Georgia Corrections Officer Injury Claims: Get the Compensation You Deserve with Expert Workers’ Comp Lawyers

georgia-corrections-officer-accidents-and-injuries-lawyers

Georgia Corrections Officer Accidents & Injuries Lawyer

The state of Georgia is home to not only 34 state prisons, but also incarcerates more people per-capita than any other democratic government, according to the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute. Georgia correctional officers are tasked with demanding jobs requiring long hours, high anxiety, and a significantly lower wage rate than in neighboring states like Alabama and Tennessee. Due to these factors, accidents and injuries among Georgia correctional officers can be severe and traumatic, taking a financial toll on the officers and their families. Corrections officers are prone to head injuries during altercations. A head and brain injuries lawyer can advocate for injured officers.

Can State Correctional Officers Receive Workers’ Compensation?

Workplace injuries are covered through Georgia state law for workers’ compensation. As a state correctional officer, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which can cover time off work and medical care related to your injury. If you have been injured while at work at a Georgia corrections facility, contact Ramos & Law today. Workers’ compensation claims are all that we handle; we specialize in helping injured Georgians recover the money they deserve. Call us today if you’ve been injured on the job.

Common Risks That Corrections Officers Face

common risks that correction officers face

The Georgia Department of Corrections has the budget for 5,991 corrections officer positions, but 2,985 of these roles remain vacant, as of January 2024. The problem has been ongoing for years. Since 2010, there has been a 35% decrease in corrections officers employment in the state of Georgia, while the prison population has remained relatively stable (under 10% change). The average yearly salary of a corrections officer in Georgia is $40,000 annually, one of the lowest in the Southeast. Meanwhile, some corrections facility officers report being understaffed to the point that one employee is tasked with handling 200 inmates. For reference, the federal baseline expected ratio of corrections officer to inmate is 15:1. Corrections officers often experience repetitive motion injuries due to the demands of their job. A repetitive motion injuries lawyer can assist.

These challenges present unique safety risks for correctional officers such as you, including:

Assaults by inmates

Mental illness, substance abuse, and gang violence within prisons can lead to physical assaults on officers. These incidents may result in lasting physical injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).

Injuries during restraint or altercation

Subduing a violent inmate or intervening in an altercation to keep the peace is the job of a corrections officer. Unfortunately, “stepping in” into a fight may also lead to scratches, bites, bruises, broken bones, lacerations, and much more. These wounds may become infected and diseases may spread through interpersonal contact.

Slip-and-fall accidents

Rainstorms, ongoing maintenance and repair, and regular cleaning can all make for slippery surfaces at any job. A slip and fall accident at a correctional facility may have more dangerous consequences than the average employee will face. Slip and fall accidents can lead to fractures, slipped discs, contusions, lasting pain, decreased mobility, concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), under the simplest of circumstances. At a Georgia corrections facility, they can endanger the health and safety of the officer by creating an out-of-control situation among inmates.

Exposure to hazardous materials or substances

Corrections officers may be exposed to environmental risk factors like asbestos and lead as well as dangerous drugs and infectious diseases. The city of Augusta, Georgia warns that those who work in healthcare and industrial environments are especially at risk for exposure. Toxic chemical spills may be discovered based on the appearance of an oil-like substance or foam on the ground or in water, or by physical reactions like watering eyes or sudden nausea.

Stress-related Injuries

Corrections officers are prime candidates for pulled muscles, rotator cuff tears, carpal tunnel syndrome, strains and sprains, and tendinopathy. Moreover, they are also subject to repetitive stress disorder injuries such as stress-fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other “wear and tear” type of occupational injuries.

What Injuries Occur at Correctional Facilities?

