Did you or a family member suffer injuries because of a construction site accident in Waynesboro, GA? While most injured workers know they can file a claim for workers’ compensation, you may also be entitled to damages under Georgia personal injury laws. An experienced Waynesboro construction accident lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you fight for the fair amount you deserve.
Our lawyers have over 71 years of collective experience helping injured clients fight for fair compensation. Our work has paid off–and we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars.
Contact our law offices in Waynesboro, Georgia at (706)-437-9122 to learn more. Your initial consultation is always free, so don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help After a Construction Accident in Waynesboro, GA
You may quickly begin to feel overwhelmed with the process of recovering compensation after a construction accident. Workers’ compensation laws can be complex. You may not be sure whether you have a valid personal injury claim. Our Waynesboro personal injury lawyers can help you through the entire process.
Our lawyers have won some of the largest verdicts in the area–including a $30 million verdict. While every case is different, we’ll use our years of experience to your advantage.
Hiring Hawk Law Group means you’ll have an experienced legal team to handle every aspect of your case, including:
- Conducting an investigation into your accident
- Identifying the parties who were responsible for the accident
- Evaluating your rights under Georgia personal injury laws
- Filing your workers’ compensation claim
- Handling any challenges to your right to benefits
- Making sure you’re getting the full compensation you deserve
- Negotiating with the insurance companies on your behalf
It doesn’t cost anything to learn how an experienced Waynesboro personal injury attorney can help with your case–so you don’t have to rely on a generic lawyer directory. All you have to do is call us to schedule your free consultation today.
How Common Are Construction Accidents in Waynesboro?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that every year, about 20% of all workplace fatalities occur in the construction industry.
In the state of Georgia, 37 construction workers were killed in fatal construction accidents in 2020. Another 47 employees were killed on the job in 2019.
What is My Waynesboro Construction Accident Case Worth?
Our lawyers will examine a number of different factors when we’re evaluating your case value.
Some of the most important factors are:
- The severity of your injury
- The cost of your medical treatment
- The duration of your recovery
- Your lost wages and average weekly wages prior to the accident
- Whether your disability prevents you from working or your doctor recommends light-duty work
- The identity of the at-fault party and whether you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit
Workers’ compensation benefits can offer a valuable lifeline for many injured construction workers. Still, they are limited.
Regardless of your prior earnings history, Georgia state law limits the value of your weekly workers’ compensation check. Each week, the maximum you can receive under workers’ comp laws is $725 per week (if your accident occurred on or after July 1, 2022).
Further, you’ll only receive about ⅔ of your average weekly wages prior to the accident.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Georgia Construction Accident Victims?
Workers’ compensation in Georgia provides a few different types of benefits, including:
- Reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Total disability benefits to cover a portion of your lost wages
- Partial disability benefits if you’re able to work in some capacity during your recovery
- Disability benefits for hearing or vision loss
- Death benefits to survivors of fatal construction accident victims
Personal injury cases allow victims to seek compensation for their economic losses and non-economic losses. In other words, you can pursue compensation for your financial costs and your more intangible and personal losses.
More specifically, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical care not covered by workers’ comp
- Lost wages above the workers’ compensation caps
- Reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
While you can’t file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer, you may have a valid claim if your accident was caused by a negligent driver, property owner, or manufacturer of defective work equipment.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Construction Accident in Georgia?
Georgia’s modified comparative negligence laws don’t apply when you file a claim for workers’ compensation. You’re entitled to compensation even if you’re blamed for the accident.
In the personal injury context, you can recover damages if you’re less than 50% responsible for your injuries. If you’re at least 50% liable, you can’t pursue compensation from other parties who also share fault for the accident.
Our Waynesboro Construction Accident Attorneys Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
A serious construction accident can leave you struggling for months. Others are so severe that you may never fully recover. Regardless of whether your injuries were mild or severe, our attorneys in Waynesboro can help you fight for fair compensation.
We often represent construction accident victims who have suffered:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Internal injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
We know that you have a lot on your plate. However, you don’t have unlimited time to take legal action after an accident. So, we highly recommend that you consult an experienced Waynesboro construction accident attorney sooner rather than later.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Waynesboro, Georgia?
Many different factors can contribute to the cause of an accident on the job. However, some types of construction accidents are more common and dangerous than others.
According to OSHA, the most dangerous types of construction accidents are:
- Fall accidents
- Accidents where workers are caught between two objects
- Electrocutions
- Accidents where workers are struck by a falling object
Why are so many of these accidents happening? Some of the leading causes of construction accidents include:
- An employer’s failure to provide proper safety equipment
- Lack of fall protection
- Defective safety equipment or tools
- Negligently installed scaffolding
- Violation of state and federal safety rules
- Failure to communicate effectively
- Hiring under-qualified workers
- Failure to properly train or supervise employees
You can count on our lawyers to investigate and determine why your construction injuries occurred. Just call our law firm in Waynesboro to schedule a free case review today.
We Handle All Types of Construction Accident Claims
Our lawyers in Waynesboro handle all types of construction accident claims, including cases involving:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Scaffolding accidents or collapses
- Building collapse
- Falls from roofs or ladders
- Electrocution and electric shock
- Toxic exposure
- Welding accidents
- Accidents involving heavy machinery
- Trenching accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Workplace violence
- Negligent security
- Premises liability
Construction is a dangerous industry. Still, if you’re injured on the job, you deserve to be compensated. Our lawyers serving Waynesboro are here to help you recover money for all of your losses. If you were injured in an accident, call our team to learn more about creating an attorney-client relationship.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Construction Accident in Georgia?
Negligence is the legal basis for most personal injury claims. Injured construction workers aren’t required to prove negligence to receive workers’ comp benefits in Georgia. However, if you’re entitled to file a third-party claim, it’s likely that you’ll be required to prove negligence.
To prove negligence, the victim must establish:
- The responsible party’s legal duty of care
- A breach of duty
- The breach was the direct and proximate cause of the accident
- The damages you suffered
Often, different parties to an accident have their own version of events. While you may be sure someone else caused the accident, that person may be just as certain that the accident was your fault. Our lawyers will launch our own investigation and gather evidence on your behalf.
It’s always best to start investigating soon after an accident. You can get started by calling our team for a free initial consultation today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Georgia?
The personal injury statute of limitations in Georgia is only two years. You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages.
First and foremost, however, you should notify your employer about the accident. You have only 30 days to report your injury. If you wait any longer to provide the required notice, you could lose the right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Contact a Waynesboro Construction Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Are you struggling with painful injuries after a construction site accident? An experienced Waynesboro construction accident lawyer can fight to protect your right to full compensation. To learn more, call Hawk Law Group for a free case evaluation today.
