There are about 30 fatal elevator accidents and 17,000 serious injuries a year, according to the Center for Construction Research and Training. Elevator repairers, installers and mechanics, as well as workers who are on the job site are all at risk of an elevator accident. Consider how many times a day you may use an elevator, it’s hard to imagine that people who keep them going are at such a great risk.
Many of these accidents could have been avoided with regular inspections and safety training. If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator accident, please read this site.
We at John Foy & Associates are one of Atlanta’s most established personal injury firms. We’ve watched as Atlanta continues its growth as one of the South’s most important cities. For every construction site, there is potential for a construction accident.
Call us at 404-400-4000 for a free case review and consultation.
What Should I Do If I or a Loved One Was Injured in an Elevator Accident?
If you or a loved one is injured in an elevator accident, we urge you to get as much information as possible about the accident. Take photos, especially if you have your smart phone handy. Write down the names and telephone number of any witnesses. Construction and work sites tend to be transient with workers showing up onsite for a day or two. It’s important to get contacts for witness as quickly as possible.
Report the accident to your manager or supervisor. To file a Workers Compensation claim, you must notify your manger within 30 days. This can be as simple as notifying your supervisor or coworker that you have been injured.
Do not agree to a taped recorded conversation with your manager, an insurance agent or any attorney your workplace may have employed.
The workers compensation system has been set up to be non-adversarial, but sometimes the process can become contentious. In addition, the system is quite complicated. Protect yourself by employing an attorney as quickly as possible.
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I Am a Repairman for Elevators and Was Injured on the Job. What Kind of Claim Do I Have?
If you were injured on the job, you definitely have a Workers Compensation Claim. The state of Georgia honors your right as a worker to be compensated if you are injured on the job. You have a right to medical treatment, including prescriptions and physical therapy, a right to have some sort of income while you are out of work, and at times, a right to be retained.
If a third party, such as the elevator manufacturer or another contractor, is responsible for your accident, then you have to right to pursue a personal injury claim.
Either way, your rights will be protected if you engage a law firm that is familiar with Georgia law. Give a John Foy & Associates elevator accident lawyer a call at 404-400-4000 and we’ll help you get an understanding of your case.
What Are the Causes of Elevator Accidents?
Causes of elevator accidents in the construction industry, according to a study by the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights
- Falls from empty elevator shafts
- Caught in/between equipment
- Being struck by an object
- The collapse of an elevator
- Equipment failure
- Electrocution from circuits and mechanisms that haven’t been de-energized.
All of these accidents can cause great harm to anyone on a work site.
What Kind of Injuries Result from an Elevator Accident?
The most common injuries documented by the same report are:
- Crushing of fingers and hands
- Trauma to the head
- Strain and overexertion
- Death
Are Elevator Accidents Common?
Construction elevator operators and repairers, according to industry standard reports, have the sixth highest rate of death among the construction trades. More than half of deaths in this group are a result of falls.
These accidents also affect passengers, including managers, supervisors and other workers who are on their way to another floor.
What Is the Difference Between a Workers Compensation Claim and a Personal Injury Claim?
A workers compensation claim is set up to pay for your medical treatment and get you back to work. In a workers compensation claim, you are eligible to medical treatment from a panel of at least six qualified physicians. Treatment means everything from doctors’ visits, surgeries, physical therapy and prescriptions. Your income is also protected with a weekly check of up to $550 a week.
If someone other than your employer is responsible for your injury, then you may have a personal injury claim as well. In this sort of claim, you are eligible for necessary medical treatment, income for lost wages and pain and suffering.
Do I Need Different Attorneys for Each Claim?
You do not need a different attorney for workers compensation and personal injury claims if you use a legal firm like John Foy & Associates. Our 20-plus attorneys practice both kinds of law. We’ll make sure you are properly represented. Give us a call at 404-400-4000 and get a free consultation on both workers compensation and personal injury claims.
My Family doesn’t Have a Lot of Money and Now We Are Even Poorer Because I Can’t Work. Can I Still Afford an Attorney?
When a breadwinner is injured at work, it’s no surprise that you cannot afford an attorney. In fact, your cost of living may exceed your family’s income right now. The good news is that no personal injury attorney should charge you directly for services. In a personal injury claim, the fees come out of any settlement. If there is no settlement, you should not be charged for any legal services.
Our workers compensation attorneys are also paid out of settlements.
How Can John Foy & Associates Help Me?
John Foy & Associates has built its reputation one client at a time over 20-plus years. We are dedicated to helping the people of Atlanta and Georgia recover what is rightfully theirs.
We have experience with construction accidents, personal injury claims and the workers compensation system. We know the players in our city, including insurance companies and other attorneys, and they know us.
Let us help you at least by getting a free and private consultation at 404-400-4000. Someone will answer the phone every day of the year, every hour of the day.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
