Workers Compensation
Working Hard For Tennessee Workers for More Than 35 Years
On-the-job accidents seriously injure and kill thousands of workers each year. Despite legal and trade provisions to prevent construction accidents, one out of every ten construction workers suffers some kind of on the job injury. The Gober Law firm is part of the AFL-CIO’s Union Privilege Legal Service Program. From our office in Nashville, Tennessee, we handle a great variety of work accidents, including those involving:
- Falls
Heavy Equipment and Boiler Accidents
Power Line Injuries
Trenching Injuries
Fire and explosion
Building Collapse
Repetitive stress injuries that occur over time
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation is used to help provide medical care and income to employees who cannot work due to a work-related injury. The benefits you can recover may not be as extensive as with a personal injury claim, for they are commonly limited to disability benefits and medical treatment expenses. However, there is no need to prove that your employer was negligent.
Hiring an attorney familiar with the workers’ compensation system is essential because your employer (or the work comp. insurance carrier) has attorneys working to limit your benefits. You should have an attorney fighting for your rights so that you may receive the compensation you deserve.
Gary Gober has successfully represented literally hundreds of injured workers and has secured their legal rights to permanent disability benefits and lifetime medical care. No lawyer in Middle Tennessee is more experienced in this area of practice.
If You Were Seriously Injured on the Job, We Can Help!
You may also have a claim against a “third party,” such as the manufacturer of unsafe equipment, the owner of the premises where the injury occurred (if different from your employer), or against another company whose employee caused the injury.
These third party personal injury cases can be brought in addition to a workers’ compensation case. Third party actions can include recovery for pain and suffering and future damages.
What to do if you are hurt on the job:
“Ten Steps To Success”
- 1. Give notice of injury.
- (a) Do it immediately upon occurrence or upon learning you have a work-related condition.
- (b)“Notice” means (a) you have an injury or disease and (b) it is work-related. Include both!
- (c) You do not have to “diagnose” your injury. It’s enough to say for instance, “I hurt my knee at work lifting”. You don’t have to say “I have a torn meniscus”.
- (d) Give notice to a supervisor or someone above you, i.e., safety director or HR director. Its not enough to tell a co-worker.
- (e) Be emphatic and assertive. Don’t “hem and haw” about it.
- (f) Take a witness with you. Many supervisors will deny you ever told them. Also-
- (g) Send your notice in writing by certified mail, stating when you were hurt, how you were hurt and what part of your body is hurt.
- (h) Failure to give proper notice will result in a denial of your claim, so don’t leave this out!
- 2. Ask for a list of 3 company doctors from your employer - then check them out.
- 3. Ask for a copy of the Tennessee Employer’s First Report of Work Injury.
- 4. Be sure to tell your doctor about how you got hurt on the first visit. This is called “the history”. It is very important. Be accurate and complete.
- 5. Keep all medical and therapy appointments as scheduled.
- 6. If dissatisfied with the company doctor ask for a second opinion. If you go to a doctor on your own after expressing dissatisfaction with treatment and being refused alternative care, your employer may have to pay for it. Remember: the squeaky wheel gets the most grease.
- 7. Always report all symptoms to your doctor.
- 8. If you are offered a return to work when your doctor releases you, give it a try but be sure your employer does not violate your restrictions. You are not required to re-injure yourself.
- 9. Never hesitate to make a workers compensation claim for a serious injury because you fear for your job. If you can’t do the job because of your injury they will lay you off regardless of whether you have made a claim.
- 10. Always consult with a lawyer experienced in workers compensation before settling your claim. You don’t know what to look for or what rights to protect. He does. Let him protect you. The Gober Law Firm is happy to discuss your claim with you. Call us!
In these on the job injury cases, our fee is “contingent.” We earn a fee only upon successful conclusion of the case. Contact us at (615) 297-8300 or toll free (800) 634-6237. There is no charge for the initial consultation.
NO CLIENT RELATIONSHIP: Communication with an attorney or staff member at The Law Office of Gary Gober does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship or constitute the provision or receipt of legal advice. Any communication from this office should be considered informational only, and should not be relied or acted upon until a formal attorney-client relationship is established via a signed written agreement.