Were you or a loved one injured in a construction accident in Columbus, GA? You may deserve compensation under workers’ compensation and personal injury laws. An experienced Columbus construction accident lawyer at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm can help you understand your options for recovering compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Our lawyers have over 26 years of experience fighting for injured clients like you. We’ve helped injured workers recover tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts over the years, handling cases like Columbus workplace accidents, car accidents, slip and fall accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liabilities, and more.
Insurance companies, including workers’ compensation insurance companies, don’t make it easy to recover fair compensation. Contact our law offices in Columbus, Georgia, at (706) 940-4030 to learn more about your right to compensation.
How Can Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm Help After a Construction Accident in Columbus, GA?
As a construction worker, you already know that you have a dangerous job. When an accident happens, you expect financial protection.
Unfortunately, the workers’ compensation system can be tough to navigate. Workers’ compensation insurance companies often deny claims unfairly. Your employer might even claim your injuries weren’t work-related. Your doctors could push you to return to work before you’re ready.
Even if everything goes smoothly, how do you know you’re receiving everything you deserve? In some cases, you may have other options for damages beyond what workers’ comp can offer you. An experienced Columbus personal injury lawyer at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm can help every step of the way.
Our legal team includes an AV-Preeminent rated lawyer and can help with your case by:
- Identifying all responsible parties and sources of compensation
- Evaluating your rights under various Georgia laws
- Filing your claim for workers’ compensation and complete all paperwork
- Assess your case value to make sure you’re getting fair compensation
- Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit and taking your case to court if applicable
Our Columbus personal injury attorney can handle all of the legal issues while you take care of yourself. Call us today to learn more.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in Georgia?
Anyone who’s ever stepped onto a construction site knows that construction is a dangerous industry.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), about 20% of all workplace fatalities each year are in the construction industry.
A total of 187 fatal workplace injuries were reported across the State of Georgia in 2021. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry had more fatal work injuries than any other industry, with 40 construction fatalities.
How Much Money Is My Columbus Construction Accident Case Worth?
The value of your construction accident case depends on various factors, including:
- The cost of your medical care
- Your average earnings prior to the accident
- The length of your recovery period
- Whether you can perform “light duty” work to earn some income during recovery
- Whether you are expected to suffer a permanent or long-term disability
- Whether you’re entitled to file a personal injury claim
If you’re limited to workers’ compensation benefits, your compensation will also be limited. Workers’ compensation will cover about ⅔ of your average weekly wages prior to the accident.
However, your weekly check is also subject to a statewide cap of $800 per week if your injury occurred after July 1, 2023.
Personal Injury Cases v. Workers’ Compensation Claims
The identity of the person responsible for your injuries will also impact your case value.
Injured construction workers are unable to sue their employer for damages after a workplace accident. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system. It’s designed to provide compensation to injured workers via a streamlined process. In exchange for purchasing workers’ comp insurance, employers are protected from personal injury lawsuits (though there are limited exceptions).
Third parties don’t receive the same protections as the construction company. If someone other than your employer caused your construction injuries, you have the right to file a lawsuit like any other personal injury victim.
You may have a valid third-party claim against:
- A negligent driver in a car accident
- Property owners who fail to fix dangerous property conditions
- General contractors
- Third-party vendors and subcontractors
- Manufacturers of defective work equipment
Construction accident victims who are entitled to file personal injury claims often receive higher overall compensation awards.
What Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available to Construction Accident Victims in Georgia?
Under Georgia law, nearly all injured workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Injured workers can receive:
- All reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Cash disability benefits
- Benefits for loss of an arm or leg, or lost sight or hearing
- Death benefits
The types of disability benefits you’re entitled to receive depend on the nature of your injuries, and may include:
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits if you’re unable to work in any capacity during your recovery
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits if you can work, but can’t earn as much as you did prior to the accident
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits for permanent disabilities that allow you to work, but only in a limited capacity
- Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits if you’re unable to work in any capacity
At Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, we know that recovering fair benefits can be a challenge. We’re here to help you file a workers’ compensation claim–and we’ll stand by your side throughout your recovery to fight for the money you deserve.
