Were you or a family member injured on a construction site in Evans, GA? Work injury claims for construction workers are handled differently than in other cases. You may be entitled to compensation under both workers’ compensation laws and personal injury laws. An experienced Evans construction accident lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Collectively, our lawyers have over 71 years of experience fighting for injured workers in Georgia. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for accident victims over the years.
If you need help, call our law offices in Evans, Georgia, at (706) 863-6500 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney today.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help After a Construction Accident in Evans
Your choice when hiring an attorney is a serious one. You deserve a lawyer with specialized experience handling cases similar to yours. At Hawk Law Group, our Evans personal injury lawyers have won some of the highest verdicts in the area. We have decades of experience helping injured workers recover fair benefits.
We’d be proud to stand up for you by:
- Investigating the cause of your accident and reviewing police reports
- Hiring trusted experts in various fields to prove your case
- Defending you if the insurance company or your employer denies your workers’ comp claim
- Determining whether you have a valid personal injury case
- Determining whether you’re receiving the full benefits available
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
The law can be complicated and, unfortunately, often makes it difficult for people to recover the money they deserve. Without legal help, you risk taking less than you need to get by. Our Evans personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of winning cases like yours.
Learn more about our law group and experience by calling for a free consultation today.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in Evans?
Anyone who’s ever worked on 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.
In Georgia alone, 37 construction workers lost their lives in fatal construction accidents in 2020. Another 47 construction workers were killed on the job in 2019.
If you work in construction, you risk sustaining catastrophic or permanent injuries on a daily basis. When the worst happens, you deserve to be compensated. To learn more about how our attorneys in Evans can help protect your legal rights, call for a free case review today.
What Is My Evans Construction Accident Case Worth?
The value of your claim depends on many different factors. Injured workers who are entitled to file a personal injury claim tend to receive higher settlements.
However, the value of your case will also be impacted by:
- The length of your recovery time
- Whether you can work in any limited capacity during recovery
- Whether your future ability to earn a living is impacted
- Your average wages prior to the accident
- The cost of your medical care
Injured workers are entitled to receive about ⅔ of their wages during recovery. Your weekly check will also be subject to a statewide cap ($725 per week if your accident occurred on or after July 1, 2022).
What Types of Damages Are Available To Construction Accident Victims?
The types of damages you’ll receive depend on whether you’re limited to workers’ compensation or entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Georgia
All injured employees are entitled to file a claim for benefits under Georgia workers’ compensation laws.
Workers’ compensation benefits include:
- All reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits if you’re completely unable to work during your recovery
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits if you can work in some capacity and are expected to recover fully
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits, if you’ve lost the use of a body part but can work in some capacity
- Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits if you’re unable to work again
- Death benefits for survivors of fatal work accident victims
Note that only employees are entitled to these benefits–independent contractors are not covered. However, it’s possible that you could be eligible for benefits if you were employed by a subcontractor who doesn’t carry workers’ comp insurance. In these cases, you could be classified as an employee of the general contractor for workers’ comp purposes.
To learn more about your right to benefits, call our Evans workers’ compensation lawyers for a free case evaluation today. We can help assess your case value and protect you if your right to claim workers’ comp is challenged.
Types of Damages Available in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Not all injured workers are entitled to file a lawsuit for damages. If your employer caused your accident, you can’t sue for additional damages. That’s because your employer is protected under Georgia’s no-fault workers’ compensation laws.
However, you can file a lawsuit if you were hurt because of a negligent third party’s actions.
You may be entitled to sue for damages if your accident was caused by:
- The manufacturer of defective work equipment
- A negligent driver in an auto accident
- Third-party suppliers
- A property owner who failed to maintain the premises
- Subcontractors
By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you can recover damages for your economic losses and your non-economic losses.
Examples of the types of damages you may be entitled to receive include:
- Medical bills that workers’ compensation doesn’t cover
- 100% of your lost wages
- Reduced future earning potential
- Rehabilitation costs
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
- Anxiety or depression
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Our construction accident lawyers can help you evaluate your rights under Georgia personal injury laws. We’re always available to discuss your case, so call to schedule your appointment today.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in Georgia?
Workers’ compensation benefits are available regardless of whether you’re at fault for an accident. However, the amount of blame you share can impact your personal injury settlement or verdict. Under Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law, you can only sue for damages if you’re less than 50% responsible for the accident. Once your percentage of fault reaches 50%, you’re barred from filing a personal injury claim.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Construction workers risk sustaining serious and life-altering injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Internal injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Many of these injuries are avoidable even with the dangers associated with construction sites.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Evans, Georgia?
Some of the most common causes of construction accidents include:
- Lack of fall protection equipment
- Defective or dangerous scaffolding
- Failure to provide adequate training and supervision
- Negligent hiring practices and hiring unqualified workers
- Lack of adequate safety gear
- Unsafe work equipment and tools
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Exposure to live electricity and faulty electrical wiring
- Violations of state and federal safety regulations
- Negligent security
At Hawk Law Group, our Evans construction accident attorneys handle all types of work-related injury cases, including those involving:
- Scaffolding accidents and falls
- Falls from roofs, ladders, and other heights
- Electrocution
- Electric shock
- Industrial plant accidents
- Crane accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Nail gun accidents
- Welding accidents
- Building collapses
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Other motor vehicle accidents
- Accidents where workers are caught or crushed between two objects
- Accidents where workers are hit by falling objects
- Workplace violence
- Fires and explosions
Our lawyers have been representing injured workers for over 71 years. If you need help with your claim, you can count on us. Just call our law firm for a free case evaluation today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Construction Accident in Georgia?
You don’t have to establish negligence to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, most personal injury cases are based on negligence.
Proof of negligence requires establishing:
- The at-fault party’s legal duty of care
- Some type of breach of duty
- A direct causal link between the breach and your accident
- The damages you sustained
It’s also possible that your case could be based on strict liability. For example, in a product liability case, the manufacturer of defective work tools can be held liable without proof of negligence.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Georgia?
If you wait longer than 30 days to report your injury, you risk losing your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
If you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit for additional damages, the statute of limitations in Georgia gives you two years from the date of the accident to take legal action.
Contact an Evans Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one were injured on a construction site, don’t hesitate to contact Hawk Law Group to explore your legal options. An experienced Evans construction accident lawyer can fight to make sure you aren’t leaving money on the table.
