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Claims for Entertainment and Tourism

Chattanooga Workers Compensation Entertainment and Tourism Industries

Chattanooga Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Helping Employees in the Entertainment and Tourism Industries

Skilled counsel for performers and hospitality workers in Tennessee and North Georgia

Bessie Smith. Lori Petty. Pat Robertson. Ted Turner. Usher. Chattanooga is the birthplace and hometown of a lot of the country’s greatest entertainers. From film and television to the music industry, to animation, art and production, Chattanooga is an up-and-coming hot spot for entertainers and performers of all kinds. They, along with our hospitality and tourism-sector workers, have helped to make our corner of the world a great place to visit and work.

Wagner Workers Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers is proud to represent entertainers, hotel and hospitality workers, performers and employees in the tourism industry in Tennessee and North Georgia. If you were injured in the course of your job duties, our Chattanooga workers’ compensation lawyers can help you secure the benefits you need, so you can recover. If your claim has been denied, we can represent you in hearings and in the appeals process, too. Let our family help you protect your family.

Who we represent

When we talk about the “entertainment” industry, we mean film, music, TV, and theater – but they’re not the only sectors. The clown who comes to your child’s birthday party; the radio personality who hosts a Memorial Day parade; the vast (often unnamed) members of production crews: these are the people who keep visitors coming day and night to Chattanooga.

All of these visitors mean a booming tourism industry, as well. Whether you’re a ride operator at Lake Winnepesaukah, drive a hop on/hop off trolley for Grey Line, keep the food and drinks coming at a local bar or restaurant, or ensure that the beds are made and the floors are spotless at any of the local hotels, Wagner Workers Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers is ready and able to help if you get hurt.

Common injuries for performers and hospitality workers

The type and severity of your injuries may be determined by which sector employs you. Generally speaking, any worker could be seriously injured because of:

  • Vehicle crashes
  • Slips, trips and falls on wet floors
  • Falling from heights
  • Being struck by an object
  • Bending and lifting heavy items
  • Repetitive motions required by your job
  • Overexertion
  • Defective or malfunctioning safety equipment
  • Toxic exposure

Entertainment and tourism workers, however, face additional risks that other workers may not. We represent people who have sustained serious, even life-threatening injuries, because of their worksites and environments. Some of these cases include:

  • Electrical shocks or burns caused by downed power lines
  • Water-related injuries, including oxygen deprivation from near-drowning
  • Amputations and spinal cord injuries form stunts gone wrong
  • Serious injuries caused by violent tourists
  • Hearing or vision loss from on-set explosions
  • Trampling injuries in the event of an emergency

No matter how you are hurt, if you are an employee, you should be covered by workers’ compensation. Both Georgia and Tennessee’s workers’ comp programs are no-fault, which means that you only have to prove you were injured in the course of your job duties in order to collect compensation.

Other options for injured workers

Workers’ compensation is only available to employees. Therefore, the program will not cover contractors, even those who were injured on the worksite. If you are classified as a contractor, your only option is to pursue a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover damages.

If you are an employee, though, and were injured by a third-party, you may also wish to file a personal injury lawsuit. For example, let’s say you were setting up a sound system, and you end up getting shocked because of a defective in the equipment. You may wish to make a claim against the manufacturer of the equipment for additional compensation. Keep in mind, though, that if you win your suit or accept a settlement, you may be required to pay back up to 2/3 of the benefits awarded to you by the workers’ compensation program. (This is called a workers’ compensation lien.)

If you have questions about workers’ compensation, our lawyers are prepared to answer them. You can trust us to guide you, and to keep your best interests in mind at all times.

Chattanooga’s trusted legal advisors since 1945

Wagner Workers Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers has been representing the injured for more than 70 years. If you were hurt in the course of your work, we want to help you get the compensation you need. Please call 423-756-7923 or fill out our contact form to schedule your free consultation. We serve clients in North Georgia, Cleveland, TN, Chattanooga and all surrounding counties.