Atlanta Roofing Accident Lawyer
Have you been injured in a roofing accident in Atlanta, GA? Roofers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and other damages.
Hasner Law PC has over 80 years of combined experience representing injured roofers and their families. Contact our law office at 678-888-4878 to schedule a free case review with an Atlanta worker’s compensation lawyer ready to fight for you.
How Hasner Law PC Can Help You After a Roofing Accident in Atlanta
Roofers face a dangerous job day after day. As contractors, they are often shut out of the workers’ compensation system when they are hurt — adding insult to injury. You may feel hopeless when medical bills pile up and you are unable to work. An Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you explore your options for recovering the money you need.
Hasner Law PC was founded by Stephen Hasner, who has represented injury victims in Atlanta, Georgia, for more than 23 years. Our firm has extensive experience with workers’ compensation and work-related injury claims, including construction accident cases.
Choose Hasner Law PC and we will:
- Give you compassionate support and legal advice you can count on
- Work with specialists to determine how your accident occurred and identify potential sources of compensation
- Determine if you are eligible for workers’ comp coverage, even if you were injured as a contractor
- Assist with filing a workers’ compensation claim that fully documents your injuries
- Represent you in an appeal if your claim is denied
- Pursue compensation through a third-party lawsuit if possible
- Negotiate on your behalf to seek fair compensation from the insurance company
You are not alone. We will help you pursue the compensation you deserve through workers’ compensation or other legal avenues like a personal injury claim. Contact Hasner Law PC today to schedule a free consultation with a roofing accident lawyer in Atlanta who can help.
How Common Are Roofing Accidents?
Construction is the most dangerous industry in the United States. Within this industry, roofers have one of the highest rates of injury and death.
In 2019, the BLS reported that roofing industry deaths were up 15% from 2018, causing 111 out of 5,333 fatal workplace injuries in the U.S. This gives roofers a shocking fatal injury rate of 54 per 100,000 workers. For comparison, the average fatality rate across all industries is 3.5 per 100,000 workers. Of these 111 roofer deaths in 2019, 93 were caused by a slip, trip, or fall.
The only jobs considered more dangerous than roofing are: hunting and fishing, logging, and flight engineers and pilots.
In 2019, construction accidents accounted for 23% of all fatal workplace injuries in Georgia. Of the 47 construction workers killed on the job in Georgia, 37 were trade workers, including roofers.
Overview of Roofing Accidents
Roofing is one of the five most dangerous jobs in the United States. Roofers usually work at great heights and face risks of slips, falls, burns, electrocution, and more. Commercial flat roofs pose risks such as toxic exposure and burns from hot tar.
Residential sloped roofs pose a greater risk of falling.
What Causes Most Roofing Accidents in Atlanta, GA?
Roofing accidents happen for many reasons.
The following are some of the leading causes of roofing accidents among construction workers:
- Falling objects, such as scaffolding, ladders, or debris
- Falls from a height, including a roof, scaffolding, or ladder
- Roof collapse
- Scaffolding collapse
- Tool-related injuries, including roof cutters, circular saws, drills, and nail guns
- Heat exposure. During the summer, roofers often work in temperatures of 90 degrees or higher. This can result in heat stroke and exhaustion.
- Electrocution caused by contact with a power line or other hazard. Electrocution is responsible for 11% of work-related roofer deaths.
A lack of safety equipment is a leading factor in roofing accidents. Insufficient fall protection is one of the most frequent OSHA violations in the construction industry. Falls, slips, and trips account for nearly 75% of deaths in the roofing industry. Falls from roofs are responsible for one-third of construction deaths.
Common Roofing Accident Injuries
Roofers are at a high risk of serious injury or death from three of the “fatal four” causes of construction site deaths: falls, being hit by materials or tools, and electrocution. Roofers can suffer serious or even catastrophic injuries on the job.
Common injuries associated with roofing accidents include:
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Amputation
- Fractures
- Puncture wounds
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Back injuries
- Heat stroke
- Burns
At Hasner Law PC our Atlanta construction accident attorneys will help you pursue fair compensation for all the injuries you sustained in your accident.
What Compensation is Available After a Roofing Accident?
Roofers who are injured on the job are generally eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Atlanta, Georgia. Under this system, workers cannot sue their employers but recover compensation through a no-fault system with guaranteed benefits.
Workers’ compensation allows you to recover benefits to replace a portion of your lost wages. Your medical bills will also be covered. However, workers’ comp injury claims do not allow you to seek non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
If you were an independent roofing contractor, it may be much harder to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Independent contractors are not guaranteed workers’ comp benefits in Georgia. However, you may still be entitled to benefits under Georgia’s “statutory employment” law.
In some cases, a homeowner may be liable for a roofing accident. Under premises liability law, a homeowner can be liable for injuries if they fail to provide a safe environment by warning contractors about known hazards.
Determining who is liable for a roofing accident can be complex. Even if you were an independent contractor, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation under certain circumstances. This is why it’s crucial to work with an experienced Atlanta construction accidents lawyer to help you with your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Atlanta
After a serious roofing accident, you deserve a workers’ compensation attorney in Atlanta who is committed to helping you secure the compensation you need for your financial future. At Hasner Law PC we will give you the representation you deserve.
Contact our law firm today so we can put nearly 80 years of combined legal experience to work for you. We can assist with filing a workers’ compensation claim, appealing a denied claim, and pursuing other avenues for compensation. Schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta roofing accident lawyer today to get started.
