Injured in a fall or a roofing accident while on the job?
Our work injury lawyers can explain your rights and fight for benefits.
Falls from a roof while working in construction or as a roofer happen all the time. You might think it could never happen to you, but you’d be wrong.
No matter how experienced the roofer, it only takes a small break in concentration for disaster to happen — stepping on a nail, tripping while scaling a ladder, or exhaustion from working on a hot roof all day.
Falls represent 75 percent of all fatalities in the roofing industry, and another 11% of roofer-related deaths are blamed on electrocution.Most of those electrocution deaths are caused by a roofer coming into contact with overhead power lines. Another injury that roofers must avoid are severe burns, as roofers often work with hot tar. Ultimately, many of the injuries roofers experience occur because they become too comfortable on the job. It’s difficult to stay aware and not succumb to complacency after years of climbing ladders and nailing in place sheets of shingles.
If you’ve been injured or a loved one was killed while roofing in Georgia, you may be wondering about your legal options and rights. Contact our Atlanta workers’ compensation law firm today to talk about your case and find out if you have a valid claim.
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Common roofer injuries
Reroofing a house is hard, dangerous work, and injuries while on the job can happen. When they do, they tend to result in the following types of injuries:
- Broken bones, especially broken ankles and legs from roofers landing on their feet after falling. Roofers can also injure their hips, or fracture their pelvis or skull following a fall.
- Spinal cord injury from slipping and falling off the roof, which can lead to paralysis.
- Amputation due to fall from height or using power tools like reciprocating saws or circular saws.
- Traumatic brain injury, which also occurs when a roofer falls from a roof or ladder, or is struck by an object.
- Back and neck injuries due to overexertion (carrying heavy materials) and falls.
- Repetitive task injuries can impact roofers, such as being bent over and nailing shingle sheets down, which can lead to thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel, pinched nerves or tendonitis.
- Puncture wounds from stepping or falling on a nail, or from a nail-gun accident.
- Fumes from the asphalt shingles are unhealthy to breathe and excessive exposure has been linked to chronic cough and even skin cancer.
- Burns from hot tar used on different types of roofs.
- Heat-related injuries from long hours baking in the sun while handling heavy, hot asphalt shingles which can lead to heat stroke, exhaustion and sunburns.
Are roofers eligible for workers’ compensation in GA?
If you were injured while on a roofing job and were a direct employee of a roofing business, then yes, you are most likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
However, while roofers in Georgia are generally eligible to collect compensation from their employers, injured roofers who are independent contractors could have a much tougher time securing workers’ compensation.
Sometimes, independent roofing contractors who were injured on the job are able to bring a liability claim against a homeowner, but that requires court action and you’ll want an experienced attorney on your site to help guide your case along and fight to secure any possible compensation.
When is a homeowner liable for a roofing accident?
Generally speaking, in Georgia, an independent contractor cannot sue the homeowner who hired the contractor. But there are exceptions when some workplace incidents involve a negligent third party, which resulted in potential personal injury claims.
However, all situations must be evaluated due to their uniqueness. If you’re wondering if you can sue a homeowner for negligence, which resulted in your accident or injury, you’ll need to speak with an attorney who is equipped to handle these types of cases.
Did you know that workers’ compensation rules vary depending on the state where you were hurt? For more information on workplace injuries and other frequently asked questions about Georgia workers’ compensation and disability benefits, visit our FAQs page.
Client success
Our record of winning accident cases in Georgia speaks for itself:
Why hire a Georgia workers’ compensation lawyer?
If you or a loved one was employed as a roofer and hurt while on the job, you could be entitled to benefits. But don’t try to navigate the muddy waters of Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws on your own. Turn to an expert to help review your case and fight on your behalf. Turn to Gerber & Elkins Workers’ Compensation Attorneys.
