A Savannah construction accident lawyer helps injured workers recover compensation through workers’ compensation claims and third-party injury lawsuits under Georgia law.
Injured construction workers in Savannah may be able to pursue both types of claims at the same time, allowing them to recover for different categories of damages depending on how the accident occurred.
Hasner Law represents construction workers injured on job sites throughout Savannah and Chatham County, handling claims involving falls, electrocution, struck-by incidents, and equipment failures.
The firm takes cases on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay nothing unless compensation is recovered. Call (912) 234-2334 today for a free consultation.
Why Do Injured Construction Workers in Savannah Choose Hasner Law?
Hasner Law Injury & Workers’ Compensation Attorneys brings more than 100 years of combined legal experience to injured workers across Savannah, Atlanta, Kennesaw, and communities throughout Georgia.
The firm’s founding attorney, Stephen Hasner, co-founded the Georgia Injured Workers’ Advocates (GIWA) and has dedicated his career to fighting for employees hurt on the job.
A former Administrative Law Judge who presided over more than 500 cases at the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation is also part of the team.
How the Firm Handles Construction Injury Cases
Construction accidents rarely involve a single liable party or a single path to compensation. The legal team investigates the full scope of what happened and pursues every available claim. The firm’s approach typically involves:
- Determining whether a workers’ compensation claim, a third-party personal injury lawsuit, or both apply to your situation
- Investigating OSHA violations and safety citations tied to the job site conditions that caused your injury
- Identifying every liable party, including the general contractor, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers
- Gathering medical records, employment history, and wage documentation to calculate the full value of your claim
- Handling all communication with the workers’ comp insurer and any third-party insurance companies involved
Hasner Law takes construction accident cases on a contingency-fee basis and assists clients in both English and Spanish. Call (912) 234-2334 to get started with a free case review.
What Are Your Legal Options After a Construction Accident in Savannah?
Injured construction workers in Savannah generally have two legal options: a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party personal injury lawsuit. These two claims operate on separate legal tracks, cover different types of damages, and may be pursued at the same time under Georgia law.
Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Lawsuit in Georgia
Workers’ compensation in Georgia is a no-fault employer insurance system. You receive benefits regardless of who caused the accident.
A third-party claim is a negligence-based lawsuit against a party other than your employer. The chart below shows how these two paths differ.
| Workers’ Compensation | Third-Party Lawsuit | |
| Who you file against | Your employer’s insurance carrier | A negligent third party (general contractor, subcontractor, property owner, manufacturer) |
| What you must prove | That the injury happened at work | That the third party’s negligence caused your injury |
| Medical expenses | Covered through authorized providers | Full medical costs, past and future |
| Lost wages | Two-thirds of average weekly wage, capped at the state maximum | Full lost earning capacity with no cap |
| Pain and suffering | Not available | Available |
| Right to choose your doctor | Limited to employer-authorized panel | Unrestricted |
| Filing deadline | 30-day notice to employer; 1-year claim filing | 2-year statute of limitations |
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Savannah Construction Workers
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system that covers medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-1 requires employers with three or more employees to carry this coverage.
Workers’ compensation benefits for a construction injury in Georgia may include:
- Payment of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses through employer-authorized providers
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum, if you miss more than seven days of work
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits if the injury results in a lasting impairment rating
- Vocational rehabilitation if the injury prevents you from returning to your previous trade
- Death benefits for eligible dependents if a construction accident proves fatal
You must report the injury to your employer within 30 days under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80 and file a formal claim within one year. Missing either deadline may bar your right to benefits.
Third-Party Personal Injury Lawsuits
A third-party claim is a negligence-based lawsuit filed against a party other than your employer whose actions caused or contributed to your construction injury.
Georgia’s exclusive remedy doctrine under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-11 generally bars you from suing your own employer in tort, but it does not prevent claims against third parties.
A third-party lawsuit operates under Georgia’s negligence laws and may provide compensation that workers’ comp does not cover.
The additional damages available through a third-party construction accident lawsuit in Savannah may include:
- Pain and suffering from the physical injury and its long-term effects on your daily life
- Full lost earning capacity if the injury prevents you from returning to your previous trade
- Loss of enjoyment of life when the injury limits activities you valued before the accident
- Future medical costs beyond what the workers’ comp claim covers
- Punitive damages in cases involving willful or wanton disregard for worker safety
Combining both claims requires careful coordination because the workers’ comp insurer may have a right to recover some of what it paid from any third-party settlement or verdict. Having an attorney who handles both systems protects your recovery on both tracks.
Who May Be Liable for a Construction Accident in Savannah?
Liability for a construction site injury in Savannah often falls on more than one party. Georgia law allows injured workers to pursue claims against any party whose negligence contributed to the accident, even while collecting workers’ compensation benefits from the employer.
How Statutory Employer Rules Affect Your Claim
A statutory employer in Georgia is a general contractor or principal contractor who bears workers’ compensation responsibility for a subcontractor’s employees under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-8.
If the general contractor qualifies as your statutory employer, Georgia’s exclusive remedy doctrine may prevent a separate negligence lawsuit against that contractor.
However, if the general contractor does not meet the statutory employer definition, a third-party claim might be available depending on the facts.
