An Experienced Atlanta Workers’ Comp Attorney Shares the Risks Workers Face With High-Paying But Dangerous Jobs

Highly paid, dangerous jobs include those with a higher risk of injury or death than the average worker fatality rate (across all job categories). Workers in dangerous jobs may suffer from exposure to caustic and hazardous chemical fumes, high-voltage electrical shocks, or risks from heavy machinery accidents.

At Greathouse Trial Law, our workers’ compensation attorney can help you navigate a complex workers’ compensation claim in Atlanta, GA. Call us at (678) 310-2827 to schedule a free case evaluation.

The Top Ten Most Dangerous Jobs in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 5,190 work-related fatalities in 2021, with a national fatality rate of 3.6 per 100,000 workers. The top ten most dangerous jobs in 2021 (fatality rates [FR] are per 100,000) included:

• Logging workers. FR 82.2 with 43 deaths

• Fishing and hunting workers. FR 75.2 with 23 deaths

• Roofing workers. FR 59 with 115 deaths

• Air transportation workers. FR 48.1 with 68 deaths

• Structural steel and iron workers. FR 36.1 with 14 deaths

• Truck drivers and other transportation drivers. FR 28.8 with 1,032 deaths

• Waste collection workers. FR 27.9 with 23 deaths

• Underground miners and machine operators. FR 26.7 with 10 deaths

• Construction workers. FR 22.9 with 15 deaths

• Power line workers. FR 22 with 30 deaths

These larger job title categories of multiple industries include several jobs within each. Some previously listed jobs, such as oil rig worker or electrical engineer, didn’t make the top ten in 2021 due to job recategorization or the prevalence of accidents in other job titles.

The Most Common Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

In 2021, the largest category of fatal accidents was transportation incidents, with 1,982 deaths. The second-highest category for worker fatalities was falls, slips, and trips, with 850 deaths. Many of these occurred in highly paid, dangerous jobs.

At 798 deaths, exposure to harmful substances or environments was third. The fourth was violence and other injuries by persons or animals at 761. Fifth was contact with objects and equipment at 705 deaths. The smallest category of worker deaths was death by fire or explosion, totaling 76 in 2021.

These statistics only represent fatal occupational injuries in 2021. Thousands of workers suffer non-fatal injuries of the same type every year across the country. Workers’ compensation insurance covers fatal and non-fatal injuries for people who suffer injuries at work or for loved ones who lose a family member in a workplace accident.

What Will Workers’ Compensation Cover in Georgia?

Your workers’ compensation benefits will award you specific amounts, depending on your level of disability as defined by your doctor. Limits include:

• 2/3 of your average weekly wage, up to $575, for temporary total disability

• 2/3 of the difference between your pre-injury wage and your current wage, up to $383, with a total benefit maximum of $134,050 for temporary partial disability

• 2/3 of your average weekly wage, up to $575, for permanent partial disability

• Unlimited medical care for up to 400 weeks for most injuries

• Unlimited medical care for life for catastrophic injuries

• Burial benefits of $7,500 and a weekly benefit of $575 in death benefits for a widowed spouse without children, up to $230,000 (children may affect death benefit amounts and beneficiaries)

Georgia exempts certain categories of workers from receiving workers’ compensation insurance and limits coverage for heart, vascular, psychiatric, or psychological diseases unless due to a separate occupational disease diagnosis.

How Do I Find a Reputable Job Injury Lawyer Near Me?

When you need a workers’ comp attorney to help you navigate your claim, don’t just pick a “job injury lawyer near me” online. Instead, compare workers’ comp law firms in your area to compile a list of potential attorneys you may want to handle your case.

Read their websites for case results, read reviews on their Google and Avvo profiles, and schedule an introductory call with each prospective worker’s compensation lawyer to determine if each law firm you’re considering cares about you and your case.

A good workers’ compensation attorney has several years of experience, high ratings from real clients and other attorneys, and works on a contingency fee basis. Your attorney should also demonstrate compassion and care for your case while being direct.

Contact Us at Greathouse Trial Law for a Workers’ Comp Attorney Consultation in Atlanta

Highly paid and dangerous jobs aren’t the only jobs in which workers can suffer injuries. If you got hurt on the job in Atlanta, GA, contact us at Greathouse Trial Law. Call today at (678) 310-2827 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation with a workers’ compensation lawyer.