Atlanta Injury Lawyers Blog

As we reported earlier today, an Atlanta Police Department off-duty officer was hit this morning while assisting a stranded motorist on I-285. We can now report that an arrest was made in this incident. Timothy Couch was arrested at the scene of the accident on a suspicion of driving while under the influence. The officer, as we understand, remains under observation at Grady Hospital. Per our previous report (click here), the off-duty officer may elect to pursue both a civil personal injury case against Mr. Couch and a workers compensation claim.

Our Atlanta personal injury and workers compensation law firm has learned that a Zone 4 Atlanta police officer was injured early this morning while he was assisting a stranded driver on the ramp from I-285 southbound to I-20 westbound. According the stranded driver, the APD officer was a friend who she had called to the scene because her vehicle had run out of gas. While the officer was assisting her, an apparent drunk driver struck the officer causing head and upper extremity injuries. It is our understanding that the at-fault driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The officer was transported to Grady Hospital for emergency care, and our thoughts are with both him and his family.

The injured officer certainly has a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, and, if the at-fault driver was, in fact, driving under the influence, the officer will have a right to pursue punitive damages. Depending on the extent of the officer's injuries, his case could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Interestingly, the injured officer may also have a workers' compensation claim which also could be worth a substantial sum. The information that we have obtained indicates that the officer was off-duty at the time of the accident, but an argument could be made that he was acting his capacity as a law enforcement officer at the time of the injury.

Our law office represents Clients in both personal injury and workers compensation cases, and given the facts of this accident, it is important that the injured officer retain a similarly structured law firm. The injured officer will want to ensure that the law firm that he retains to assist him has the capacity and expertise to pursue both his personal injury case and his workers' compensation claim.

As an Atlanta work injury law firm, we were saddened to learn of the death of a Douglas County construction worker this afternoon. According to reports that have been passed on to us, the RA-LIN employee was operating a skid steer machine at a construction site in the vicinity of North Douglas Elementary School when the incident occurred. Per witnesses on the scene, the worker exited the skid steer to remove some debris from the front shovel arm when the arm suddenly collapsed causing massive trauma to the worker's head and upper body. The Douglas County sheriff's office and federal OSHA officials are investigating.

The family of the deceased worker will almost certainly be entitled to millions of dollars in compensation as a consequence of this incident. The family will, of course, automatically be entitled financial benefits under Georgia's workers compensation laws. It is important that the family retain a knowledgeable lawyer to assist them in securing these benefits, however, as the workers compensation is complicated. In addition to compensation available under the workers compensation code, the family may have additional claims against the manufacturer of the skid steer. These machines are designed to be ultra-safe, and the collapse of the shovel arm would appear to indicate that there was some form of malfunction. It is important that the family immediately retain a lawyer to assist them with this claim, as pictures and an inspection of the machine will need to be obtained before the machine is repaired. If photographs and an inspection are not obtained before the machine is fixed, the value of the case may decrease significantly.

Our law firm has represented many families in workers compensation cases, and we have, unfortunately, all too often seen the value of these claims compromised as a consequence of a failure to quickly secure the assistance of an attorney. Insurance companies are concerned with limiting their financial exposure, and without a lawyer protecting the interests of these families, insurance companies work quickly to eliminate evidence detrimental to their interests. We hope that familiy's interests in this tragedy will be adequately protected.

Atlanta personal injury attorneys obtained a $5.47 million dollar verdict in a wrongful death case last week in DeKalb County, Georgia. The case involved a man who was killed while working at Atlanta-Hartsfield airport in June of 2007. The decedent was working on an expansion project at the airport, and his job was to direct dump trucks entering the work site. The man was killed when a dump truck driver ingnored stop signals and ran over him.

A wrongful death and pain and suffering claim was filed by Atlanta lawyers retained by the family of the decedent. The case was presented to a jury last week and, after only three days, the verdict was returned. Because the decedent was killed while at work, the family of the decedent is also entitled to a recovery under Georgia workers compensation laws.

