Atlanta Excavation Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love has experienced the pain and trauma of an excavation accident on a construction site in Atlanta, GA, you are already under a great deal of stress. Let the experienced Atlanta excavation accident lawyers at Hasner Law PC help. We will guide you in all the legal steps you need to take to recover the compensation you deserve.
We’ll evaluate your worker’s compensation coverage, Social Security disability benefits, and any other financial options. Once we determine you have a case, we will assist you in everything you need to file your claim and, if necessary, we will represent you in court.
Contact our law office today at (678) 888-4878 for a free consultation.
How Our Atlanta Excavation Accident Lawyer Can Help You
When a construction worker is involved in a trench collapse or excavation accident, the consequences can be catastrophic. It’s common to experience physical pain, psychological trauma, and extreme financial hardship.
Unfortunately, you may also be facing a confusing array of forms and documents to complete to recover benefits. Also, you may find that your employer’s insurance company is fighting your claim.
An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer from Hasner Law PC can help you every step of the way. We have a proven track record for recovering workers’ compensation benefits for your medical bills, lost wages, and disability.
We know how to stand up against insurance companies that may argue that your injuries were pre-existing or that you are fully recovered.
In order to file a personal injury claim in Georgia, you have to prove negligence. Our experienced team of attorneys at Hasner Law PC will evaluate your situation and guide you through your legal options. We will examine how the accident happened, whether your injury could have been prevented, and who could have prevented it.
If we cannot reach a fair settlement, our construction accident lawyers will not hesitate to take your case to court.
How Common Are Excavation Accidents?
Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of working construction is excavation. A 2019 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that an average of 19 construction trenching-related deaths occurred per year from 2013-2017.
The main hazard of excavation and trenching is an injury from building collapse. Even small solid pieces of dirt can cause severe injuries to workers.
Excavation Accidents in Atlanta
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines an “excavation” as any human-made trench, cavity, depression, or cut in the earth’s surface that is formed by earth removal. The OSHA definition of a trench is a “narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide and is no wider than 15 feet.”
Before an excavation project begins, designers must define the scope of the work. They identify risks, resources, scheduling, work quality, and budgeting. After management approves the design, planning, and acquisition of workers and machinery are the next steps.
Most excavation accidents happen because of “cave-ins” and excavation walls collapsing. These events can occur when heavy machinery cuts the earth’s surface or when a building foundation gives way suddenly, causing a fault that weakens soil walls.
Here is a list of common injuries from excavation accidents.
- Amputation
- Back injuries
- Brain injuries
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Electrocution
- Fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord damage
- Respiratory illness
- Wrongful death
The primary causes of excavation-related hazards include falls, falling loads, heatstroke, and incidents involving underground utilities or heavy equipment.
The Importance of Safety Training
According to OSHA, most excavation injuries and deaths can be prevented by adherence to shoring and sloping safety standards. Some of the reasons construction companies may not comply with OSHA standards for excavating include lack of knowledge of the applicable rules and the resulting safety implications and a desire to cut time and costs.
Much of the risk involved in excavation accidents can be decreased through careful planning before the work begins. Designers should map all underground utilities and consider all areas that are vulnerable to soil and wall collapse.
OSHA safety standards include: shoring the sides of trenches with beams, plates, or timber; sloping the sides to reduce the weight pushing on the walls; and using a trench box system (or shield) to protect workers inside the trench.
Here are some critical safety measures for excavation sites, according to OSHA guidelines:
- Identify other sources that might affect trench stability
- Keep heavy machinery away from trench edges
- Keep excavated soil at least two feet from the edges
- Know where all underground utilities are located before digging
- Test for hazardous fumes, gases, and low oxygen levels in trenches below four feet
- Inspect trenches at the beginning of each shift
- Inspect trenches after a storm or any occurrence that could have changed conditions
- Do not work under raised or suspended loads
- Ensure workers wear safety equipment such as hard hats at all times and high visibility clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic
Even shallow trenches can be the source of injuries or death if there are live electrical wires, standing water, or dangerous heavy machinery in the area. Other hazards are improperly maintained excavation equipment and inadequate employee training.
Compensation for Injuries from an Atlanta Excavation Accident
Contractors and subcontractors in Georgia must carry workers’ compensation insurance. Your workplace accident attorney can pursue benefits that will cover your medical expenses, a portion of your lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. We will fight for the compensation you deserve even if your employer or the insurance company denies the claim.
And, if the excavation accident was caused by a defective piece of equipment or the negligence of someone other than your employer, our construction accident attorneys in Atlanta can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. Through a third-party claim, we may be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering the accident has caused you.
Contact Our Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Attorneys For A Free Consultation
Following a trenching or excavation accident in Atlanta, Georgia, don’t hesitate to call Hasner Law PC for help. You may be entitled to compensation, and our Atlanta excavation accident lawyers can help you fight to maximize your recovery. We offer a free case evaluation, so call our law firm to get started today.
