In the event that you're injured when working at a construction site, your injuries may allow you to file a claim for workers' compensation.
A workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to help you determine how much liability your employer has for your injuries. It’s also possible that other parties could be responsible for your injuries, which includes property owners and third-party contractors. Knowing what to do when you’ve been injured in a construction accident could help you get compensation for these injuries.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that’s designed to protect employees in the event that they are injured while on the job. The scope of “on the job” is large but may not extend to every facet of a job, which is why it’s important to understand how much coverage you’ve been provided with. The protection that’s provided with workers’ compensation refers to compensation in the form of covering your lost wages and any medical bills that have accumulated because of your injury. The medical care that’s covered by workers’ compensation includes any care or treatment that was provided in an attempt to heal the injury or relieve its symptoms. Different monetary rewards may also be provided if the affected individual suffered from a temporary or permanent disability because of the construction accident.
Typically Covered Construction Injuries
Nearly all of the injuries that can occur on a construction site are covered by workers’ compensation. It’s possible for compensation to be provided even if the accident was 100 percent the fault of the injured worker. Since most construction injuries and accidents are covered by workers’ compensation, it’s more important to look at whether or not additional legal recourse is available. When you accept workers’ compensation benefits, you’re giving up your right to file a lawsuit against your direct employer. However, filing a lawsuit may still be possible in certain situations that don’t directly involve your employer. For instance, if the construction accident was caused by malfunctioning equipment, it’s possible that the manufacturer of the equipment could be held liable for your injury.
What To Do When You've Been Injured
When you’ve been injured in a construction accident, there are several steps that you will want to take. The first thing that you’ll want to do is report the injury to your employer so that you can get started on the workers’ compensation claims process. This report should be in writing so that you can keep a copy for your records. You’ll then want to focus on completing the claim form, which you will be provided with once you’ve reported the injury. The form will need to be wholly completed before you’re able to obtain any compensation. Keep a copy of this document as well. Once you’ve completed the claim, all that’s left is to file it and wait for the answer on whether or not your claim is accepted. You should retain a lawyer during this process if you want a higher chance of success.
