Were you injured in a work-related incident in Columbus, GA? If so, you may have a few different options for financial recovery.
A workers’ compensation claim will give you access to benefits for medical bills and lost wages. Under certain circumstances, you may also have a valid personal injury case, where you can pursue compensation for the full extent of your damages.
A Columbus workplace accident lawyer can help you identify every potential option. At Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, we have 26 years of legal experience helping injured victims after various types of accidents. We’re here to provide support and guide you through the legal complexities.
Contact us at (706) 940-4030 or reach out online for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Columbus, Georgia.
How Can Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm Help After a Workplace Accident in Columbus, GA?
Being injured on the job can present many challenges. Medical expenses build up quickly. Meanwhile, you may be unable to work while you’re healing from your injuries, adding to your financial strain.
Let Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm alleviate some of your stress. Our Columbus personal injury lawyer knows Georgia workers’ compensation law inside and out. We have the skills and experience required to get the compensation you deserve.
If you hire us after a work accident in Columbus, GA, you’ll have a trusted advocate to:
- Evaluate how you were injured and determine every potential source of financial recovery, including a third-party claim
- Provide a customized legal strategy tailored to the facts of your case
- Gather documentation and evidence
- Handle all filings and negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf
- Represent you in all administrative hearings and court proceedings as necessary
Put yourself in the best position possible by enlisting the help of a skilled workplace accident attorney in Columbus, Georgia. Call now to schedule a free initial consultation to learn more about an attorney-client relationship.
How Common Are Workplace Accidents in Georgia?
Work-related accidents are common. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 187 people in Georgia lost their lives to fatal work injuries in 2021. This represented about 3.6% of the nation’s job-related fatalities.
Of the 187 fatal Georgia workplace injuries, over 40% resulted from transportation incidents, such as motor vehicle accidents. Nearly 20% involved violence and other harm caused by people or animals.
Tens of thousands more suffered nonfatal injuries at work.
What Is My Columbus Workplace Accident Case Worth?
The amount you receive after a workplace accident in Columbus will depend on whether you have a workers’ comp claim, personal injury case, or both.
Georgia employers with at least three employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This program provides benefits to people who are injured in the course of their employment. However, these benefits are limited.
The value of a Georgia workers’ compensation case depends on:
- How long it takes you to recover
- Your medical bills and reasonable travel expenses
- Your average weekly wages (pre-accident)
- Whether you’re able to return to work in any capacity while recovering from your injuries
- Whether you’re permanently disabled (and the extent of your disability)
Workers’ comp typically covers all your reasonable medical expenses, including diagnostic tests, medications, and authorized treatment. However, it only covers two-thirds of your average weekly income – and even that is subject to a statewide cap.
If you’re eligible to file a personal injury claim, you can pursue the full extent of your accident-related losses.
In that case, the value of your claim will depend on:
- The severity of your work-related injuries
- How your injuries affect your quality of life and ability to care for yourself
- Your pain, suffering, emotional trauma, and other non-economic losses
- The strength of your evidence proving fault and damages
- The full value of your lost income and job benefits
- Whether you’re able to return to work in the same capacity as before your injury
- Whether you share any blame for causing your work injury
Our Columbus personal injury attorney will investigate your occupational accident and identify every possible source of compensation.
What Compensation Is Available To Workplace Injury Victims in Georgia?
You’ll have access to different types of compensation, depending on the legal course of action available to you.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If your employer has workers’ comp insurance, you can file a workers’ compensation claim for benefits, which might include:
- Medical benefits – including emergency treatment, surgery, MRIs, CT scans, qualified physician visits, prescription medications, physical therapy, and the reasonable expenses incurred to obtain medical care
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits – for job training, career counseling, job placement services, etc.
- Temporary Total Disability Benefits – if you’re unable to work in any capacity due to your injury, as determined by an authorized physician
- Temporary Partial Disability Benefits – if you’re able to work in some capacity while recovering, but it’s in a lower-paying position
- Permanent Partial Disability Benefits – if you sustained a permanent disability due to your job-related injury
- Death Benefits – these benefits are typically paid to the spouse or dependent children of a worker after a fatal job-related incident; they cover funeral expenses and a portion of the deceased’s average weekly wages
Note that you’re only eligible to receive one type of disability benefit at a time.
Personal Injury Damages
In some cases, a workplace accident may give rise to a valid personal injury case against a third party.
Third parties might include:
- Drivers
- Property owners
- Manufacturers of defective products, such as machinery or tools
- Contractors/Subcontractors
- Suppliers
- Engineers
- Government entities
If you have a third-party claim, you can seek compensation for your economic (financial) and non-economic (subjective) damages, including:
- Past and future medical costs
- The full extent of your lost income and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Emotional pain
- Loss of companionship
- Inconvenience
You likely have many questions. Get answers by calling our workplace accident lawyer in Columbus, GA.
What Causes Most Work-Related Injuries in Georgia?
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, some of the leading causes of work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities include:
- Transportation incidents, such as car accidents and truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Trip and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Workplace violence
- Contact with objects and equipment
- Exposure to harmful substances
- Overexertion
Other workplace accidents result from:
- Electrocution
- Defective equipment or machinery
- Lack of safety equipment or protection
- Failure to adhere to state or OSHA safety regulations
- Lack of training or supervision
- Communication failures
- Distractions at work
- Failure to inspect machinery or equipment
- Hazardous work conditions
Regardless of how you sustained your workplace injury, you should explore your legal options. Contact our personal injury lawyer in Columbus to discuss your accident.
Common Workplace Accident Injuries
People can sustain injuries at work regardless of their profession, whether they work in an office or on a construction site.
Some potential injuries you can suffer in the workplace or on a job site include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Amputations
- Internal organ damage
- Eye injuries
- Hearing loss
- Crushing injuries
- Burns
- Occupational diseases (e.g., asbestosis or mesothelioma)
- Wrongful death
Call our Columbus workplace accident attorney to discuss your on-the-job injuries and learn how we can help you pursue compensation for them.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Blamed for My Workplace Accident in Georgia?
Georgia workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. That means you don’t have to prove negligence to receive benefits, and you can file a claim even if your actions contributed to the accident. However, your claim will likely be denied if your willful misconduct led to your injury. Examples include fighting or using drugs or alcohol.
On the other hand, if you share blame for your workplace accident, it will affect a personal injury lawsuit. Under Georgia law, you will be apportioned a percentage of responsibility. If you are 50% or more at fault, you’re prevented from financial recovery. Sharing less than 50% means your damages will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of blame.
How Long Do I Have To File a Workplace Injury Claim in Georgia?
You should report your injury to your employer as soon as possible but no later than 30 days from the date you were injured. Otherwise, you may lose the right to workers’ comp benefits. You must file Form WC-14 (your Notice of Claim) with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC) within one year of the injury date.
If you’ve got a valid personal injury claim, you typically have two years from the accident date to take legal action. However, exceptions may give rise to a different deadline. If you miss the statute of limitations that applies to your situation, you will lose your opportunity to hold the at-fault party liable for your losses.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our Experienced Columbus Workplace Accident Lawyer
Have you suffered on-the-job injuries in Columbus, GA? If so, Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm can help. Our Columbus workplace injury attorney will evaluate your legal options, guide you through the process, and advocate for you every step of the way. Call today for a free at (706) 940-4030, no-obligation case assessment.
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