Bremen Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

OSHA violations and workplace accidents

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

Even when all precautions are taken and all safety rules are followed, workplace accidents can still occur. However, some workplace incidents happen because safety regulations are not complied with. When an employer fails to uphold these regulations, this not only means that they will face penalties for their violations, but it also means workers could be harmed by this negligence.

Workplace safety in the U.S. is enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Additionally, OSHA inspects work sites periodically, ensuring that safety rules and regulations are followed. Whether it is through an inspection, complaint or investigation following a workplace accident, an OSHA code violation could range from relatively minor to extremely hazardous.

Victim in critical condition following head-on crash in Georgia

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in Car Accidents on Friday, June 8, 2018.

Driving a motor vehicle might seem like a routine activity. For some, it could feel almost monotonous, as it occurs on a daily basis. Despite these feelings, driving is a privilege that comes with major responsibilities. Due to a vehicles size, weight and ability to travel at high speeds, it can be a deadly device. Thus, motorists are required to follow the rules of the road and drive safely. Whether it is traveling hundreds of miles on a long stretch of road, in a major city, residential area or on the highway, drivers are required to remain attentive no matter their speed or maneuver. Failing to do so could result in a serious automobile collision.

Based on recent reports, a serious head-on collision occurred in Macon. Reports from Georgia law enforcement indicate that the collision occurred around 10 p.m. near the intersection of Houston Avenue and Giles Street. The accident happened when a 69-year-old female driver was attempting to make a left turn on Houston Avenue from Stratton Street. This is when her vehicle was hit head-on by an 18-year-old male driver.

How can workers address lost wages because of a disability?

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in Social Security Disability on Friday, June 8, 2018.

It is not uncommon to suffer minor injuries and illnesses. We all get a cold from time to time, and we all suffer a stubbed toe or hurt limb from bumping into things. These minor injuries are almost expected in the home and work environment. However, they require little to no recovery time and likely do not impact a person's ability to work on a larger scale. On the other hand, a major illness or injury could significantly impact a person's ability to work, as this situation likely makes it difficult to care for him or herself in general. Thus, it is important to explore what options are available in matters where individuals are unable to work because of a serious illness or injury.

Because no one is immune from injuries or illnesses, it is likely that several unexpected injuries and illnesses occur in our lives. However, what one does not expect is to have a sudden illness or injury result in a disabling condition. Unfortunately, one in four 20-year-olds today will suffer a disability by the time he or she hits retirement age. Situation such as a back injury, having a heart attack or needing a knee replacement can cause a person to miss work for six weeks, eight weeks and sixteen weeks respectively.

Understanding repetitive motion injuries in the workplace

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Georgians take on various types of employment. In some work environments, employees are tasked with doing the same or similar activities repetitively. Over time, carrying out these tasks over and over again could cause damage to the body, resulting in a workplace injury.

Repetitive motion injuries occur from repetitive stress. These injuries can be both temporary and permanent, impacting muscles, nerves, ligaments and tendons because a person has done the same motion over and over again.

Helping protect one's rights to workers' comp benefits

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, June 4, 2018.

There are many expectations for the work environment in Georgia and elsewhere. One imagines that he or she, as well as their colleagues, will carry out the work tasks assigned to them. One thing an employee is not prepared for at the workplace is a work injury or illness to occur. Even when an employee is working within an industry that causes employees to be exposed to various risks, hazards and dangers, it can still be shocking for an employee to suffer great harms because of a workplace accident.

The damages and losses suffered following a workplace accident can be tremendous. A worker could be deemed temporarily or permanently disabled as a result of the injury-causing incident. Thus, the injured employee might want to explore their options to offset these financial hardships. At Murphy & Garner, LLC, our law firm is focused on helping injured workers obtain the benefits owed to them following a workplace accidents. We have helped countless clients in the Bremen area explore their situation and assert their rights.

What is an employer responsible for following a workplace injury?

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, June 4, 2018.

When we go to work, we have certain expectations about our day and time in the work environment. For starters, we expect our day to be filled with work tasks. We also expect that we are safe in the workplace. Whether it is an office building, factory or construction site, employees are a certain expectation when it comes to their health and safety. When this falls short, an unexpected accident could occur, injuring an employee.

What is an employer responsible for following a workplace injury? For the most part, most employees are covered by workers' compensation when a workplace injury occurs. These laws do not cover workers such as railroad workers and independent contractors, however. In order to determine if these laws cover an injury, one needs to establish that the injury was work-related.

Heat-related conditions can be fatal for some workers

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC on Friday, June 1, 2018.

Workers who are out in the heat have to be careful that they don't fall victim to heat stroke or exhaustion. There are many different professions that require workers to do their job duties in the heat. Some factories, such as those that produce glass, might be very hot. Jobs that are outside, such as construction work or farm work, can also leave people out in the heat.

When the temperatures start to heat up, all of these workers need to make sure that they are taking steps to remain hydrated and as cool as possible. The employers of these individuals need to ensure that they are providing the necessary items for workers to avoid these potentially fatal conditions.

Helping recover SSD benefits

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in Social Security Disability on Monday, May 28, 2018.

No Georgian expects to be impacted by a disability. Unfortunately, disabilities can be acquired later in life due to illness or injury. While it is hard to process this situation, the reality is that a disability could impact a person's life in many ways. It can be challenging to get around, do daily tasks and even hold down a job. This is where Social Security disability benefits can be very valuable, as they provide necessary benefits to help cover basic living needs.

The SSD benefits application process might be intimidating. It requires an individual to compile much information and documentation. It also means filling out much paper work to help evidence that he or she is suffering form an eligible disability.

Workplace injuries may take time to become obvious

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in blog on Monday, April 30, 2018.

You assume a workplace injury will be obvious almost instantly, and that it will be easy to document and prove.

For instance, your boss tells you that you cannot wear any fall protection gear while working on a roof because it would take too long to get the gear and put it on. Your boss insists it is a 10-minute job and sends you up the ladder with nothing. You slip and fall, giving yourself a concussion -- a traumatic brain injury -- and a broken arm. Five people watch you fall and you head straight to the hospital, where you get plenty of medical records to show how badly you got hurt.

Motorcyclists killed in Georgia motor vehicle collision

On behalf of Murphy & Garner, LLC posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, April 26, 2018.

Riding on a motorcycle can be an enjoyable time. For individuals in Georgia, it is possible to travel by this small vehicle. Even when the weather is not the warmest, die-hard riders can be seen on all types of roadways. Therefore, Georgia motorists tend to be on the lookout for motorcyclists year-round. These small vehicles can easily go unnoticed, causing some drivers to collide with them because they failed to check their mirrors, look at their blind spots and yield to oncoming motorcyclists.

According to recent reports, a fatal motorcycle crash occurred in Forsyth County. The collision involved a motorcycle and a sedan at the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Sharon Road. The crash occurred when the 64-year-old motorcyclist was traveling North on Peachtree Parkway. When a biker approached the intersection with Sharon Road, a sedan traveling southbound on Peachtree was preparing to make a left turn onto Sharon road. The sedan proceeded to make the left turn in front of the approaching motorcyclist, resulting in a collision between the two.