Were you or a family member injured in a construction site accident in Augusta, GA? Recovering full workers’ compensation benefits can be a challenge without help. You may be entitled to compensation from negligent third parties for other losses like pain and suffering.

Hawk Law Group has represented injury victims and their families for more than 30 years in cases like Augusta workplace accidents, burn injuries, premises liabilities, bus accidents in Augusta, nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, and more.

Contact our Augusta law office for a free consultation with an Augusta construction accident lawyer. We will help you fight for the compensation you need from all sources. Call us at (706) 722-3500 today!

How Hawk Law Group Can Help You After a Construction Accident in Augusta, GA

Workers’ compensation is designed to provide injured workers with medical care and replace lost wages. However, the system has many drawbacks. The insurer may deny your claim, undervalue your damages, or send you to a physician who approves you to return to work before you’re ready.

The personal injury lawyers in Augusta at Hawk Law Group will serve as your tireless advocates in recovering compensation after your construction accident. Our law office was founded by Vic Hawk, a champion member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Attorney Hawk has recovered life-changing verdicts and settlements for his clients, including Jenkins County’s largest personal injury verdict. 

Here is what our law firm in Augusta, Georgia, will do to help you with your case:

  • Provide legal advice and support through every stage of your claim and/or lawsuit
  • Help you develop strong vocational and medical evidence
  • Negotiate a settlement with the insurance company
  • Represent you during a workers’ compensation hearing
  • Identify any third parties who may share liability for your injuries

We have extensive experience at the negotiation table and in the courtroom.

Contact our law office today to schedule a free initial consultation with an Augusta construction site accident lawyer ready to help you.

How Common Are Construction Accidents in Georgia?

Construction workers have an extremely high rate of work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. About 20% of all workplace deaths in the U.S. are in the construction industry. Over a 45-year career, a construction worker has a 75% chance of being disabled on the job. They have a 1 in 200 chance of suffering a fatal work-related injury.

In 2019, there were 4,900 nonfatal construction injuries in Georgia. Over 2,900 required time off work, work restrictions, or a job transfer. There were also 47 fatal workplace injuries in construction that year, the highest of any industry.

Transportation accidents are a leading cause of construction deaths, especially work zone crashes. In 2018, 52 people were fatally injured in work zone crashes in Georgia.

What is My Augusta Construction Accident Case Worth?

There is no easy way to estimate the value of your case without a careful evaluation. If you can only seek compensation through workers’ comp, the value of your claim will be limited to medical and disability benefits. You will not be eligible for compensation for your personal losses.

If you have a third-party personal injury claim, your case will likely be worth more. However, the value will depend on whether you contributed to your accident, the strength of your case, and the severity of your injuries, among other things.

To better understand your case’s worth, schedule a free case review with an Augusta construction accident attorney at Hawk Law Group today.

We Handle all Types of Construction Accident Cases in Augusta, GA

Hawk Law Group represents construction workers who have been hurt in all types of workplace accidents, including:

  • Car accidents and other transportation accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Toxic exposure
  • Crane accidents
  • Forklift accidents
  • Fall from a height
  • Scaffolding accidents
  • Electric shock or electrocution accidents
  • Falling object accidents
  • Heavy machinery accidents
  • Fires and explosions
  • Defective equipment accidents

No matter how your injuries occurred, our Augusta construction accident lawyers are here to give you the strong legal representation you need. Call today to learn more about our practice areas.

What Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims?

You may be entitled to workers’ compensation and/or financial damages through a third-party claim after your workplace accident.

Georgia Workers’ Compensation Benefits

An injured construction worker is almost always entitled to workers’ compensation benefits after an on-the-job accident. 

Workers’ compensation provides the following types of benefits:

  • Medical benefits, which pay for reasonable medical treatments related to your injury
  • Permanent partial disability (PPD), which compensate for the loss of use of a body part. Benefits are paid for a specific number of weeks based on the injured body part. This ranges from 20 weeks for a small toe to 300 weeks for the whole body.
  • Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits pay 2/3 of your average weekly wages for a specific number of weeks based on your disability rating. Benefits are capped at $675 per week.
  • Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits are capped at $450 per week for up to 350 weeks or until you are authorized to return to your job without restrictions. You can recover 2/3 of the difference between your current wages and pre-injury wages.
  • Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits accounting for two-thirds of your average weekly wages for life.
  • Death benefits for surviving families after a workplace fatality. This includes $7,500 in burial expenses and up to 400 weeks of weekly benefits for a spouse and/or dependents.

