Injured on the Job at the Kia West Point Assembly Plant in Georgia? You Deserve the Best Representation!
If you or your relative was injured or died on the job at Kia Motors in Georgia, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits which includes payment of medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses associated with your injury.
Unfortunately, many injured Kia auto workers don’t realize that they qualify for this kind of help. And sometimes, they act too late. Keep reading to learn more about your rights under Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Law or call +1 404-445-8370 if you would like to speak with someone about your case.
Hurt on the Job at Kia? Here’s What to Do!
You work hard at Kia, and it is unfortunate that you were injured. If you or a loved one was injured on the job, you may lose your job or be denied benefits if you don’t claim your rights. To claim your rights, you must act fast and not be intimidated by Kia.
In order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you should do these following an on-the-job injury.
- Seek immediate medical help
- Report your injury to your supervisor or manager
- Contact an expert workers’ compensation attorney in Georgia.
- Gather evidence and documentation.
1: Seek Immediate Medical Help
The first thing to do after a workplace injury is to seek medical help. Your first stop should be to the on-site medical team. You should get their evaluation and medical treatment and follow their recommendations.
However, you have the legal right to seek a second opinion from any physician of your choice. This is highly recommended if you’re not satisfied with the assessment of the on-site medical team as it is not uncommon for them to try to make you feel your injury is minor.
If it’s a medical emergency, you can call 911 and get treatment at your employer’s expense.
2: Report Your Injury to Your Manager
Once you’ve gotten the medical attention you need, you should report your injury to your employer, manager, supervisor or HR representative, within 30 days of the incident, specifying the date and location of the accident.
If you cannot report your injury immediately, you can get a trusted coworker to report it for you.
3: Contact an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney
After an injury, it is important to protect your rights. But you need an experienced Georgia workers’ compensation lawyer to help you navigate your compensation claim. And this is where we come in.
At Gearhart Law Group, we have extensive experience (more than 20 years) protecting the rights of injured employees and their families in Georgia. You deserve full compensation if you or your loved one has an on-the-job injury. And we can help you get that.
Hiring an attorney doesn’t mean you plan to sue your employer. It’s just a way to protect your rights!
4: Gather Evidence and Documentation
In Georgia, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so you don’t have to prove that anyone was at fault for your workplace injury to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
However, you should gather evidence to show that your injury happened while you were working and that a pre-existing condition didn’t cause it. Some critical evidence and documentation you should show your attorney relating to your case include the following:
- Copies of medical records with detailed written records of your illness or injury
- Relevant communication with your employer
- Photos of the injury
- Photos of the workplace hazard, e.g., unsecured equipment (if possible)
- A description of what happened
- A witness (usually a coworker).
Why Kia Auto Workers Are Exposed to On-The-Job Injuries
Automotive jobs can be very dangerous, especially if you work at Kia. This is because Kia procures supplies from companies with hazardous working conditions and defective products. So, Kia may have faulty equipment that could malfunction and hurt workers.
The work environment at Kia West Point Assembly Plant can be a little intense. It’s not just the assembly line that puts pressure on workers—it’s also the fact that they’re working in a high-traffic area with lots of distractions. Also, Kia has very high on-demand production targets such that workers are sometimes required to work six and sometimes seven days a week (compulsory overtime) to meet these targets. With such high targets, it’s easy for employers to cut corners on safety at the expense of workers’ lives and limbs.
At Kia, the rotating shifts are horrible. And because employees have to work long hours, they experience greater fatigue and higher chances of workplace injuries. In the words of an employee, the work culture at Kia is “messy, hectic, and unorganized.” And a typical day at the company is full of “continuous movement, little downtime, hazing, and favoritism.” All these are prerequisites to disaster, and Kia seems to court them.
Here’s the case of a fatal incident at Kia. In 2014, a Kia Manufacturing Plant in Georgia lost an employee named John Dunnivant to an incident that could have been avoided. He died of compression asphyxiation as he was trapped with a die press on his chest for two hours before they could complete a rescue effort. He was pronounced dead at 11:48 am, but it wasn’t until nearly 1 pm that the metal plates were removed from atop Dunnivant. This death could have been avoided if Kia had taken safety precautions and secured the steel beams, plates, and other heavy equipment.