As an Atlanta personal injury attorney and workers compensation lawyer, I am grateful that our Georgia juries are willing to issue large awards to the victims of tragic incidents such as this one. We have recovered millions of dollars for our injured Clients, and we continue to be inspired when verdicts like this are issued. Many of Georgia's best lawyers are in located in Atlanta, and it these types of vedicts are a testament to this.

As an Atlanta and North Georgia workers compensation attorney, our law firm is seeing more and more of our work injury Clients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). RSD, also referred to as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, is a chronic pain condition that is just starting to be understood by the medical community. Many of our Georgia workers compensation Clients who suffer from Fibromyalgia or RSD have serious and debilitating symptoms, with some being left wheelchair bound. As this is condition is not fully understood by most, it is important that individuals who suffer from RSD obtain the assistance of a Georgia attorney that is familiar with the condition.

RSD workers compensation claims can be valued in the hundreds of thousands, and sometimes, millions of dollars. This is because the debilitating nature of the condition requires intense medical treatment to curtail its effects. If treated early, the medical evidence indicates that full remission is quite possible. If proper medical care is neglected, however, individuals who suffer from the symtoms can be left irreversibly crippled.

Due to the potentially crippling result of Fibromyalgia or RSD, our work injury law firm immediately attempts to place our workers compensation Clients in the care of the foremost SD medical experts in Georgia. With Fibromyalgia and RSD Clients from North Georgia (Dalton, Blue Ridge, Ellijay, Rome), to Atlanta, to Columbus, Macon, Augusta and Savannah, we have worked with the best RSD doctors in Georgia.

As an Atlanta-based workers compensation law firm, we see more and more Clients who have suffered a work injury while working for United Parcel Service (UPS). Given the labor intensive nature of the work performed by many UPS employees, it is not unusual to see a catastrophic back or neck injury, a severe carpal tunnel injury, or a debilitating knee injury. While UPS does take measures to protect its employees from these types of work injuries, these precautions are sometimes simply ineffective.

Studies show that UPS has one of the highest workers compensation injury rates, with some reports suggesting that UPS averages 60,000 work injuries per month. These same reports also suggest that UPS averages one work-related death per month. Given these statistics, it is not unusual for our firm to field multiple calls per week from UPS employees.

UPS workers compensation claims can be valued in the hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of dollars. This is because the severity of the injures suffered by UPS employees typically require extensive medical care. Due to the value of these claims and the medical care required by injured UPS workers, it is imperative for injured UPS employees to, at the very least, discuss their claims with an experienced workers compensation attorney.

Atlanta is the headquarters for Home Depot, and the company employs hundreds of thousands of employees. Many of these workers are employed in labor intensive positions and, as such, it is not uncommon for our Atlanta-based law firm to advise potential Clients with respect to their Home Depot workers compensation or work injury claims. These injuries can range from a shoulder and knee injury, to brain and spine injury.

A work injury suffered by a Home Depot employee can be worth hundreds of thousands, and many times, millions of dollars. The value of the claim is dependent on the extent of the injury and the medical care required, and our Georgia law firm has extensive experience with these work injury cases. We can typically evaluate the settlement value of a claim fairly quickly, and we offer free case evaluations to our potential Clients.

As an Atlanta, Georgia based car accident and workers compensation law firm , we receive hundreds upon hundreds of telephone calls per year from potential Clients who simply ask "how much is my motor vehicle injury or work injury case worth?" In order to better assist our callers, we have created a Free 60 Second Case Evaluation. The process is simple: fill out our quick fill form (click this link) which takes less that 60 seconds to complete, and we'll get back to you within 10 minutes with a preliminary value for your case.

Although we have only recently started offering our Free 60 Second Personal Injury and Workers Compensation Case Evaluations, it has quickly become so popular and useful to potential Clients that we are now on call 24 hours per day. A Georgia personal injury, wrongful death, or workers compensation lawyer will respond quickly with a tentative case value and answer any all questions without cost. For those who wish to speak with our Georgia personal injury and workers compensation law firm immediately, please call 888.842.1616.

