From a small project for an individual homeowner to a major commercial development, construction work can be dangerous. Very regularly, construction workers must contend with some extremely risky working conditions faced by workers across industries. As a result, serious work-related injuries at construction sites occur with an unfortunate frequency.
Regulations, specifications, inspection requirements, and job safety programs all aim to reduce construction site accidents and promote safety awareness in construction projects, but accidents can still happen, even if workers take all precautions.
You cannot control a careless jobsite or employer. And when you get injured, you should be entitled to compensation to keep a roof over your head.
According to the U.S. Labor Bureau of Statistics, in 2020, more than 1 in 5 workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry. Just over one-third of the deaths in this industry were due to falls, slips, and trips, and were almost entirely from falls to a lower level.
The state of Georgia functions as a no-fault workers’ compensation system. That means as long as your injury occurred during the course of your work, you do not need to prove your employer caused your injuries.
In this blog post, we’ll review what you should do if you’ve been injured at a construction site, how workers’ compensation covers construction accidents, and why a personal injury attorney is the person to represent you against your employer’s insurance companies.
If you’ve been injured at work, you should know your rights–and know that you’re not alone. You deserve an experienced, accessible legal team who knows how to guide you through this tough process. Call us today for a free consultation. We want to hear your story.
While a variety of incidents can occur at a construction site (which result in a wide spectrum of injuries), the most common type of accident is a fall.
As a result of a fall, a worker can suffer the following:
All injuries listed above could prove to be catastrophic or lifelong. No matter the nature of the injury, being injured in a fall could result in therapies, treatments, doctors’ visits, medications or even surgeries. It could also mean time off of work as you recover.
This is why it is so important to have workers’ compensation to pay for all of the bills that will accumulate. Reach out to us to find out how we can help you secure the funds you need during this time.
After you’ve had an accident in the workplace, there are a series of steps you must undertake so that it is easier for you to file a workers’ compensation claim in the state of Georgia.
After a workplace accident, you may need immediate medical attention. This could include treatment at the scene or even a trip to the emergency room. If medical treatment begins immediately, you or someone you know should document it. Every piece of documentation, prescription, treatment or correspondence becomes evidence when filing a workers’ compensation claim.
The sooner you get medical treatment, the easier it will be to prove that your injury affected your ability to work. And the sooner you start compiling documentation, the easier it will be to file your claim–and get your compensation as quickly as possible.
OK, so you’ve been injured in a construction accident. You’ve sought medical treatment, you’ve documented the scene–what’s next? In order to ensure that you get your workers’ compensation in a timely fashion, it’s best to work with a team of trustworthy attorneys who can guide you in this complicated process.
The workers’ compensation claim process in the state of Georgia can sometimes be complicated. For instance, you must alert your supervisor of the accident within thirty days of the accident date. If you do not do this, there could be delays in your claim. But, of course, you could be dealing with your injury–or even still in the hospital. That’s why it’s best to seek assistance from your workers’ compensation attorney so that they can make sure your employer is alerted on time.
There are also deadlines and filings that you must make to avoid delays or even not getting your compensation entirely. This is where an experienced workers’ compensation attorney would help you.
We’ve got decades of knowledge and experience on our side–and we know the system. It’s worth it to reach out to us so that we can help you get your life back.
Dealing with a construction site injury can take its toll. The last thing you want to worry about is filing government forms, dealing with insurers or worrying about how you’re going to pay your bills.
Now that you know a little bit more about the nature of construction site injuries–and how the workers’ compensation system in Georgia works–you can rest a little easier. We’ve reviewed the common construction injuries, what actions you need to take following a construction accident and how a personal injury attorney can assist you during this time.
If you’ve been injured at work and are curious about what rights you have, reach out to us at Castan & Lecca. We want to hear your story.
51 Lenox Pointe NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
4131 Steve Reynolds Blvd #102
Norcross, GA 30093
Dustin Thompson
Attorney
Dustin Thompson was raised in rural Camilla, Georgia. Dustin graduated from Georgia Southern University majoring in political science and history. After graduation, Dustin obtained a law degree from Georgia State University College of Law in Atlanta. Before becoming a lawyer, Dustin worked a variety of jobs from a watermelon farm in Mitchell County to a policy think tank in Washington D.C. Dustin has practiced law almost exclusively in the workers’ compensation arena since 2014. For nearly a decade, he worked for a large defense firm in Georgia representing employers and insurers and gaining the invaluable experience and knowledge of how insurers defend claims. In 2023, Dustin joined the firm to use his expertise and litigation skills to help individuals who have been injured as a result of work accidents and third-party negligence. Dustin has been repeatedly recognized by Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch” in the practice of workers’ compensation. Outside of work, Dustin enjoys traveling, hunting, and attending sporting events. He and his family are active in Buckhead Church.
MICHAEL BOESCHEN
Attorney
Michael Boeschen (Mike) was born in Wichita, KS and raised in Chattanooga, TN. Mike graduated from The McCallie School and went on to study history, Spanish, and Latin American Studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. After graduation, he went on to pursue a law degree from the University Of Georgia School Of Law. During law school, Mike participated in the Legal Aid Clinic, assisting in the defense of indigent criminal defendants. Mike has been licensed to practice law in Georgia since 2002 and his main practice area consists of representing injured workers as they navigate through the Georgia workers’ compensation system. Mike is also fluent in Spanish. In his spare time Mike enjoys following soccer, cooking, and spending time with his wife and two young daughters. Mike and his family are parishioners of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sandy Springs, GA
CHRISTIAN PECONE
Attorney
ED DENKER
Attorney
ILIANA DOBREV
Attorney
KEN THAXTON
Attorney
ALEXANDER LECCA
Attorney
DANIEL CASTAN
Attorney
Dan Castan is a senior partner at Castan and Lecca, PC in Buckhead and represents injured workers before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation and plaintiffs in State and Superior Courts of Georgia for injuries suffered in accidents. Dan litigated one of the seminal claims securing the rights of undocumented workers to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits in the state of Georgia when injured in the case of Wet Walls, Inc. vs. Ledesma. Dan has successfully fought and settled multi million dollar cases. He was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey to immigrant parents from Cuba. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College and received his Juris Doctor from The Washington College of Law at The American University in Washington D.C. Dan was admitted to the Georgia Bar in November, 1993. He is an active member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Atlanta Bar Association and the Workers’ Compensation Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Dan is a founding member and Director of the Latino Victory Fund Georgia and serves on the Board of The Latin American Association. Dan has been dedicated to getting Latinos elected to local, state and Federal offices in Georgia. He has been a Big Brother through Big Brothers and Sisters of Metro Atlanta and a mentor through The Latin American Association’s mentor/mentee program. Dan is married with two children.
