Nashville Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Representing Auto Workers
Aggressive representation for Tennessee machinists, laborers, mechanics, and other vehicle workers
Auto manufacturers employ thousands of people here in the Nashville area. Auto manufacturing jobs are hard work. For example, some assembly line work involves a lot of heavy labor. Many employees, in or out of the factory or warehouse, can be hurt while working with machines and equipment. Some lab workers are regularly exposed to dangerous chemicals. And, truck drivers are at risk for truck accidents and injuries.
The workers’ compensation lawyers at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm work aggressively so that injured autoworkers get their full workers’ compensation benefits when a workplace accident or illness forces them to stop working. We work with your doctors to identify if you have a temporary or permanent disability. We review what type of medical care you need and for how long.
Our lawyers also resist employer efforts to force workers back to work too early. We fight to get you your fair share of your weekly wages. In cases where you have a medical impairment, a permanent disability, or a partial disability, we explain what pay adjustments are required in Tennessee. In severe cases, we negotiate long-term lump sum settlements.
"When I was a teenager, Dad got hurt. Insurance company wouldn't pay. We lost our house. But, Dad got a lawyer and we got justice. That's the moment I decided to become an attorney. As a lawyer, I have dedicated my life to helping injury victims."
~ Rocky
What are common types of accidents in the auto manufacturing and repair sectors?
Nashville workers who build or repair cars, trucks, and other vehicles are at constant risk of experiencing one of the following kinds of injuries:
- Machinery accidents. Improperly maintained or defective machines can malfunction and cause serious injury to workers. A machine operator may be improperly trained or operating a machine incorrectly, and you could be injured as a result. Large machine accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. It’s crucial you have an experienced and strong worker’s compensation attorney on your side.
- Overexertion. Auto workers often work long hours with short breaks. Many employees work overtime to get extra pay and keep their jobs secure. Long hours can lead to decreased concentration or fatigue, which can cause accidents. Overtired or exhausted workers can also suffer a variety of health problems.
- Slips and falls. Auto manufacturing plants have lots of loose equipment parts, tight spaces, and oil and debris on the floors. There are dangerous machines that workers need to avoid. Many auto manufacturing and repair accidents happen when a worker slips on a wet surface, trips over something, or collides with stationary or moving equipment.
- Auto accidents. When cars roll off the manufacturing line, they need to be driven to off-site locations so they can be transported to auto retailers. Car accidents, whether due to speeding, distraction, or other circumstances, can be fatal. Drivers can suffer a range of injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, and broken bones.
- Chemical exposure. Workers who suffer an occupational illness may also claim workers’ compensation benefits. Older auto parts or factories may contain asbestos, which can cause cancer and respiratory diseases. Exposure to other toxins can cause neurological disorders, anemia, breathing difficulties, kidney failure, and even death. Chemical exposure to toluene diisocyanate and other dangerous chemicals can cause bronchitis and pulmonary disorders.
- Lifting injuries. Auto manufacturing employees work with all types of heavy machinery, equipment, and tools. Lifting, moving, and pushing these objects can cause back and neck injuries, which can be hard to diagnose and treat.
What kinds of injuries are common for Nashville auto workers?
The most serious and tragic type of injury in any workplace is a fatal one. Immediate family survivors should be entitled to death benefits. These include a share of the average weekly wages their loved one would have earned as well as funeral and burial expenses. Rocky McElhaney can explain these benefits to you in detail in the terrible event you have lost a loved one to a workplace accident.
Injuries that can cause an autoworker to be unable to work or to lose their life include:
- Back and neck injuries. Many auto workers are on their feet all day long. They need to use their torso to get under vehicles and do the hard labor only skilled workers can do. One wrong move can cause a worker to injure their back or pull a neck muscle. Many workers suffer chronic back and neck pain, which accumulates and is aggravated through the years.
- Repetitive stress disorders. Autoworkers often perform the same sets of tasks day in and day out, whether behind a desk, on an assembly line, or in the warehouse. Repeating the same work can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and other types of trauma. Constantly doing the same work can also cause nerve damage, muscle pulls, and back injuries.
- Cuts and bruises. Workers in the auto sector often work with sharp instruments, which can cause bleeding, laceration, or infection. Deep cuts can require stitches and other medical treatment.
- Electrocution and electric shock. Most auto manufacturing and repair work requires use of various different types of power tools. If these tools malfunction, or if a worker doesn’t use them properly, a worker can die or suffer severe electrical burns and organ damage.
Autoworkers can also suffer psychological stress, workplace violence, and any other type of workplace injury.
Which auto manufacturers operate in Tennessee?
Tennessee has long been a popular manufacturing area for the automotive industry. Our state keeps the automotive industry running, one might say, providing a home to such giants as Nissan, General Motors, and Volkswagen. We also host many related industry companies like Hankook Tire, Bridgestone Americas, Calsonic Kansei, Magnetti Marelli, SL Tennessee, Denso Manufacturing, Yorozu Automotive, JTEKT, Mahle, and M-Tek.
Do you have a workers’ compensation attorney near me?
Rocky McElhaney Law Firm has two offices in Nashville: one at 545 Mainstream Dr. (Suite 105) and one at 615 Main Street, B21. We also have state-of-the-art offices in Hendersonville and Clarksville. If you are too injured to come to us, we will make home and hospital visits, or schedule a phone or video consultation.
Representing Tennessee’s injured auto workers
Don’t delay. If you were hurt while building, manufacturing or repairing a car, truck or other vehicle, you need help. Rocky McElhaney Law Firm wants to help you return to work only when you’re physically able. Please call our Nashville workers’ compensation lawyers at 615.425.2500 or use our contact form to schedule an appointment in Nashville, Hendersonville, or Clarksville.