Protecting Construction Accident Victims—It’s What We Do.
Construction Accident Attorneys in Macon
Quality Legal Counsel for a Complex Injury Case
Macon Construction Accident Attorneys With Over 150 Years of Trial Experience
Construction injuries are not like other workplace accidents. A fall from scaffolding, a trench collapse, or an equipment failure can produce injuries that end careers permanently: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crushed limbs, severe burns, and amputations. The medical consequences are immediate and the financial consequences last for decades.
At Adams, Jordan & Herrington, P.C., our construction accident attorneys represent injured workers and their families throughout Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville, Albany, and the surrounding Middle Georgia counties. Our attorneys bring more than 150 years of combined trial experience to these cases. We have recovered more than $100 million for our clients across all practice areas.
Lead attorney Virgil Adams has been inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers and recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the nation. With more than 40 years of trial experience in Middle Georgia courts, he brings a level of credential that matters in construction cases because these claims frequently involve multiple defendants, competing insurance carriers, and the intersection of workers’ compensation and civil litigation.
Results in Construction and Workplace Injury Cases
Our attorneys have secured significant recoveries in cases involving workplace injuries, catastrophic accidents, defective products, and premises liability.
We recovered $5.2 million for a worker who suffered severe burns resulting from negligent maintenance of a boiler system at a worksite. In a wrongful death premises liability case involving unsafe property conditions, the recovery was $8 million. A product liability case resulting in quadriplegia produced a $5.6 million recovery. In a case involving a double leg amputation, the jury returned a verdict of $5.45 million. Our largest product liability recovery reached $18 million in a defective product motor vehicle case.
These results reflect different theories of liability and different paths to resolution. Some settled. Others required trial. What they share is preparation that accounts for the full value of catastrophic injuries and attorneys willing to take the case as far as it needs to go.
Every case depends on its own facts. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
To discuss your construction accident case with an attorney who has tried these claims in Middle Georgia courts, call 478-312-6978. The consultation is free.
Construction Accidents We Handle
Our attorneys represent workers injured in construction accidents throughout Middle Georgia, including:
- Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and elevated platforms, which remain the leading cause of construction fatalities according to OSHA
- Struck-by accidents involving falling tools, materials, steel beams, or unsecured loads from overhead work
- Caught-in and caught-between accidents involving heavy equipment, trenches, and collapsing structures
- Electrocution from contact with overhead power lines, exposed wiring, or defective electrical equipment
- Equipment and machinery failures caused by defective design, manufacturing defects, or inadequate maintenance
- Toxic substance exposure including asbestos, silica dust, chemical solvents, and welding fumes
Construction sites along the I-16 and I-75 corridors, Macon-Bibb County infrastructure projects, and commercial developments throughout Middle Georgia all present these hazards. Each accident type involves different safety regulations, different investigation requirements, and potentially different liable parties. A construction accident attorney in Macon who understands these distinctions builds a stronger case from the start.
Why Construction Accident Cases Require Specialized Representation
Most construction injury cases involve two separate legal tracks that run simultaneously, and mishandling either one can cost the injured worker significant compensation.
Workers’ compensation provides medical treatment and partial wage replacement regardless of fault, but it does not cover pain and suffering, full lost income, or punitive damages. Benefits are capped: temporary total disability pays two-thirds of average weekly wages up to $800 per week, and non-catastrophic claims are limited to 400 weeks. These limits often fall far short of the actual cost of a catastrophic construction injury.
Third-party claims exist when someone other than the employer caused or contributed to the accident. General contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, and equipment rental companies can all be liable. These claims recover damages that workers’ compensation cannot: full wage loss, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and punitive damages.
| Workers’ Compensation | Third-Party Claim | |
|---|---|---|
| Fault required | No | Yes |
| Pain and suffering | Not covered | Covered |
| Wage replacement | 2/3 of AWW, capped at $800/week | Full lost earnings, no cap |
| Who pays | Employer’s WC insurer | Negligent third party’s insurer |
| Time limit | 30-day notice + 1-year claim | 2-year statute of limitations |
Managing both tracks requires understanding how they interact. Workers’ compensation carriers hold liens on third-party recoveries, and the coordination between these parallel claims directly affects the injured worker’s net compensation. We handle both tracks from the first day.
For a comprehensive explanation of when and how third-party claims apply in Georgia worksite accidents, see our guide on third-party negligence in construction accidents.