Georgia law excludes independent contractors from workers’ comp protection, but “employees” of a subcontractor are eligible for benefits. If the subcontracting company is not required to carry workers’ compensation, injured subcontractors can be classified as a “statutory employee” of the general contracting company.

For instance, a construction company may hire a subcontractor to find and hire specialists like roofers and electricians who are independent contractors. Under Georgia law, the subcontractor may not be required to provide workers’ comp benefits, but the construction company may have to offer benefits. These independent contractors may be considered “statutory employees.”

Note that workers’ compensation comes with significant limitations. Benefits are capped and may not fully compensate you for your lost earnings. Moreover, you cannot recover non-economic losses like anguish, reduced quality of life, and pain.

Georgia Third-Party Injury Claims

Workers’ compensation generally bars you from suing your employer. However, if a negligent third party caused your injuries, you may be entitled to seek damages outside of workers’ compensation. This may include a general contractor, manufacturer, property owner, subcontractor, engineer, or motorist.

In a third-party personal injury claim, you can seek the lost wages and medical bills not covered by workers’ comp. You can also recover compensation for personal losses like your pain and suffering, anguish, distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Partially at Fault for My Construction Accident in Augusta, Georgia?

You are still entitled to compensation even if you contributed to your construction accident. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system. You are entitled to benefits unless your accident involved drugs, alcohol, or willful misconduct like fighting.

If you pursue a third-party claim, comparative negligence will come into play. Georgia’s modified comparative negligence rule bars you from recovering damages in a lawsuit if you were 50% or more at fault. If you were less than 50% to blame, your recovery is reduced according to your share of the blame.

We’ll Fight for Compensation for All Your Construction Accident Injuries

Construction workers face many risks, including electric shock, falls, heavy machinery, and dangerous chemicals. At Hawk Law Group, we are committed to seeking fair compensation for the injuries you sustained while doing your job. 

We represent clients who have suffered serious construction injuries, including:

We will help you pursue full compensation through every available source. Contact our law office today for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer serving A

What Causes Most Construction Site Accidents in Augusta, GA?

Construction sites have inherent dangers, ranging from fall hazards and heavy equipment to toxic chemicals and electrical hazards.

The “fatal four” are responsible for 60% of all construction fatalities:

  • Falls
  • Struck by objects
  • Electrocution
  • Caught in or between objects

However, workers are also injured or killed by toxic exposure to chemicals, explosions/fires, and transportation accidents also cause many accidents.

Many construction site accidents are ultimately due to:

  • Lack of protective equipment (PPE)
  • Lack of fall protection
  • Unsafe or defective equipment
  • Missing protections or guards
  • Trip hazards like extension cords
  • Poor communication about hazards
  • Inadequate training or supervision

Sadly, most workplace injuries are completely avoidable. Falls are the leading cause of construction deaths, and a lack of fall protection and training has been the most common Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) violation for a decade.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Georgia?

You generally have 30 days to notify your employer of a work-related injury or illness. This deadline begins on the date of your accident. You typically have one year from the date of your accident to file a workers’ compensation claim.

If you are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against a third party, your case must be filed within two years under Georgia’s statute of limitations.

It’s crucial to consult with an experienced Augusta personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Your deadlines may be longer or shorter, depending on your circumstances. Missing a deadline can bar you from recovering the compensation your family needs.

Contact an Augusta Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

An on-the-job accident can not only deprive you of your ability to earn a living; it can leave you with lifelong impairment, pain, and reduced quality of life. 

At Hawk Law Group, we serve Augusta construction workers who need compensation after their injuries. 

Contact our law office to schedule a free initial consultation with an Augusta construction accident lawyer today.

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Augusta, GA

338 Telfair St. Augusta, GA 30901
(706) 722-3500

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