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Atlanta Workers’ Comp Failed Drug Test Attorney

Last updated on May 30, 2025

Let’s not be naive. A lot of people use illegal recreational drugs, and a good many workers may fail a drug test after being legitimately injured on the job. You may not have been impaired at all at the time of your accident, but traces of a drug may have still been in your system at the time of your injury.

What many workers don’t know is this: if you failed your drug test, you most likely will still have a strong workers’ compensation case. If your employer or the insurance company is trying to deny your Georgia workers’ comp benefits on the basis of a failed drug test, contact us. Our work injury attorneys can advise you and fight to get you WC benefits even with a failed drug test.

For a free consultation, contact us today at 404-692-7474. We advise and represent injured workers and their families in the Atlanta metro area and throughout Georgia.

Georgia Workers’ Compensation And Failed Drug Tests Overview

Understanding Georgia’s Rules On Drug Tests And Workers’ Comp

There is a lot of misinformation about workers’ compensation and drug test results. Here is some clarification:

  • The Eight-Hour Rule: First of all, the drug test has to be given within eight hours of the injury. If the test is given after the eight hours, the burden is on your employer to show that the drugs in your system caused your injury.
  • Impairment vs Presence: In most work injuries, the drugs in the worker’s system did not cause the injury. Why should your workers’ compensation claim be denied if you took drugs outside of work several weeks before the accident?
  • Causation Is Key: Even if the drug test was given within the eight-hour window, if you were not impaired at work at the time of your injury by the drugs in your system, you should still have a strong workers’ compensation claim.

Furthermore, studies have shown that recreational use of drugs outside of work may not have any correlation to on-the-job accidents. Just because a drug is in your system doesn’t necessarily mean that it was responsible for your accident at work, and proving that could keep you eligible to receive benefits.

Prescription Medications Vs. Illegal Substances: Does It Make A Difference?

Many injured workers we have served worry about legitimate prescription medications showing up on their post-accident drug tests. The reality is that legally prescribed medications are handled differently than illegal substances under Georgia workers’ compensation law.

If you were taking medication prescribed by your doctor, you have protection. The key factor is whether the medication impaired your ability to work safely. Taking blood pressure medication, antidepressants or pain medication as prescribed typically will not affect your workers’ compensation claim, even if testing uncovers these substances.

However, disclosure matters. You should inform your employer and the testing facility about any prescription medications you are taking. This transparency helps avoid unnecessary complications and demonstrates your good faith. Some workers hesitate to reveal their medical conditions, but Georgia law protects your right to take medication for health conditions unrelated to your job.

Even if a prescribed medication did affect your coordination or judgment, this does not automatically disqualify you from benefits. The question remains: Did the medication cause your specific workplace injury? In most cases, the answer is no. But do not assume this means you are out of luck. Our firm can help you push back.

What Happens If You Refuse A Post-Accident Drug Test In Georgia?

Refusing a drug test after a workplace injury creates serious legal consequences under Georgia law. Specifically, O.C.G.A. § 34-9-17(b)(3) states that refusal creates a “rebuttable presumption” that drugs or alcohol caused your injury.

This presumption means the law assumes your injury was drug-related unless you can prove otherwise. While this sounds harsh, it is still possible to overcome this presumption with strong evidence about how your accident actually occurred.

Refusing a test is often worse than failing one. With a failed test, we can argue the substances did not cause your injury. With a refusal, our attorneys must overcome the legal presumption that they did. This makes building your case more challenging, though not impossible.

When Can Drug Test Accuracy Be Questioned?

Drug tests are not perfect. Sometimes, faulty equipment, improper procedures or medical conditions can produce inaccurate results. We examine every angle of your test, from the chain of custody to the laboratory’s certification.

Certain medical conditions, dietary supplements or prescription medications can cause false positives. If you believe your test results are wrong, contact us immediately.

When A Failed Drug Test Likely Doesn’t Matter: Common Scenarios

Here are a couple of clear examples of work injuries that have nothing to do with drug test results.

1. You are on duty, driving as part of your job, and while sitting at a red light, you are hit from behind and injured. How would drugs in your system have anything to do with being injured in this scenario? They don’t. The accident and injury were totally the fault of someone else, and a failed drug test should have no bearing on your case.

2. You are working in a warehouse, pushing a cart full of merchandise, minding your own business, just doing your job, when a coworker driving a forklift, not paying attention, runs you down from behind. Again, in this scenario, the drugs in your system did not cause your work injury.

3. Other times, there could be medical evidence that could raise questions about the accuracy of drug or alcohol test results. In some cases, workers may even have a prescription from a physician that could help them obtain workers’ compensation benefits after a failed drug test.

Do Not Be Discouraged By Misinformation

Every workers’ comp situation involving a failed drug test is very fact-specific, but in the overwhelming majority of cases with failed drug tests, the insurance company will eventually have to pay you because it is very difficult to show that drugs in your system were the direct cause of your work injury.

However, many people who would qualify for health care coverage and disability benefits will fail to make claims because they believe inaccurate information about this key benefits system. Urban legends and half-truths about workers’ compensation block many potentially qualified workers from getting the benefits they deserve

See our Workers’ Comp FAQ to learn more about the steps you should take after a work injury.

What If I Was Fired After Failing A Drug Test?

Your employer may fire you after you fail a drug test. That is their right if they want to have a drug-free workplace. However, even if you are fired for failing a drug test, your employer and the insurance company will still have to pay your workers’ compensation benefits if you were legitimately injured on the job. You may also need to appeal or litigate to get benefits when the situation involves a failed drug or alcohol test

In other words, do not despair if your workers’ compensation claim is denied for failing a drug test. If you are really injured, our workers’ comp lawyers will still make a very strong case for you.

Do Not Give Up, Contact Us For A Free Consultation

If you have questions about workers’ comp eligibility, we can help. To arrange a free consultation, please call 404-692-7474 or send us an email. We represent injured workers in Atlanta and throughout Georgia.

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