Our Construction Accident Attorneys
Virgil Adams has practiced personal injury and wrongful death law in Middle Georgia for more than 40 years. He has been inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, named a Super Lawyer, recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and received the 2020 Tradition of Excellence Award from the State Bar of Georgia. His trial experience spans catastrophic injury, defective product litigation, and workplace accident cases throughout the Macon Judicial Circuit.
Caroline W. Herrington joined the firm in 2005 and became a partner in 2013. Her practice concentrates on medical malpractice, tractor-trailer crashes, wrongful death, and premises liability. She has managed complex multi-party litigation involving multiple defendants and insurance carriers, which is common in construction accident cases.
Ashley Pitts focuses on personal injury with particular concentration in commercial vehicle and heavy equipment litigation. Her work on cases involving federal motor carrier regulations contributes to the firm’s handling of construction site accidents involving commercial trucks and heavy machinery.
What to Do After a Construction Accident in Macon
The steps you take immediately after a construction injury affect both your workers’ compensation claim and any potential third-party case.
- Report the injury to your supervisor immediately. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80 allows 30 days, but delayed reporting gives insurance companies grounds to challenge your claim. Get written confirmation.
- Seek medical treatment the same day. Construction injuries frequently involve internal damage that is not immediately apparent. If your employer has posted a physician panel, you must choose from that list. If no valid panel exists, you may choose your own doctor.
- Document the accident scene before it changes. Construction sites are active environments where conditions change daily. Photograph the equipment involved, visible safety violations, posted safety notices or their absence, and your injuries.
- Do not provide detailed statements to insurance adjusters without legal counsel. Workers’ compensation and third-party claims involve different insurers with different objectives, and statements made to one can affect the other.
- Contact a construction accident attorney as soon as possible. Evidence on construction sites disappears quickly. Equipment gets repaired or removed. Witnesses move to other job sites. OSHA citations may be issued and then resolved before you know they exist.
For a detailed guide to your workers’ compensation rights, deadlines, and the steps to protect your claim from day one, see our guide on what to do if you are injured on a construction site in Macon.
Call 478-312-6978 for a free consultation with a Macon construction accident attorney. No fee unless we recover for you.
What Happens When You Call
The initial consultation is free and confidential. We review the facts of your accident, identify all potentially liable parties, and explain your options under both workers’ compensation and third-party law. No pressure. No obligation.
We call ourselves True Trial Attorneys for a reason. We do not build cases hoping the other side will settle. We build them expecting to present evidence to a jury. That preparation is what creates leverage in negotiation and credibility in the courtroom.
We handle construction accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs, retainers, or hourly charges.
Call 478-312-6978 to speak with a construction accident attorney at Adams, Jordan & Herrington, P.C. We represent injured construction workers throughout Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville, Albany, and Middle Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue my employer for a construction accident in Georgia?
In most cases, no. Georgia’s exclusive remedy doctrine limits your remedy against your employer to workers’ compensation benefits. However, if a third party other than your employer or co-worker caused or contributed to your accident, you may have a separate negligence claim against that party for damages that workers’ compensation does not cover.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Workers’ compensation benefits are not affected by fault. For third-party claims, Georgia’s modified comparative negligence rule under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 allows recovery as long as your fault does not reach 50 percent. Your compensation is reduced proportionally.
How long do I have to file a construction accident claim in Georgia?
For workers’ compensation, you must notify your employer within 30 days under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80 and file a formal claim within one year under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82. For third-party negligence claims, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. These deadlines run simultaneously.
What compensation can I receive beyond workers’ comp?
Third-party claims can recover full wage loss without statutory caps, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and in some cases punitive damages. These are damages that workers’ compensation does not provide.
What if defective equipment caused my injury?
You may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or supplier of the defective equipment. These claims can proceed under strict liability principles, and they exist independently of your workers’ compensation claim.
Can OSHA violations help my case?
Yes. When an employer or contractor violates OSHA construction safety standards and a worker is injured, those violations serve as evidence of negligence in both workers’ compensation proceedings and third-party claims. Our attorneys obtain OSHA inspection records and use them to establish that safety failures contributed to the injury.
Does my immigration status affect my right to file a claim?
Your immigration status does not affect your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. The law covers all employees regardless of documentation status.
Will I lose my job for filing a workers’ compensation claim?
Georgia law prohibits employer retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim. If your employer terminates you, reduces your hours, or takes other adverse action because you filed a claim, you may have a separate legal remedy.
This content is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every construction accident case depends on unique facts, available evidence, and applicable law. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia attorney.
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