Violence is not the only risk for injury for corrections officers in Georgia, although it is a common cause. Here are some other possible injuries at correctional facilities:

  • Bruises
  • Head injuries or broken bones from falls
  • Knife or stab wounds from altercations with inmates
  • Lacerations and Cuts
  • Stress-related illnesses, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease
  • Infectious diseases transmitted by bodily fluids
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Which Types of Benefits are Available for Correctional Officers?

benefits for correctional officers

Under Georgia law, if you’ve been injured on the job, you are entitled to several benefits. You are entitled to your first workers’ compensation benefit within 21 days after your first day off work due to a covered injury, after you have been out for 7 days. If you miss more than 21 consecutive days, you are entitled be paid for the first week. The kinds of benefits you may be eligible to receive include:

Medical Treatment

Generally, as long as you are being treated by a panel doctor under the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, there will be no coinsurance or deductible for your medical care related to your injury. Some injured correctional officers may obtain rehabilitative care, orthopedic, neurological, in-home nursing and attendant services, physical and occupational therapy, and mental health counseling such as treatment for PTSD or depression provided the care is related to the underlying injury.

Temporary Total Disability

Depending on the date of the injury, temporary total disability payments are two-thirds of your weekly wage up to $800 and last for a maximum of 400 weeks. Temporary total disability payments are meant to compensate an employee for the period when they cannot return to work at all, or when there is no “light shift work” available for injured employees who could perform work in an alternate capacity while they recover.

Permanent Partial Disability

If you are living with a disability after an injury while at work at a correctional facility, you may be able to receive permanent partial disability (PPD) payments. Common examples of a residual impairment include reduced mobility, damage to a hand, foot or other body part. PPD is calculated with input from your doctor about your “impairment rating” for the injured body part, as well as state law about weekly compensation for different injured areas. These ratings are determined under the American Medical Association’s Guide to Impairment, 5th Edition.

Lifetime Benefits for Catastrophic Injuries

If your injury prevents you from ever returning to work, you may qualify for lifetime income benefits under Georgia’s workers’ compensation law. You are also entitled to lifetime medical care and vocational rehabilitation.

Death Benefits

You may suffer fatal accidents on the job that can leave “dependents” (the children and/or spouse) reeling from the loss of their loved one as well as a sudden lack of financial support. Georgia workers’ compensation death benefits are meant to provide some relief to those left behind after a fatal workplace accident. In these cases, the dependent is eligible to receive the decedent’s weekly income benefits for up to 400 weeks or until the spouse remarries or the child turns 18 (and is not school). Moreover, your surviving family members may receive funeral and burial expenses up to $7,500.

Filing a Georgia Workers’ Compensation Claim

If you are injured in a work-related accident, you should report the incident as soon as possible to their employer. Whether you were injured while on the job at Helms Facility, Metro Reentry Facility, Atlanta City Detention Center, Phillips Correctional Institute or more it is important to report the injury right away to a supervisor. Seek medical attention from one of the approved doctors under Georgia’s workers’ compensation board and keep all of your receipts and messages from the insurance company. Finally, reach out to a workers’ compensation lawyer to ensure that your claim has been filed correctly.

Preventing Work Injuries in Correctional Facilities

Over crowding, extended sentences for inmates, the prevalence of violence, are all common sources of stress for correctional officers that may exacerbate a correctional officer’s workplace injury. To maximize your compensation from a workers’ compensation claim as a corrections officer, it’s important to adequately articulate the facts of the accident or injury, the conditions that contributed to the accident, and outline your medical needs. The claim may be denied in Georgia if your employer deems that your injury took place off the clock or while you were acting outside your scope of employment or if you intentionally hurt yourself. Working with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can ensure that you recover the fullest amount possible from your claim without getting derailed by disputes with the insurance company. Ramos & Law can also ensure that your claim is filed correctly within the appropriate statute of limitations in Georgia.

Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Ramos & Law Fight For Injured State Workers

At Ramos & Law, our workers’ compensation lawyers are dedicated to fighting for injured employees. We work tirelessly to defend Georgians and ensure that you receive the fullest amount possible under state law. We understand the unique challenges that Georgia correctional officers face. If you have been injured, let Ramos & Law handle your claim and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.