering
- Physical therapy
- Ongoing living expense
- Wrongful death
Under Georgia law, you have several options for recovering needed compensation for the damages dealt you, and our legal team has years of experience helping families in DeKalb County successfully pursue their claims. Contact us today by filling out our online form to schedule a free consultation or call us directly at (404) 521-2667.
