You deserve to be safe while at work. If you were hurt on the job in Macon, GA, call The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for help. Our Macon workplace accident lawyers will explain how workplace injury law applies to your case and fight for maximum compensation. You might be entitled to compensation from an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
We have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients. Don’t miss out on the money that you need and deserve.
Contact our law offices today to schedule a free consultation at (478) 292-7272. We can offer preliminary legal advice and review your case at that time.
How The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Workplace Accident in Macon, GA
Our Macon injury attorneys at The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers have over 16 years of combined experience. Founding Attorney J.L. King II is one of the most experienced civil trial lawyers in South Georgia and was named a Super Lawyers Georgia Rising Star in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
After a workplace injury in Macon, Georgia, we will:
- Calculate your damages
- Investigate the accident
- File a workers’ compensation claim
- Appeal the claim if it is denied in part or in whole
- Negotiate with insurance and your company
- File a personal injury lawsuit if allowed in your case
Workplace injuries can be stressful. We can help you navigate the insurance claim and your relationship with your employer. If you work with us, you will be in good hands. Call our office to schedule a free consultation with a car accident attorney today.
What Is My Workplace Accident Case Worth?
People who suffer severe and permanent injuries tend to have more valuable cases. You need to consider several factors to estimate the value of your case. These factors include:
- The seriousness and permanence of your injuries
- The nature and cost of your medical treatment
- The length of your recovery
- How the accident happened
- If you can file a lawsuit or must recover damages through a workers’ compensation claim
- If you are unable to work (temporarily or permanently)
We can help you calculate your case’s value and can hire experts to assist along the way as well. This figure will give you an idea of what to expect at the end of your case. While you may get more or less money, you can use the estimate as a benchmark for negotiations and planning.
What Damages Are Available to Workplace Accident Victims in Macon?
Most people hurt on the job in Macon will recover damages through a workers’ compensation insurance claim. However, some people may also have a right to damages through a personal injury lawsuit.
Workers’ Compensation Claim
Nearly all Georgia employers must carry a workers’ compensation insurance policy. In a workers’ compensation claim, you can ask for medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages.
Workers’ compensation claims are no-fault. That means you can file a claim if you were hurt in the course of your job while working as an employee. It doesn’t matter if you are responsible for the injury (unless an exception applies, such as if you intentionally hurt yourself).
Workers’ compensation benefits, in most cases, usually include:
- Medical expenses, including rehabilitation
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Partial lost wages
- Death benefits
Many clients are surprised to learn that you can usually only recover partial lost wages in a workers’ compensation claim. You will get ⅔ of your weekly wages, capped at $800 weekly. Furthermore, most often, medical benefits are limited to a certain number of weeks.
The exception is that you may be entitled to lifetime benefits if you have a catastrophic injury.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you were hurt by a third party, you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. For example, if you were involved in a car accident while performing your work duties, you may be able to sue the at-fault driver.
Lawsuits open up the opportunity to recover more damages than workers’ comp claims, including non-economic losses. You cannot request non-economic damages through a workplace accident insurance claim, but you can in a personal injury lawsuit. Damages can include:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Full lost wages and lost future earnings
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of overall quality of life
- PTSD, anxiety, or depression
- Scarring or permanent disfigurement
- Out-of-pocket expenses
The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will explain if you can file a personal injury lawsuit or need to recover damages through a workers’ compensation claim. We will always pursue the option that maximizes your payment.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Workplace Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a workplace accident lawyer doesn’t have to be expensive. Your attorney’s fees depend on the outcome of the case. This is called a contingency fee arrangement. As the name suggests, their fee is contingent upon what happens.
You don’t have to pay your lawyer anything if you lose your case. If you win, you pay your lawyer a percentage of the money won. You will discuss this percentage in advance. Usually, it hovers between 33% – 40% of the damages.
The percentage will vary depending on the type of case and the work completed, to name a couple of factors.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Workplace Accident In Georgia?
Under workers’ compensation insurance, you can get full benefits even if you are responsible for the accident in most cases. That’s part of the benefit of the insurance system. It helps people get paid quickly because you don’t have to argue about fault.
If you file a personal injury lawsuit, you can only recover compensation if you are less than 50% responsible. If you are 50% or more at fault, you lose your right to recovery. This is called modified comparative negligence. An attorney can work to minimize the fault you are assigned.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Workplace Accident Injuries
You may have catastrophic injuries after a workplace accident. People who have dangerous jobs are more likely to get seriously hurt. However, even people with a relatively safe occupation may get hurt unexpectedly.
Some of the most common types of workplace injuries are:
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Chemical exposures
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Concussions
- Back and neck injuries
- Cuts and serious bruising
Our Macon workplace accident lawyers have helped clients suffering from various injuries. We will fight for full payment so you can get the medical treatment and supportive resources you need.
What Causes Most Workplace Accidents in Macon, GA?
In our experience, several frequent causes of workplace accidents in Macon exist. The more common are:
- Repetitive motions
- Slips and falls
- Overexertion
- Lack of safety training
- Lack of safety precautions or equipment
- Equipment malfunction
- Negligent hiring or oversight
- Falling objects
- Fires
- Chemical exposures
If you file a workers’ compensation claim, it generally doesn’t matter what caused the accident. That’s because you won’t have to prove fault. However, if you pursue damages through a lawsuit, we will investigate what happened and determine who is responsible.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Workplace Accident in Georgia?
You only need to prove negligence if you file a personal injury lawsuit. If you file a workers’ compensation insurance claim, you don’t need to prove that anyone was negligent.
Negligence has four elements:
Everyone owes others a duty of care. That duty is to act reasonably and cautiously to avoid hurting others. It means avoiding risks and doing things that are likely to cause an accident.
We breach this duty when we act unreasonably. If that breach causes an accident and someone gets hurt (physically, emotionally, or financially) then we are responsible for their damages.
The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can explain if negligence applies in your case. If it does, we will collect evidence to prove each element by a preponderance of the evidence.
Contact Our Macon Workplace Accidents Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you are filing a lawsuit, you have only two years from the accident. If you file a workers’ compensation claim, you must report the accident within 30 days. This will kick off the insurance process.
Either way, you should contact a Macon workplace accident lawyer immediately after an injury. This is the best way to protect your right to money and ensure you meet all deadlines.
Call our Macon, GA, office to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.
