Although some workers across the United States have a higher risk of suffering workplace injuries because their workplace is inherently dangerous – such as those employed in the oil and gas industry – a work-related injury or fatality can occur at virtually any workplace at any time. When workers are injured on the job in Georgia, they can pursue compensation by filing a workers’ compensation claim. In most instances, this is the exclusive remedy available against an employer for a work-related injury. Georgia law generally does not allow an injured worker to maintain a lawsuit against his or her employer, in order to seek reimbursement for an on-the-job injury and the associated medical costs. If you have suffered work-related injuries in Georgia, and you think you may be entitled to financial compensation, contact our reputable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak today to discuss your legal options.
Understanding GA Workers’ Compensation
The workers’ compensation system in the United States is designed to protect workers who are injured on the job, and also to protect employers from the need to defend themselves against workplace injury lawsuits. Workers’ comp is paid for by employers, and, in the event of a work-related injury or death, workers or their loved ones receive payments for medical and other costs without having to sue their employer. Even if a worker’s injury was caused by the negligence of his or her employer or fellow employee, the law typically limits the worker to benefits available under the workers’ compensation system, including a portion of lost wages and medical bills.
Georgia Third Party Liability Claims
In some instances of work-related injuries, the accident is caused not by the employer or a fellow employee, but by a third party, like an on-site engineer, contractor or subcontractor. Under these circumstances, an injured worker in Georgia may be able to file a third-party claim and recover all of his or her medical bills and lost wages, in addition to compensation for pain and suffering. If a Georgia worker is injured by a machine or piece of equipment that is faulty, inherently dangerous or that failed to work properly, and the manufacturer failed to provide a proper warning, the injured worker may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the product manufacturing company for compensation. Along similar lines, if a worker falls ill because of exposure to a toxic substance in the workplace – like radium, asbestos, or silica – the worker may be able to sue the company that manufactured the substance.
Contact Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers Today
It is easy for injured workers and their loved ones to become discouraged in the aftermath of a serious or life-altering on-the-job injury. In some cases, those who are injured in Georgia are unable to return to work for a period of time or indefinitely, which can put a significant financial burden on the injured worker and his or her family. If you have been injured in a workplace accident in Atlanta, Marietta or elsewhere in Georgia, your first course of action should be to enlist the help of our knowledgeable lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak. Our law firm is located in Atlanta, and our attorneys have years of experience protecting the legal rights of injured workers throughout Georgia. With our skilled lawyers on your side, you can pursue the compensation you deserve and protect yourself and your family from further harm.