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Sandy Springs Work Injury Lawyer
Getting injured on the job is a daily reality for many Americans, especially the ones that are working blue collar jobs. In fact, millions of Americans are injured while doing their jobs every year. Workplace injuries are physically, emotionally, and financially stressful for not only the injured person, but their families as well. Many injured workers and their families have to face thousands of dollars in medical expenses and lost wages which can make it nearly impossible to put food on the table. Some Americans are even permanently disabled after their workplace accident, which often leads to years of financial instability and emotional grief. If you’re in a situation like this, a Sandy Springs work injury lawyer can help you collect workers’ compensation benefits.
Sandy Springs workplace injury lawyers at Ashenden & Associates are passionate about protecting the legal rights of injured employees and their families. We will help you file a workers’ compensation claim and fight for a fair settlement on your behalf. Call 770-394-8909 to schedule a free consultation with a Sandy Springs work injury lawyer today.
How Many Work Injuries Happen in the U.S Every Year?
Americans received medical treatment for approximately 4.26 million work-related injuries in 2021 according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Tragically, 4,472 Americans died on the job in 2021 according to the same source. The average work related death rate for this year was 3.1 per 100,000 full-time workers.
Common Workplace Accidents
Common examples of workplace accidents that can result in serious injuries include:
- Exposure to Harmful Substances was the top cause of workplace injuries in 2020 according to the NSC mostly due to the number of COVID-19 exposures and infections. In fact, this type of work accident occurred in approximately 43.5 out of 10,000 full-time workers that year. Aside from COVID cases, exposure to harmful substances can include exposure to electricity, radiation, loud noises, extreme temperatures, water pressure changes, oxygen deficiencies, and physical/emotional trauma.
- Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents are one of the top three work accidents according to the NSC. Workers can slip, trip, and fall on slippery floors, cords, tools, etc. They can also fall from heights and fall through surfaces. Many workers even injure themselves while catching themselves from a fall.
- Heavy Machinery Accidents: Most blue collar workers have to work with heavy machinery like tractors, compactors, saws, pavers, bulldozers, forklifts, etc. Despite the countless safety guidelines set in place, accidents still happen every day.
- Repetitive Stress Injury is any injury that occurs as a result of overexertion and repetitive movements. Overexertion injuries can occur from daily lifting, carrying, throwing, bending, holding, pushing, etc. Meanwhile, repetitive injuries can occur over time from even the smallest movements, such as typing on a keyboard.
- Car Accidents: Many Americans have to drive every day as part of their job. For example, truckers and Amazon delivery drivers are always on the roads. If these drivers get into a car accident, they can suffer catastrophic injuries and even death.
- Fires and Explosions: People who work with dangerous chemicals and electrical lines are at risk of suffering fire and explosion related injuries.
Common Types of Work Injuries
Common workplace injuries can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Partial or complete paralysis
- One or more amputations
- Permanent disability
- Soft tissue injuries such as muscle sprains and strains
- Crush injuries
- Broken bones
- Joint dislocations
- Repetitive stress injuries such as neck injuries, back injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome
- Severe burns and lacerations
- Loss of hearing or vision
- Electrocution injuries
- Illness due to virus or toxic chemical exposure
- Facial scarring and/or disfigurement
If you have suffered one or more of these injuries while on the job, you may be eligible for workers comp benefits in Georgia. Sandy Springs workplace injury attorneys at Ashenden & Associates can help injured workers navigate the confusing workers’ compensation system so that they may recover fair compensation while they heal.
Third-Party Work Injuries
There are some cases in which a workplace accident occurs due to a third-party. This means that someone not associated with your company or job caused an injury. For example, maybe a random driver crashes into a construction site and injures one of the workers. That injured worker could then seek compensation through a workers comp claim and a personal injury claim at the same time if they wish.
Sandy Springs personal injury lawyers at Ashenden & Associates can listen to your story and help you determine whether it’s best to file a workers compensation claim, a personal injury claim, or both.