Although our firm is based in Atlanta, we have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients throughout Georgia. We handle cases from Dalton to Savannah and Augusta to Columbus. For those potential Clients outside of Georgia, we also offer nationwide attorney referrals for personal injury and workers compensation cases.

As an Atlanta workers compensation law firm , we have heard anecdotes about the lengths Wal-Mart will go to battle employees who have suffered a legitimate work injury while working for the company. During our many years handling work injury claims throughout Georgia for injured workers such as employees of Wal-Mart, the stories have become legendary. For years, the best workers compensation lawyers and attorneys in Atlanta and throughout Georgia have battled Wal-Mart to obtain the basic benefits that they are rightfully entitled to. Now, a group of injured workers are fighting back.

Wal-Mart employees have filed suit claiming that, in fighting workers' compensation claims, Wal-Mart has violated federal law. In particular, the injured workers contend that Wal-Mart conspires with its risk carriers and adjusters to undermine, control, and deny the medical care that they are entitled to. This argument has been supported by a number of reports and studies, and the Washington Department of Labor has gone so far as to state that Wal-Mart has "repeatedly and unreasonably delayed giving injured workers the benefits they were owed under workers' compensation laws, and, in some cases, Wal-Mart employees were not allowed to file workers' comp claims at all."

As Georgia workers compensation lawyers know well, employers can be conniving and cunning. The tactits purportedly enlisted by Wal-Mart are not unique, and we continue to fight against employers who fail to properly extend workers compensation benefits as required by law.

As an Atlanta workers compensation law firm handling work injury claims for employees and flight attendants injured while working for airlines such as Delta Airlines and AirTran Airways, we were interested in reviewing the 2010-2011 Flight Attendant Occupational Handbook which is published by the United States Department of Labor. We are keenly aware that Delta and AirTran workers compensation claims are frequent, as our lawyers understand that baggage handlers and flight attendants are at an increased risk for injury. The Department of Labor Report was enlightening, however, as it reveals that flight attendants injuries are more frequent than previously thought.

The Department of Labor publication indicates that flight attendants experience a higher than average work injury rate as compared to all other occupations. The handbook notes that most injuries to flight attendants will occur while opening storage compartments or while navigating beverage carts. Additionally, however, the handbook suggests that many medical conditions will occur as a consequence of the irregular eating and sleeping schedules maintained by flight attendants. Also, the cabin pressurization and recycled air may contribute to certain pulmonary illnesses. Finally, we were somewhat surprising to learn that another major source of flight attendant injuries is unruly passengers whom flight attendants are compelled to restrain on occasion.

We continue to read through new data released by the U.S. Department of Labor relating to work related deaths in Georgia. As an Atlanta work injury attorney, this information is of critical importance to us as it indicates in which industries our Clients are most at risk. The figures also reveal other statistical information, such as the average age of workers in occupational accidents, which assist Georgia injury attorneys in determining which Clients are more susceptible to work accidents.

Georgia workers compensation attorneys may be interested to learn that, of the 171 workers compensation deaths in Georgia in 2008, almost one-third (52) involved workers between the ages of 45-54. This statistical group was followed by 35 fatalities involving Georgia workers ages 35-44, and 30 deaths involving workers ages 25-34. Interestingly, older workers were just as susceptible to work related deaths in Georgia in 2008, as there were 35 deaths involving workers age 55 and older.

Another interesting data set released by the Department of Labor shows that of the 171 work deaths in Atlanta and throughout Georgia in 2008, 78 occurred in goods producing industries such as mining, construction, and manufacturing. Another 78 deaths occurred in service providing industries such as banking, leisure and hospitality, and the transportation. The remaining fatalities, 15, were related to government work activity, with 5 occurring at the federal level, and 10 at the local level.

A posting on our Atlanta Injury Lawyer blog last week discussed a recent statistical report published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle indicating that the number of Georgia workers compensation deaths declined in 2008. As an Atlanta workers compensation attorney, I had speculated that this drop was likely due to the U.S. economical climate which has led to a slowdown in the construction industry. Much to my surprise, however, further research has revealed that most workers compensation fatalities in Georgia are not related to work site accidents.

