What Should I Do If an Accident Happens on the Job in Georgia?

You may know the steps to follow after a car accident, but what do you do after an accident at work? How do you seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses?

An experienced Georgia workplace injury attorney discusses what to do after an on-the-job accident and what legal options are available.

What Should I Do After a Workplace Accident?

After an accident at work, the following steps can help protect your health and legal rights.

Seek Medical Attention

Immediately after a workplace accident, you should seek medical attention. Even if you don’t require emergency medical treatment at the time, see a doctor for an evaluation as soon as possible. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more difficult it may be for you to prove your accident caused your injury.

Talk to Witnesses

Ask around to see whether anyone witnessed your accident. Take note of their name and contact information. Witness testimony can help support your workers’ compensation claim.

Report Your Accident

Make a written report of the accident to your manager, a member of the HR department, or someone else of authority at your workplace. Georgia workers’ compensation laws typically require you to report the accident within 30 days to qualify for benefits.

Document Your Time Away

After missing work for seven days or more, you may be eligible for payment of lost income. Extended absences due to injury may qualify you for temporary or permanent disability. If you have to work fewer hours or in a lower-paying position, you may still be eligible for partial disability benefits.

Call an Attorney

While workers’ compensation should cover on-the-job injuries, your employer or their insurer may deny your claim. Or, they may pressure you to return to work before you have recovered. A Georgia workplace injury attorney can help you claim the maximum benefits available under the law.

What Options Do I Have After a Work-Related Injury?

Workers’ compensation in Georgia covers injuries that occur during work activities. However, when claimed, it can mean you cannot sue your employer for injuries. This system makes it easier for injured workers to receive benefits in exchange for not suing their employer for every injury that happens at work. 

After an on-the-job injury in Georgia, you typically have the following two options:

Workers’ Compensation Claim

If your employer or a coworker caused your workplace injury, filing a workers’ comp claim is typically your key option. Workers’ compensation should pay medical benefits for any treatment you need to recover from your work-related injury. 

After you’ve been out of work for at least a week, Georgia workers’ compensation should also provide two-thirds of the wages you made before the accident. However, the state caps those benefits at $675 per week, regardless of your full salary amount.

Third-Party Personal Injury Claim

If you were injured at the hands of a third party, however, you may also qualify to file a personal injury claim.

For example, if defective equipment caused your injury, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. If you were injured at another business while making a delivery, you may qualify for a claim against the owner of that establishment. If a vehicle crashed into you while you were running a work-related errand, you may have a case against the driver.

Contact a Georgia Workplace Injury Attorney Today

Was your workers’ compensation claim denied? Do you think you have a claim against a third party for a job-related injury? Contact The Foster Firm today at 404.559.8325 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced, compassionate attorneys.