Slip, Trip, and Fall Lawyers in Cumming, GA

Your Right to Compensation After a Work-Related Fall

When you’re injured on the job in a slip, trip, or fall, Georgia’s workers’ compensation law provides certain benefits to protect you. Workers’ comp is a no-fault system – meaning it generally doesn’t matter if the accident was your fault or someone else’s. If you got hurt while performing your work duties, you likely have the right to have your medical bills paid and to receive a portion of your lost wages while you’re unable to work. This includes injuries from slipping on spills, tripping over objects, or even falling due to uneven surfaces at your workplace. In short, if the injury happened at work, it should be covered by workers’ comp.

After a workplace fall, it’s important to report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. (Georgia law requires you to give your employer notice of an on-the-job injury within 30 days.) Once the injury is reported, you can start the workers’ comp process. You may be required to see a doctor from your employer’s approved list (often called a “panel of physicians”) for your treatment to be covered. All necessary medical treatment – from doctor visits and medication to surgery and physical therapy – should be paid for by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. If your injury keeps you out of work for more than a few days, you should also receive weekly income benefits (usually about two-thirds of your average weekly wage) to help replace your lost income during recovery. These benefits are there to help you heal and stay financially afloat after your accident.

Common Injuries from Workplace Falls

Slipping or tripping at work might sound minor, but these accidents can cause serious injuries. We’ve seen workers suffer everything from sprained wrists and ankles to broken bones and torn knee ligaments. Back injuries (like herniated discs) and concussions are also common when someone falls hard. Sometimes what seems like a simple stumble can lead to chronic pain or long-term problems if not treated properly. No matter the severity of your injury, if it happened at work you deserve to have it covered by workers’ compensation. Always take a fall injury seriously: get medical attention and make sure the incident is documented, even if the pain doesn’t seem bad at first. (What feels like a minor bruise today could become a serious issue tomorrow.)

It Doesn’t Matter Whose Fault It Is

Georgia Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault system, which means you don’t have to prove that someone else was at fault for your injury. Even if you tripped over your own feet or made a mistake that caused the fall, you can still file a claim. The key factor is whether the injury occurred while you were performing your job duties. This is different from personal injury claims, where you would need to show that someone else was negligent in order to recover damages. In workers’ comp cases, the focus is on the injury itself is related to your work, not on who caused it. This makes it easier for injured workers to get the benefits they need without having to prove fault or negligence.

Denied Slip and Fall Claims

Sometimes, even when you’re clearly hurt at work, the insurance company will deny your workers’ comp claim. Denied claims can happen for a variety of reasons. For example, your employer might argue that the accident didn’t actually happen on the job, or an insurer might claim your injury was due to a pre-existing condition rather than the fall at work. One common tactic in slip-and-fall cases is called the “idiopathic fall” defense. This legal term can sound confusing, but it basically means the insurer is saying your fall was personal to you (for instance, caused by an internal medical issue or just an unexplained misstep) and not caused by your work environment.

Demystifying “Idiopathic”: In plain language, an “idiopathic” fall means there was no clear work-related cause for your accident. For instance, if you suddenly fell and even you aren’t sure why – maybe you felt dizzy or your knee simply gave out without warning – the insurance company might argue that the injury didn’t “arise out of” your employment. In other words, they’re claiming the job isn’t to blame; they’ll say you would have gotten hurt anywhere because the fall came from something personal (like a health condition or random chance). This is a common reason some employers and insurers give for denying slip/trip injury claims in Georgia.

Having your claim denied as “not work-related” or on the basis of an idiopathic fall is incredibly frustrating. However, a denial is not the end of the road. You have the right to challenge a denied claim and appeal that decision. At Bourne Law Firm, we help injured workers fight back against wrongful denials – including those based on the idiopathic fall defense. We will break down the legal jargon for you and guide you through the next steps. Our attorneys can investigate your accident to find evidence that it was work-related. If there was any workplace hazard or condition that contributed to your fall (such as a wet floor, poor lighting, uneven ground, or a work task that put you in a risky position), we’ll work to prove it. Even in tricky cases where the cause of the fall is unclear, we know how to gather medical opinions and other evidence to show that your injury should be covered under Georgia’s workers’ comp laws. The bottom line: don’t let an insurance company’s technical excuse discourage you – many initially denied claims can be turned around with the right legal help.

How Bourne Law Firm Can Help You

Dealing with a workplace injury claim can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to recover from a painful fall. Bourne Law Firm is here to take that burden off your shoulders. Our attorneys focus exclusively on workers’ compensation and personal injury cases in Georgia, so we understand what you’re going through. When you work with us, we handle all the legal details – from filing claim paperwork and dealing with the insurance adjusters, to gathering medical evidence and representing you in hearings if needed. Our goal is to make the process as stress-free as possible for you, while aggressively advocating for the benefits and compensation you deserve.

For these reasons and more, injured workers across Georgia turn to Bourne Law Firm for help. Here are some key reasons why clients choose our firm:

• Decades of Experience: Our legal team is led by attorney Robert Bourne, a recognized expert in Georgia workers’ compensation law with over 25 years of experience. We’ve successfully handled thousands of cases, so we know the ins and outs of the system and how to tackle challenges like denied claims.

• Proven Results: We have recovered millions of dollars in benefits and settlements for injured workers. Even if your claim has been initially denied or disputed, our track record shows we can often turn tough cases into successful outcomes. (In fact, we’ve won substantial settlements for clients even after their cases were denied for being “not work-related.”)

• Personal Attention: As a family-run firm, we pride ourselves on treating clients like family. You will work one-on-one with an attorney – not get passed off to a case manager. We take the time to understand your unique situation and we’re always available to answer your questions. This personalized approach means you’ll always know what’s happening with your case.

• No Fee Unless We Win: Hiring us is risk-free. Your initial consultation is free, and you pay no attorney’s fees out of pocket. We work on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if and when we secure compensation for you. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing. This ensures that our interests are fully aligned with yours – we’re motivated to get you the maximum compensation possible.

By choosing Bourne Law Firm, you get an experienced team that will stand up to the insurance company and fight for your rights. We know the tactics insurers use to try to minimize or deny claims, and we won’t let them take advantage of you. Whether your case is straightforward or an uphill battle, we prepare every case as if it could go to trial. We aren’t afraid to take on big insurance companies in court if that’s what it takes to get justice for you.

Free Consultation – Get Help with Your Claim Today

If you suffered a slip, trip, or fall at work in Georgia, you don’t have to navigate the workers’ compensation process alone. Bourne Law Firm offers free, no-obligation consultations to injured workers. We’ll listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options in plain language. You’ll get a clear understanding of your rights and what steps you can take next – whether that’s filing a new claim, pushing back on a denied claim, or simply getting a second opinion on a settlement offer. Call 770-886-3030 now to get started.