Work injuries can happen anywhere, at any time, and in any field of employment. From torn shoulder muscles to crushed limbs, workers’ compensation covers a wide range of injuries suffered while on the job.

These are the most common situations by which Georgia workers sustained injuries:

1. Transportation Accidents - 40% of employees injured are due to motor vehicle accidents. Workplace transportation accidents may involve automobile collisions with objects or other vehicles, or being struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian in a work zone.
2. Violence - This category includes workplace homicides, shootings, stabbings, and beatings. Often, these injuries are caused by workplace fights or an angry employee. Animal attacks, like dog bites, may also be liable for workers’ compensation if a worker, such as a delivery person or outdoor maintenance worker, was attacked while doing their job.
3. Slip and Fall Accidents - Falling, slipping, and tripping represent 20% of occupational injuries. Slip and fall injuries can happen anywhere and are especially damaging for older employees.
4. Contact Injuries - This type of injury happens when a worker is caught in or crushed by objects or equipment; caught in or snagged by machinery while it’s running; electrocuted; struck by an object or piece of equipment; or struck by a powered vehicle. Workers who are most at-risk for contact injuries are those who are employed in places where large pieces of machinery and heavy equipment are used every day.

Any accident that causes injury or death to a worker while on the job or using company equipment will most likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Here are some examples of workers’ compensation cases that our law firm has handled…

Retail Employee Suffers Back Injury

When boxes started to fall from a high shelf, the employee twisted around to catch them. In doing so, she injured her back, describing the pain as a “popping sensation.” Afterward, pain and numbness continued to radiate down her hips and legs.

After trying to handle her workers’ compensation claim on her own, the injured employee knew she needed to hire an attorney since the insurance claims adjuster refused to take her injury seriously.

Delivery Driver Struck in the Back of the Head

A delivery driver was struck in the back of the head by a faulty warehouse bay door. He woke up on the ground and was rushed to the emergency room. Scans revealed that he had suffered injuries to several cervical discs as well as a severe concussion. During his months-long recovery process, the injured worker underwent a cervical discectomy and cervical fusion surgeries.

Forklift Driver’s Foot Crushed

A forklift driver's right foot was crushed by a large coil. X-rays and scans revealed the worker had suffered broken toes, a dislocated foot, torn ligaments, and two broken bones along the top of her foot. She had to undergo extensive surgery to repair the damage.

Worker Falls Off a Scissor Lift

The worker was thrown from a scissor lift onto the pavement while on the job. They suffered a broken hip, a broken foot, and a herniated disc in their lower back. Their injuries required them to undergo hip surgery, attend physical therapy for their low back pain, and wear an orthopedic boot for the foot.

ER Nurse Suffers a Herniated Disc

An ER nurse herniated a lumbar disc in her spine while moving a heavy, unconscious patient. The work injury required her to get injections, attend physical therapy, then undergo a lumbar discectomy.

Other Types of Work Injuries

There are many types of harm that can befall a worker on the job. A work injury can happen in an instant or develop over time. No two workers’ compensation cases are alike.

Here are some other examples of work injuries that may qualify for work injury benefits:

• Amputation
• Back Injuries (bulging or herniated discs, etc.)
• Broken Bones
• Crushed Limbs
• Hand Injuries
• Hearing Loss
• Knee Injuries (torn meniscus, dislocation, etc.)
• Losing an Eye
• Lung Disease
• Scarring/Disfigurement
• Shoulder Injuries (torn rotator cuff, dislocation, etc.)
• Spinal Cord Injuries (paralysis, spinal stenosis, etc.)
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (concussion, skull fracture, brain bleed, etc.)

Depending on the work injury, a person may be out of work and recovering for months. Even if an injured worker returns to their job, their doctor may require that they only do light-duty work for a time.

Severe or catastrophic injuries may leave a person with permanent disabilities that make it difficult for them to rejoin the workforce.

Georgia Lawyer for Workers’ Compensation

Sometimes an employer or the business’ insurance company tries to deny your claim. They may try to bully or guilt you into not filing, or the company doctor you have been assigned to isn’t taking your injuries seriously.

If you were hurt on the job, do not try and take on the insurance companies and their lawyers by yourself. Too many times, an injured worker has tried to handle their workers’ compensation claim on their own only to get trapped in the bureaucratic web of red tape.

Our experienced workers’ compensation law firm is here to help. Our attorneys have been handling workers’ compensation claims in Georgia for more than 30 years. We know what forms to fill out, the deadlines you need to meet, and the delay tactics the insurance company will try to use to get out of paying what they owe.

Contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at (770) 934-8000 to get the legal help you need to advocate for your rights. The call is free, and you don’t pay any money upfront. We only get paid if we successfully settle your workers’ compensation claim.