Can I be fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury lawsuit after a Georgia forklift accident?

Can I be fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury lawsuit after a Georgia forklift accident?

Georgia law prohibits retaliation against employees for filing workers’ compensation claims under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-11.1. Retaliatory discharge for filing a workers’ comp claim is an independent tort in Georgia. While Georgia is an at-will employment state, wrongful termination claims arise when the termination violates a specific public policy — and retaliation for exercising your legal rights after a workplace injury falls squarely within that protection.