Neck And Back Injury Attorney In Atlanta
Neck and back injuries can be among the most debilitating and troublesome injuries a person can suffer. They can lead to extremely serious long-term issues, including nerve damage and partial or total paralysis, depending on the severity of the injury. If your neck or back injury happened in the course of doing your job, you have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
If you or a loved one has suffered a neck or back injury on the job, the advice of an experienced attorney can help to ensure that you understand your rights under workers’ compensation and your legal options. The Atlanta-based law firm of Hilley & Frieder, P.C. helps injured workers in Georgia secure the benefits they need to recover.
Call for a free consultation about your work-related neck or back injury. Contact our office at 404-795-6099.
How Can Hilley & Frieder Help You?
Clients have trusted Hilley & Frieder, P.C. with their injury claims in Georgia for over 35 years. We provide client-focused legal representation with personalized services and top-quality care. Our workplace injury attorneys will carefully review your case and listen to your story. Then, we’ll give you legal advice on how to recover and move forward. As your attorneys, we can file one or multiple claims on your behalf in pursuit of fair financial compensation. We will investigate your neck or back injury, collect evidence to support your case, hire qualified experts, and negotiate for the monetary recovery that you deserve.
Common Causes Of Neck And Back Injuries At Work
Many different traumatic events at work can injure a worker’s neck or back. These injuries often take place in industries that are recognized as the nation’s most dangerous – such as construction and transportation – but they also take place in offices, warehouses, restaurants, and more. A worker in Atlanta could suffer a back, neck or spinal cord injury for many reasons, including:
- Dangerous work environments
- Slip, trip and fall hazards
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Faulty or broken equipment
- Equipment with missing machine guards
- Getting caught in or between objects or equipment
- Poor employee training
- Lack of employee safety gear, such as fall protection systems
- Lack of safety or warning signs posted in the workplace
- Repetitive motions, such as lifting heavy boxes
These incidents can cause a variety of neck and back injuries, such as whiplash, neck strain, pulled muscles, damaged tendons, herniated or ruptured disks, severe spinal cord injuries, and paralysis. In many cases, neck and back injuries at work are preventable. An employer should always take precautions to prevent injury.
Should You File Workers’ Compensation Or A Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If you suffer a neck or back injury at work, two main options are available for pursuing financial compensation: a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit. A workers’ comp claim is easier, as you don’t have to prove fault or negligence to recover compensation. However, an injury lawsuit could lead to a better financial recovery. A lawsuit could pay pain and suffering damages, for example, as well as punitive damages.
Workers’ compensation is available to all employees who work at businesses with three or more workers. This includes part-time and full-time employees. Workers’ comp can pay for 100 percent of your medical bills, as well as about two-thirds of your lost wages and disability benefits. The tradeoff for accepting workers’ comp, however, is agreeing not to sue your employer. Consult with an attorney in Atlanta before saying yes to a workers’ comp settlement.
You may have grounds to recover financial damages through both workers’ comp and a personal injury lawsuit if you are holding a third party responsible, such as a product manufacturer or property owner, rather than your employer. In a personal injury lawsuit, you must prove negligence. You must establish that someone owed you a duty of care, breached this duty, and caused your neck or back injury. An attorney can help you explore all of your financial recovery options after a workplace accident in Georgia.
Dealing With Insurance Companies In Back And Neck Injury Cases
Even if you’re entitled to workers’ comp benefits, you may struggle to collect the amount that you deserve from an insurance company. It’s important to know how to deal with insurers if you wish to protect your rights and future. Use these tips:
- Don’t admit fault for your injury.
- Don’t agree to give the insurer a recorded statement.
- Don’t answer any questions about your injuries until you’ve seen a doctor.
- Keep your answers to questions short and simple.
- Don’t rush into the first settlement offered – you may be entitled to more.
- Use an attorney to help you negotiate with the insurance provider for fair results.
Insurance companies are generally more concerned with their bottom lines than their clients. This can make it difficult to obtain fair and full compensation for your neck or back injury. You may need assistance from an attorney to successfully resolve your case.
Seeking Benefits For Neck And Back Injuries
Our Atlanta law firm’s experience handling these cases allows us to be much more proactive and effective in our efforts to secure the right benefits for your case. If your injury results in any kind of permanent disability, we are prepared to pursue lifetime benefits for you.
Our attorneys have represented clients in a broad range of work-related neck and back injury cases, including those that happened in the following types of accidents:
- Trucking accidents
- On-the-job car accidents
- Construction accidents
- Factory accidents
- Assembly line accidents
- Manufacturing plant accidents
Schedule Your Free Consultation
To schedule a free consultation with one of our Georgia back or neck injury lawyers, please contact us today.
Ronald Hilley was the contributing attorney to this content.