You Need an Experienced Workers’ Comp Lawyer to Help You Claim Your Rights!
There are hundreds of ways an employee can get injured while working at Kia. So, if you got injured or lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident at Kia in Georgia, you need an expert and experienced workers’ compensation attorney to help you claim your rights.
Workers’ compensation covers whether your injury (or loved one’s death) is from a single accident or repetitive trauma over the years. Immediately you realize you’re suffering from an on-the-job injury, you should seek legal counsel to ensure your best interests and protect your rights.
Since workers’ compensation is complex and detailed, you should have all your records and documentation to prove your claim easily. For example, your manager should receive a formal report of the incident within 30 days, and you should have relevant medical records proving the injury.
But why are all these important? Like other large companies, Kia tries to deny or lowball work injury claims to protect their profits. So, they have their attorneys looking for ways to deny workers’ compensation and get employees the smallest possible settlement. Some of the tactics they use include:
- Claiming the damage caused by an injury or illness is not severe
- Accusing injured employees of faking their illness or injury
- Wrongly informing employees that they are not entitled to a second medical opinion from a doctor of their choice
- Discouraging or threatening injured employees
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- Discouraging injured workers from seeking legal counsel
- Misinforming employees that their actions will lead to denied benefits.
However, with an experienced and reliable attorney on your side, you have nothing to worry about. File your claim, provide relevant documents, and watch your attorney fight to get you the best possible settlement.
We Can Get You Your Benefits!
Common Types of Workplace Accidents at Kia Motors
Kia employs thousands of workers who put their health on the line daily. And because of the repetitive, labor-intensive work they have to do, Kia workers are exposed to different injuries.
For example, Auto workers at Kia risk blunt traumatic injuries and repetitive motion injuries. Many employees also suffer carpal tunnel syndrome and torn rotator cuffs due to repetitive arm and hand motion. Employees that have to stand all day may also experience these injuries on the leg and feet (tarsal tunnel syndrome).
Some of the common injuries automobile plant employees can sustain include:
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Mangled limbs
- Bruises, cuts, and abrasions
- Traumatic brain injury
- Internal organ damage
- Sprains and strains
- Fractures
- Blunt traumatic injury
- Accidents caused by a coworker in the plant.
What Benefits Are Available to Injured Kia Employees?
If you’ve been injured while working at Kia, you may wonder what workers’ compensation benefits you have. The benefits you get in case of an on-the-job injury at Kia include the following:
- Lost wages: Georgia law requires employers to provide employees with temporary total disability (TTD), temporary partial disability (TPD), or permanent disability benefits.
- Medical bills and rehabilitation expenses: Your employer must provide you with medical care while you recover from your injury.
- Funeral and burial costs (in fatal work accidents): Employers have to cover funeral and burial costs for employees who lost their lives in an on-the-job accident.
- Mileage reimbursement: Your employer must provide travel expenses, including mileage to and from doctor’s appointments, pharmacy visits, and physical therapy sessions.
Workers’ comp claims are subject to time limits in Georgia. So, if you were injured while working at Kia, you have 30 days to report the accident to your supervisor and must file the claim within one year of the date of injury.
Work-Related Injuries Can Affect You for Years to Come—Get the Best Compensation!
Kia workers’ compensation is a complicated legal matter that can be difficult for an injured or deceased employee to understand. So, it is important to have a workers’ compensation lawyer look over your case and ensure that you get the best compensation.
At Gearhart Law Group, we are straight shooters and aim to resolve your case ASAP so you can get your life back to normal sooner. We understand how you feel and are ready to listen to you. That’s why we offer free consultations, give personalized attention, and keep you updated at all stages.
Work-related injuries can impact you for years to come. So, act today to get your medical care, protect your family’s well-being, and maintain your financial stability!