In 2008, of the 171 work deaths reported to the State Board of Workers Compensation, more than one-third were caused by car and truck accidents occurring in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. Specifically, 62 work accident fatalities were caused by car and truck accidents. As both an Atlanta car accident attorney and an Atlanta workers compensation attorney, this figure was unexpected.

Following car and truck accidents, the most common cause of work related deaths in Georgia was "contact with objects and equipment" and "falls," which each accounted for 28 work fatalities. "Assaults and violent acts" resulted in 26 occupational deaths in Georgia, with "fires or explosions" (16) and "exposure to harmful substances" (11) accounting for the remainder fatalities.

As an Atlanta work injury attorney, I was interested to read a statistical report released in this week's Atlanta Business Chronicle analyzing workers' compensation cases in Georgia. The report showed that in the calendar year 2008, wrongful deaths related to work accidents declined significantly. Atlanta work accidents relating in deaths dropped to 62 from a total of 90 in 2007, while Georgia occupational fatalities dropped to 171 from 193 in the previous year.

Atlanta injury lawyers, and workers compensation lawyers throughout Georgia, have suggested that they have seen a decline in the number of work-related injuries in the last year. Obviously, many relate this to the down turn in the economy. As the construction has slowed substantially, so to have the frequent work injuries associated with the industry. While it is certainly a blessing that we have seen less work accidents in Georgia over the last year, it is troubling that this phenomenon appears to be associated with a weak job market as opposed to safer occupational standards.

As the economy resuscitates and the construction industry begins to pick up steam, Atlanta's accident attorneys anticipate that work accident figures will similarly escalate. We hope that most of these injuries will be minor, however, and that fatal occupational injuries will continue to decline.

As an Atlanta workers compensation law firm, we are constantly reviewing statistics and data to evaluate where workers in Georgia are most at risk to sustain a work injury. By doing so, we feel that we are better prepared to assist our Clients when they contact us to seek the assistance of an attorney. A review of recent data has revealed some very interesting information.

At the outset, workplace injury data shows that over 4 million workers throughout the county incur a work injury each year. Of those work accidents, over 2 million employees suffer an injury that is so severe that they are required to miss time and seek medical attention. Most injuries occur at companies whose workforce is less than 250, and small businesses of less than 10 people are less likely to have an employee injured.

Although the economy has slowed the pace of construction in Atlanta and throughout Georgia, as work accident attorneys we are always interested in how susceptible our construction worker Clients are to injury. Workplace injury data shows that the construction industry is a highly dangerous field, with 16 deaths per year for every 100,000 workers. This amounts to 20% of all work related deaths per year. Most of these work accident deaths are caused by car accidents, heavy equipment, and falls. A large portion of our workers compensation practice is devoted to representing Hispanic workers, and we were also interested to learn that Hispanics are injured on construction sites at a greater rate than any other demographic.

Recent statistics published by the United Stated Department of Labor reveal that workers compensation accidents in Georgia last year resulted in 171 deaths. Although this figure appears high, the total number of fatalities was actually down from the prior year. In 2007, there were 193 deaths caused by a work related accident or injury.

As an Atlanta workers compensation lawyer, these statistics are of interest as they demonstrate where Georgia's workers are most at risk for injury. For example, further analysis of the workers compensation death statistics offer insight as to the cause of the employee fatalities. The largest category of deaths, 62, were caused by employees involved in a car accidents and truck accidents while working. Motor vehicle accidents were followed by falls at work (28 deaths), heavy equipment/machine accidents (28 deaths), and violent acts and assaults at work (26 deaths). As workers compensation attorneys, we are also interested in which workers are more at risk to sustain a work injury. The statistics evidence that men are disproportionately injured on the job in Georgia, as only 12 of the 171 deaths were women.

One particularly interesting revelation from the 2008 death statistics is that certain ethnic groups are killed at rates that are disproportionate to their representation in the general population. For example, although Hispanics comprise about 8 percent of Georgia's population, they accounted for almost 15% of all workers compensation deaths in 2008.

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