Injured man working at an office and looking at documents

Did you suffer an injury on the job in Lawrenceville? You need financial resources to pay for your medical treatment and compensate for lost income if you can’t work. Fortunately, injured workers in Georgia can file workers’ compensation claims requesting benefits to cover medical expenses and a portion of their lost wages while they recover. A workplace injury attorney from Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, can file your claim so you get the money you are entitled to under Georgia law.

Our respected Lawrenceville legal team will handle all the details of your workplace injury claim so you can focus on healing and getting healthy again. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Workplace Injury Statistics in Georgia

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows there were 187 work-related fatalities in Georgia in a recent year. Transportation incidents, workplace violence, injuries inflicted by persons or animals, slips/trips/falls, contact with objects or equipment, and exposure to harmful or toxic substances or environments were the most common causes of job deaths.

Additional labor statistics reported 78,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the Peach State. Around 41,600 workplace injuries were recorded as severe, resulting in missed days at work, restrictions, or job transfers. Over half of all injuries happened to employees in Georgia’s trade, transportation, utilities, education, and health services industries. Most cases involved workplace injuries, with only 2,700 recordable cases of occupational illnesses.

Georgia Workplace Injury Laws

Georgia’s workplace injury law is referred to as the state’s workers’ compensation law, which entitles workers to receive financial benefits from their employers if they suffer a job-related injury or illness. The workers’ comp system eliminates the need for workers to prove their employer’s negligence caused the injury. Benefits are available regardless of fault.

Most Common Workplace Injuries

Some of the most common workplace injuries include:

Statute of Limitations for Georgia Workplace Injuries

Is there a statute of limitations on workplace injuries in Georgia? Yes, and you must learn every deadline that applies to your workers’ compensation case.

For workers’ compensation claims, injured employees must notify their employer of their injuries within 30 days of a work accident. Workers have one year after suffering a job injury or after the date of the last payment of weekly benefits, or two years after the last covered medical treatment to file a formal claim with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.

If the injury results from negligence by someone else (not their employer), a worker could be entitled to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. In those cases, the claim is subject to Georgia’s statute of limitations for injury claims, which usually requires workers to file within two years of the date of the injury.

Meeting every deadline is essential. File too late, and your risk losing your right to compensation. Talk to a workplace injury lawyer as soon as possible to learn the time limits that apply to your case.

Can You Sue Your Employer After a Workplace Injury?

Georgia’s workers’ compensation system provides benefits to qualifying employees regardless of fault. There is no need to prove liability to get paid. In exchange, a worker usually cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. The workers’ comp system trades guaranteed benefits for the right to pursue personal injury compensation, including full reimbursement of past and future income or pain and suffering.

Lawsuits are possible in other circumstances. An employee who sustains a work-related injury retains the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against any third party (except for another co-worker) responsible for their injury. For example, a construction worker could be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer of a defective tool if it malfunctioned and cut their finger off. However, the worker who recovers money from a successful third-party claim may need to reimburse their employer’s insurer for the workers’ compensation benefits they provided.

Compensation Available for Workplace Injuries in GA

The workplace injury compensation that an employee may recover depends on the legal avenues open to them. In a workers’ compensation claim, an employee can receive financial benefits that include:

  • Medical benefits – Pays for all reasonably necessary medical treatment, rehabilitation, and pain management care for a work injury or occupational illness
  • Weekly benefits – Provides partial reimbursement of lost wages when a worker needs to miss work or earns less in a temporary part-time/modified-duty position while recovering from injuries
  • Permanent disability benefits – Provides financial compensation based on the type and extent of permanent disability that results from a worker’s injury or illness

If an injured worker has a potential personal injury claim against a third party whose negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts caused the worker’s injury, the worker may have the right to recover compensation for:

  • Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation
  • Costs of long-term care support or services for permanent disabilities, such as home health care, housekeeping, or disability accommodations
  • Ongoing and future losses of income and job benefits if the employee cannot work or earns less due to their injuries
  • Pain and suffering
  • Reduced enjoyment or quality of life due to physical disabilities or visible, permanent scarring or disfigurement

Talk to an Experienced Workplace Injury Lawyer in Lawrenceville, GA Today

After getting hurt at work, you need to know every option possible to pursue compensation. Contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, today for a free consultation with a seasoned workplace injury lawyer in Lawrenceville.