The construction industry is full of hazards for its workers. With heavy machinery all around and working at great heights, there are numerous dangers. Even if you take every precaution to be safe, you may have an accident on the job site that leaves you with injuries.
Many construction workers suffer from injuries such as falls, burns, head injuries, and fractures after a workplace accident. Here’s what you should do after an injury at a construction site job.
Get Immediate Medical Care
Whether you fell off scaffolding, were hit by heavy machinery, or had any other kind of accident on the construction site, you must get immediate medical treatment. After emergency medical care, you will need to find an approved doctor, or your employer may require you to see a doctor within their network.
Tell Your Employer
You’ll also need to tell your employer about your work injury as soon as possible. Even if they called 911 to get paramedics to help you after your injury, you need to provide written notice of the accident within 30 days.
This written notice is not the same as filing your claim with workers’ comp. You have two years to file a claim with the board, though the sooner you do it, the better.
Document Your Damages
While you will be covered through workers’ comp benefits for medical costs and a portion of missed wages, your total cost from your injuries may be greater. You may have a third-party negligence claim in which you can recover compensation for all the losses you have endured.
It’s important to keep track of all bills and receipts for your medical treatments and other expenses. Don’t forget to also document the overall impact this work accident has had on your life.
Speak with a Construction Accident Lawyer
Workers’ compensation claims and personal injury claims have one key difference—fault.
In most cases, if you file for workers’ comp benefits in New York, you’re not permitted to sue your employer for damages. There are exceptions though, and if your injuries on the construction site were the result of another party’s negligence, you might be able to file a claim.
This claim could be against a contractor, subcontractor, vendor, premises owner, manufacturer of defective equipment, or driver in cases of job-related vehicle accidents.
In these cases, the question of fault is of the utmost importance, which is why you may want the help of an experienced construction accident lawyer. Your attorney will need to prove that the other party was negligent in order for you to file a lawsuit.
Giordano Law Offices provides New York construction accident lawyer help to workers and their families get justice. They have helped many injured victims obtain financial compensation for the damages from their construction accident cases.
It’s important to act quickly, though, because your employer must be notified in writing within 30 days of your workplace accident—and you have two years to file a workers’ comp claim.
If you need to file a personal injury lawsuit, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of your accident.
Start now by contacting an attorney with experience in construction accidents.
While it may seem like you have a lot of time, witness memories and evidence may fade the longer you wait. Taking quick action will help you get your benefits as well as recover compensation for your injuries.