Atlanta Foot Injury Attorney

We rely on our feet to move around and perform our daily tasks, including those at work. When a work-related injury damages a foot, the result can be the inability to walk or apply pressure to the affected foot for some time. The Georgia workers’ compensation system helps injured employees manage their recoveries after work-related injuries, and a foot injury can entail extensive recovery.

Types of Foot Injuries Common in the Workplace

According to our foot injury lawyers, most foot injuries fall into one of two categories:

Acute injuries – An acute injury happens from a traumatic event, such as dropping a heavy object on a foot, landing awkwardly from a fall, penetrating injuries, puncture wounds, and contusions. Acute injuries typically include bone fractures, penetrating wounds, crushing injuries, and other traumatic injuries.

Overuse injuries – Overuse injuries develop over time from repetitive motions. Stress fractures can develop over time from repeated impacts. Some other overuse injuries include planar fasciitis, or inflammation of the ligament extending along the bottom of the foot, and retrocalcaneal bursitis.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Foot Injuries

An injury to the foot can make it impossible for the victim to walk unassisted and may prevent him or her from performing regular job duties like walking, lifting, carrying items, or standing for extended periods of time. The workers’ compensation system generally provides relief in two main ways: medical expense coverage and weekly benefits for lost wages. After filing a claim, the injured employee’s employer will refer the employee to one of the approved doctors on the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance plan.

The employer’s insurance carrier will cover the costs of medical treatment for a foot injury and will also provide weekly benefits if the employee is unable to work for more than seven days. Weekly payments of two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage up to $575 may continue for up to 400 weeks. If the employee is able to return to work under light duty or other restrictions, the employer must accommodate this. If the employee cannot return to his or her previous position, and instead must accept a different, lower-paying job, workers’ compensation benefits continue with partial payments of up to $383 per week for up to 350 weeks.

When Do I Need an Atlanta Foot Injury Lawyer?

Many issues can complicate a workers’ compensation claim. An employer may dispute an employee’s claim, stating the injury occurred outside the scope of the employee’s work, or that the employee was an independent contractor, and therefore does not qualify for workers’ compensation. When these issues arise for injured workers in Atlanta, Cruz & Associates can help.

Our attorneys have successfully handled all types of workers’ compensation cases in Georgia, and we put the full extent of our resources and experience at the disposal of every client. Reach out to our firm today to schedule a free case evaluation for your foot injury, and we can discuss your options.