Did you or a family member sustain injuries in a construction site accident in Thomson, GA? You may be entitled to compensation under Georgia personal injury laws in addition to your workers’ compensation. An experienced Thomson construction accident lawyer at Hawk Law Group can work to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and even pain and suffering.
Our lawyers have over 71 years of combined experience. We’ve used that experience to help our injured clients recover tens of millions of dollars in personal injury settlements and verdicts.
Contact our law offices in Thomson, Georgia, today at (706)-361-0350 for a free consultation with a lawyer who can help you maximize your compensation award.
How Can Hawk Law Group Help After a Construction Accident in Thomson?
Recovering fair compensation after a workplace accident should be simple. After all, the state has a no-fault workers’ compensation system in place. Unfortunately, many injured workers have their claims denied unfairly. The insurance company may claim that your injuries were not work-related or try to minimize your disability.
An experienced Thomson personal injury lawyer at Hawk Law Group can protect your rights.
Our lawyers have recovered some of the highest verdicts in the area–including one $30 million verdict. While every case is different, we know how to navigate the complexities you may face.
Hire us, and we will:
- Investigate to determine whether you’re entitled to sue for damages outside the workers’ comp system
- File your initial claim for workers’ comp benefits
- Handle any appeals
- Calculate the fair value of your case
- Hire experts and specialists to strengthen your case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf
The insurance companies aren’t on your side, but our Thomson personal injury attorneys are. To learn more about how we can help, call for a free consultation today.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in Thomson?
Construction sites are some of the most dangerous workplaces in Georgia and across the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 4,764 fatal work accidents were reported across the country in 2021, and 976 workplace deaths were in the construction industry. About 35,200 non-fatal construction accident injuries were reported in 2021.
A total of 193 fatal work accidents were reported in the State of Georgia in 2021. Of those, 37 were in the construction industry. In other words, nearly 20% of all workplace deaths occur in the construction industry.
While construction accidents are extremely common, there are many different ways to get hurt on the job.
At Hawk Law Group, we often handle construction accident claims involving:
- Scaffolding accidents
- Roof and ladder falls
- Building collapses
- Fires and explosions
- Electrocutions and electric shock
- Exposure to toxic chemicals and substances
- Industrial accidents
- Welding accidents
- Accidents involving cranes, forklifts, and heavy machinery
- Unsafe or defective work equipment
- Truck accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Nail gun accidents
If you were injured on the job, you don’t have to handle your workers’ comp claim alone. Our lawyers can help you file a claim, handle any appeals and determine whether you’re eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit.
What Is My Thomson Construction Accident Case Worth?
Before we provide an estimate, our lawyers will have to assess the circumstances of your personal injury accident and injury. There is no one size fits all approach to valuing your case.
Many different factors are relevant in establishing your case value. The most important include:
- Whether you’re able to file a personal injury lawsuit or are limited to workers’ compensation benefits
- The type of injuries you sustained
- Whether you suffer a permanent disability or impairment
- The cost of your medical treatment
If you’re limited to workers’ compensation benefits, the following factors will determine the value of your wage replacement benefits:
- Your average weekly wages prior to the accident
- Whether you are totally disabled or able to work on light duty
- The duration of your recovery
Generally, workers’ comp reimburses injured workers for about ⅔ of their average weekly wages. However, your weekly check is also subject to a statewide cap. In 2022, your weekly check cannot exceed $725, regardless of your prior earnings history.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Construction Accident Victims?
The types of damages you may recover depend on the system you use to recover damages.
Workers’ compensation benefits in the State of Georgia include:
- All reasonable and necessary medical costs related to the injury
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits for victims who are temporarily unable to work
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits for victims who can work in some capacity during recovery
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits for victims who have lost the use of a body part but can work in a limited capacity
- Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits for victims who are unable to work again
- Death benefits for families of fatal work accident victims
In a personal injury lawsuit, victims can recover compensation to cover their economic losses and their non-economic losses.
Examples of the types of compensation you may be able to recover include:
- Any medical expenses not covered under workers’ comp
- The full amount of your lost wages and employment benefits
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and therapies
- In-home assistance
- Medications, medical devices, and home modifications
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Chronic pain
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Medical bills, pay stubs, and testimony from experts can all be used to establish the types of damages you’ve sustained.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in Georgia?
Workers’ comp benefits are available even if the insurance company can prove you caused the accident.
Shared fault rules are relevant in the personal injury context. Under Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law, victims can recover compensation if they’re less than 50% responsible for an accident. Once your percentage of fault is equal to or exceeds 50%, you forfeit your right to recover damages.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Construction Accident Injuries
Hawk Law Group has represented countless families whose lives have been changed forever by a serious construction accident.
We know that a work accident can change your life in unanticipated ways, and we’ll fight to recover full compensation for:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Hearing loss
- Eye injuries
- Occupational illness
- Burns
- Amputations
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Internal injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Workers’ compensation is there to protect you. That doesn’t mean you’ll automatically receive the full benefits you deserve. Contact our Thomson construction accident attorneys for a free case review to learn more about how we can work to protect your rights.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Thomson, Georgia?
By their nature, construction sites are dangerous places. Still, most construction site accidents are preventable.
Some of the most common causes of construction accidents in Thomson include:
- Failure to provide proper fall protection equipment
- Missing or damaged guardrails
- Lack of proper safety equipment
- Defective or improperly installed scaffolding
- Failure to provide adequate training and supervision
- Hiring unqualified workers
- Defective work equipment and tools
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Exposure to live electricity
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Communication failures
- Violations of state and OSHA federal safety regulations
- Negligent security and workplace violence
Our attorneys working in Thomson will investigate your accident to find out why it happened. To learn more about how we can help, call our law firm for a free initial consultation today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Construction Accident in Georgia?
Negligence is the legal basis for most personal injury claims. You may be required to prove negligence if your injuries were caused by a negligent third party, including:
- General contractors
- Negligent property owners
- Manufacturers of defective work tools or equipment
- Engineers or architects
- The at-fault driver in a car accident
To prove negligence, you must establish:
- The third party owed you a duty of care
- They breached that duty
- The breach caused your accident
- You suffered damages
Workers’ compensation claims aren’t based on negligence. You can receive workers’ compensation even if you were entirely responsible for your accident. On the other hand, you’re prohibited from suing your employer for additional damages.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Georgia?
Georgia law limits the amount of time you have to take legal action after a construction accident.
You have 30 days to report your injury to your supervisor. If you fail to do so, you may lose your right to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
In personal injury cases, the statute of limitations in Georgia is two years. You have two years from the date the accident occurs to file a lawsuit.
Contact a Thomson Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
The insurance companies aren’t looking out for your best interests. If you were injured on the job, an experienced Thomson construction accident lawyer can make sure you understand your legal rights and options. Call Hawk Law Group today or fill out our contact form to learn more about this area of law.