Damages for Work Related Injuries
A Sandy Springs workplace injury attorney can help injured workers recover financial compensation for the following types of personal injury damages:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future rehabilitation bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity (if the worker experiences some form of permanent disability which makes it difficult to complete normal job duties)
- Emotional distress
- Mental health counseling costs
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, and/or disability
- Physical pain and suffering (third-party claims)
- Loss of consortium (third-party claims)
- Loss of enjoyment of daily life (third-party claims)
- Funeral and burial expenses if the employee sustained fatal injuries
Georgia Workers’ Compensation FAQ
Workplace accidents are physically, emotionally, and financially stressful. It’s difficult to figure out a plan to take care of yourself, your family, and your bills at the same time while enduring extreme pain. That’s why our work injury lawyers have created a list of the most popular workplace injury FAQs. If we don’t answer all your questions here, be sure to contact a Sandy Springs workers’ compensation lawyer at Ashenden & Associates.
Workers compensation is regular payouts from your employer’s insurance company that are designed to help injured employees heal and then eventually return to work. Workers comp benefits typically include expenses for medical treatment, rehabilitative treatment, and of course – lost wages. If the employee dies on the job, workers compensation can provide the employee’s family with a variety of benefits as well.
Georgia law mandates that all businesses with more than three employees have workers compensation insurance. You don’t have to work a certain number of days before you’re covered by workers compensation; Georgia employees are covered from their first day on the job.
If you’re still not sure if your employer provides workers compensation benefits, then you can click here and then click “verify workers’ compensation insurance coverage” in the “Popular Topics” section.
You can start receiving workers’ compensation if your injury causes you to miss more than 7 days of work. You should receive your first check in the mail within 21 days of filing a workers’ compensation claim.
An injured employee can receive two-thirds of their average weekly income for an accident if the injury occurred on or after July 1, 2022. The maximum weekly workers compensation settlement that someone can receive in Georgia is $725.
The answer to this question mostly depends on the severity of the injury and how long it takes the employee to reach maximum medical improvement. However, an injured employee can receive workers comp benefits for up to 400 weeks if their accident occurred on or after July 1, 1992.
If an employee has sustained catastrophic injuries, they may be eligible for lifetime benefits through their employer’s insurance company. If the employee has reached maximum medical improvement and has been cleared to work with limitations or restrictions, then they may be eligible for reduced workers comp benefits.
Yes, family members who are financially dependent on a deceased employee will receive money to cover medical costs, lost wages, and funeral/burial costs. Georgia law specifies that only a surviving spouse, children, or stepchildren can receive these benefits.
Surviving family members will receive two-thirds of the deceased employee’s weekly wages (or a max payment of $725 per week) if the work-related death occurred on or after July 1, 2022. A surviving spouse with no children will receive a max settlement of $290,000 unless they remarry or begin living with another partner.
Yes, you can receive both types of benefits at the same time, but your social security benefits may be reduced.
In order to start receiving benefits for a work-related injury, employees must file workers compensation claims with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation in Georgia within one year of the accident. You must fill out a WC-14 form and then send a copy to your employer and their insurance company.
There are some cases where a judge or an employer denies workers’ comp benefits. Or sometimes the injured employee receives far less damages from their work injury claim than they need. In situations like this, employees may be able to file a work injury lawsuit. If it all goes well, the employee can receive the fair settlement they deserve following their accident. A Sandy Springs workers’ comp lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of denied workplace injury claims.
Why You Need a Workplace Injury Lawyer On Your Side
The workers’ compensation process can be incredibly complicated and tedious. Some workers compensation claims are denied by judges for various reasons. Others are approved, but don’t provide enough money for the amount of medical expenses that the injured worker is dealing with. That’s why it’s always a good idea to work with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at Ashenden & Associates.
We can walk you through the entire workers’ compensation claim process, ensure that you fill out all the right paperwork, ensure that you send your workplace injury claim form to all the right people, ensure that you receive the financial compensation you deserve, and protect your legal rights the whole time.
Call a Sandy Springs Work Injury Lawyer at Ashenden & Associates Today
If you have suffered a work related injury, you may be eligible to collect workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. Our workplace injury lawyers have decades of combined experience in dealing with the workers compensation system and helping injured workers receive the financial compensation they deserve. Call 770-394-8909 to schedule a free consultation at our Sandy Springs workplace injury law firm today.
