On May 4, 2021, gunfire erupted outside of a cafe in northwest Atlanta. While a Brink’s security team was stopped for a snack break, the gunman tried to steal the armored security truck.
While picking up food from a restaurant on the corner of Marietta Boulevard and Coronet Way, one of the Brink’s employees noticed the stickup happening in the parking lot, said police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant.
“While the Brinks truck was parked, two suspects occupying a black sedan pulled beside the parked truck,” Grant said in a statement. “One of the suspects entered the truck with a firearm and demanded the driver to exit the vehicle.”
The Brink’s employee walking back opened fire at the suspect but missed. The suspect then returned fire, hitting the employee in the arm. Both suspects fled the scene in their sedan.
The security team returned to their office on Huff Road to call the police and report the shooting around 6 a.m. The shot employee was brought to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Atlanta police force.
Workers’ compensation claims from violence on the job
As a private security transport company, Brink’s employees face unique dangers and challenges while at work. For starters, they are drivers, which puts them at higher risk for car accident injuries at work. But they’re also security personnel and may be injured when protecting their cargo—as in this shooting in Atlanta.
In the case of this recent shooting, the injured employee is likely eligible for workers’ compensation since he was shot while on duty. The only question that may arise is if he was shot while the team was stopped for a snack break, and whether such breaks are covered as being in the course and scope of employment.
What to do after a work-related accident in Atlanta
If you are injured as a security driver—whether it’s in an auto accident or in a shooting—first seek medical attention. Then, notify your employer as soon as possible. A supervisor or your company’s human resources department can normally assist you with filing a claim. In Georgia, this will involve completing Form WC-14 and filing it with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
Upon filing a claim, your employer’s insurance company will have up to 21 days to investigate your report. They must either approve or deny your claim at the end of that time frame. You should receive a written letter notifying you of the insurance company’s decision.
If your claim is denied, you have the option to file an appeal. In such cases, hiring an experienced Georgia workers’ compensation lawyer to represent you can greatly increase your odds of success. Even if your claim is approved, you may nonetheless desire an attorney to help you navigate the settlement process and calculate the full value of your workplace injury.