Other Potentially Liable Parties
Beyond the general contractor, other parties that may bear liability for a Savannah construction accident include:
- Subcontractors whose negligence on a shared job site created the dangerous condition that injured you
- Property owners who knew about hazardous conditions but failed to address them or warn workers
- Equipment manufacturers that produced defective tools or machinery that malfunctioned and caused the injury
- Utility companies that failed to de-energize or properly mark power lines near active construction zones
Identifying every liable party early in the process gives your attorney the best chance of building a complete case and pursuing the full range of compensation available to you.
What Types of Construction Injuries Does Hasner Law Handle in Savannah?
Hasner Law represents Savannah construction workers who suffer injuries ranging from broken bones to catastrophic harm including paralysis, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries.
Savannah’s active construction environment, from residential development along the Southside to commercial projects near the Port of Savannah, exposes workers to serious hazards daily.
The types of construction injuries the firm handles include:
- Falls from scaffolding, roofs, ladders, and elevated work platforms, which remain the leading cause of construction fatalities according to OSHA
- Electrocution and electrical shock from contact with overhead power lines, faulty wiring, or defective equipment
- Struck-by injuries from falling objects, swinging equipment, or vehicles operating on the job site
- Caught-in or caught-between injuries involving heavy machinery, trench collapses, or structural failures
- Traumatic brain injuries from falls, falling objects, or explosions on the site
Each of these injury categories may support a workers’ compensation claim, a third-party lawsuit, or both depending on the facts. The severity of the injury directly affects the value of the claim and the types of benefits available.
What Deadlines Apply to a Savannah Construction Accident Claim?
Georgia imposes strict filing deadlines for both workers’ compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits. Missing any of these deadlines may permanently bar your right to compensation, regardless of how strong the evidence is.
Workers’ Compensation Deadlines
You must report the injury to your employer within 30 days under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80. You then have one year from the date of injury to file a formal claim with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82.
Personal Injury Lawsuit Deadlines
The statute of limitations for a third-party personal injury lawsuit in Georgia is two years from the date of the accident under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. If a wrongful death claim is involved, the two-year period begins on the date of death.
Government Entity Claims
If a city, county, or state agency contributed to the accident through a dangerous road condition, failed infrastructure, or negligent maintenance, you must provide written ante litem notice within six months under O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5. This shorter deadline applies even though the general statute of limitations has not expired.
Ask Hasner Law
How much does it cost to hire a Savannah construction accident lawyer?
Hasner Law takes construction accident cases on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no upfront fees and owe nothing unless the firm recovers compensation on your behalf. The initial consultation is free, and the firm covers all case expenses throughout the process.
What if my employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance?
Georgia law requires employers with three or more employees to carry workers’ comp insurance. If your employer failed to obtain coverage, you may file a claim directly with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation against the uninsured employer.
You may also have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, because the exclusive remedy doctrine that normally bars tort claims against your employer may not apply when the employer lacks coverage.
What if I am an independent contractor and not a W-2 employee?
Independent contractors are generally not covered by their hiring company’s workers’ compensation insurance. However, Georgia courts look beyond the job title to determine the actual nature of the working relationship.
If the company controlled how, when, and where you performed your work, you may be classified as an employee regardless of what your contract says. That classification may open the door to workers’ comp benefits.
What if I was partially at fault for my construction accident?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so your own negligence generally does not bar your claim. For a third-party personal injury lawsuit, Georgia’s modified comparative negligence rule under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault. If fault reaches 50 percent or more, Georgia law bars recovery entirely.
FAQs for Savannah Construction Accident Lawyers
How long do I have to file a construction accident claim in Savannah?
For workers’ compensation, you must report the injury within 30 days and file a formal claim within one year. For a third-party personal injury lawsuit, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
Government entity claims require written notice within six months. Missing any of these deadlines may permanently bar your claim.
What types of compensation may I receive after a construction accident in Savannah?
Workers’ compensation may cover medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, disability benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. A third-party personal injury lawsuit may provide additional compensation for pain and suffering, full lost earning capacity, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Pursuing both claims at the same time is allowed under Georgia law and may significantly increase total recovery.
What is a statutory employer in Georgia construction law?
A statutory employer is a general contractor or principal contractor that bears workers’ compensation responsibility for a subcontractor’s employees under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-8.
If the general contractor qualifies as your statutory employer, you may receive workers’ comp benefits through them but may not be able to file a separate negligence lawsuit against them under Georgia’s exclusive remedy doctrine.
What is the most common cause of construction accident deaths in Georgia?
Falls from heights remain the leading cause of fatal construction injuries according to OSHA data. Falls from scaffolding, roofs, ladders, and elevated platforms account for a significant portion of construction worker deaths nationally.
Georgia law requires employers to provide fall protection at heights of six feet or more on construction sites under OSHA standards.
How much does it cost to hire a Savannah construction accident lawyer?
Hasner Law takes construction accident cases on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no upfront fees and owe nothing unless the firm recovers compensation on your behalf. The initial consultation is free, and the firm covers all case expenses throughout the process.
Talk to Savannah Construction Accident Lawyers at Hasner Law Today
The workers’ comp insurer and the general contractor’s legal team are already working to limit what they pay for your injuries. Every day without legal representation gives them more time to shape the narrative in their favor.
Hasner Law Injury & Workers’ Compensation Attorneys has spent decades representing injured construction workers across Savannah, Atlanta, and communities throughout Georgia. Call (912) 234-2334 today for a free consultation and find out which legal options apply to your construction site injury.
Hasner Law: Savannah Injury & Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
221 W York St,
Savannah, GA 31401
Ph: 912-234-2334
