Q: I work for a state agency. I fell in the office building's hallway.
An ambulance was dispatched, and surgery was performed. After more than half of the year, I am still in pain and need to continue receiving doctor's care. Do I have a basis for a law suit?
A:
In Georgia, if you were injured while on the job, you may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits, which can include medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages. Workers' compensation is designed to provide benefits without requiring you to prove negligence on the part of your employer. However, it also generally prohibits employees from suing their employer for workplace injuries.
If your injury was due to a hazard in the building that was caused by the negligence of a third party (such as a building owner, if different from your employer), you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against that third party. To establish a strong personal injury claim, you would generally need to prove that the third party was negligent, and that their negligence led directly to your injury.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