What Compensation Can I Recover By Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for non-economic losses in addition to your financial losses.
You may be entitled to:
- Medical expenses denied by workers’ comp
- 100% of your lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Chronic pain
- Loss of consortium
Our construction accident attorney in Columbus will evaluate your case carefully to determine whether you have a legal right to file a lawsuit for additional compensation.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in Georgia?
You can recover workers’ comp benefits even if you were responsible for your own injuries.
In the personal injury context, you lose your right to compensation under Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law once your share of fault reaches 50%. If you’re less than 50% responsible, your compensation is reduced according to your share of fault.
If you hire an experienced construction accident attorney, you will be well-equipped to respond to allegations of shared blame effectively.
Our Legal Team Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Construction workers are susceptible to a wide range of workplace injuries when they’re involved in accidents.
At Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, we often represent injured workers who have suffered:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Eye injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Hearing loss
- Damage to the lungs and other organs
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Our lawyer also handles wrongful death claims if you have lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident.
What Causes Most Construction Site Accidents in Columbus, Georgia?
Construction workers face dangerous conditions every day. Many different things can happen to cause an accident. Still, some things tend to cause more accidents than others.
Some of the most common causes of construction accidents in Columbus include:
- Lack of proper fall protection equipment
- Ignoring state and federal safety regulations
- Hiring unqualified workers (negligent hiring)
- Defective or dangerous scaffolding
- Failure to provide workers with adequate training and supervision
- Lack of proper safety equipment
- Failure to maintain work equipment and tools
- Defective equipment
- Exposure to toxic substances and chemicals
- Fires and explosions
- Exposure to live electricity
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Negligent security and workplace violence
It’s important to identify the exact cause of your accident. Determining the cause is the first step to identifying the at-fault parties. That, in turn, dictates whether you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages above and beyond workers’ compensation.
We Handle All Types of Construction Accident Claims in Columbus
At Mark Casto Law Firm, P.C., we handle all types of construction accident cases, including those involving:
- Scaffolding accidents
- Falls from ladders and roofs
- Accidents involving cranes, forklifts, and heavy machinery
- Trucking accidents
- Accidents where workers are caught between two objects
- Accidents involving falling objects
- Electrocution
- Electric shock
- Industrial accidents
- Nail gun accidents
- Welding accidents
- Building collapses
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Other types of motor vehicle accidents
Our Columbus construction accident attorney is here to help you fight for every dollar you deserve. Call us today to learn more about your legal options.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim for Compensation After a Construction Accident in Georgia?
Under Georgia workers’ compensation laws, you have 30 days to report the accident to your supervisor. If you wait longer, you could jeopardize your right to benefits.
If you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit, the statute of limitations in Georgia is two years. You have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit, or you lose your right to sue for damages completely.
Contact a Columbus Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Legal Consultation
If you were injured on the job, contact a Columbus construction accident lawyer today. At Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, your initial consultation is always free, Get in touch today at (706) 940-4030. We’re here to help!
Our personal injury law firm in Columbus, GA also provides:
- Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Columbus, GA
- Brain Injury Attorneys in Columbus, GA
- Car Accident Injury Lawyer in Columbus, GA
- Child Injury Lawyers in Columbus, GA
- Construction Accident Attorney in Columbus, GA
- Dog Bite Lawyer in Columbus, GA
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Columbus, GA
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Columbus, GA
- Premises Liability Attorneys in Columbus, GA
- Product Liability Lawyers in Columbus, GA
- Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys in Columbus, GA
- Truck Accident Lawyer in Columbus, GA
- Uber Accident Attorney in Columbus, GA
- Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Columbus, GA
- Workplace Lawyer in Columbus, GA
- Wrongful Death Lawyer in Columbus, GA
Local Emergency Rooms Near You
- Northside Medical Center: Emergency Room – 100 Frist Ct, Columbus, GA 31909
- Midtown Medical Center West Campus Hospital – 616 19th St, Columbus, GA 31901
- Midtown Medical Center Emergency Room – 710 Center St, Columbus, GA 31901
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
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