What do I need to know after being injured on a construction site?
The minutes, hours, weeks, and months following a construction accident can be emotionally overwhelming and physically painful. You might be concerned about compiling medical bills, who will pay them, and whether or not you will be able to return to your job. What is important to understand is that there are typically always more questions than there are answers. Furthermore, you have rights and interests that can protect you and your loved one. This is what a construction accident lawyer does everyday.
What do I need to know after being injured on a construction site?
The following is general advice on what you should know following an injury at a construction site.
The insurance company does not have your best interests in mind. Adjustors you may talk to will likely be friendly and “sympathetic”, but their interests are for the insurance company and not you. This means that they could use various tactics to get you to accept a smaller settlement (in the case of a personal injury claim). With regards to workers compensation, it is common to receive less benefits than you need or deserve. A lawyer might prevent this from happening.
Unsafe working conditions should be reported. Hazardous work conditions are the leading cause of accidents at a construction site. If you believe inadequate safety measures are to blame, you may have a personal injury claim. Moreover, it is advisable to file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). If you’re unsure about how to complete this process, or are fearful to do so, ask your lawyer for help.
You can recover lost wages through workers compensation or a personal injury claim/lawsuit. After your accident, you may be unable to work for a period of time. In some situations, you could be temporary or permanently disabled. Nearly all construction workers will be able to file for workers compensation which covers a portion of your salary while you are away from work. If you are deemed as being disabled, a lump sum might be awarded. Should negligence be a factor, a personal injury lawyer might seek additional damages for your financial losses.
Compensation for medical bills can be recovered. Workers compensation benefits entitled injured construction workers to compensation for any relevant medical costs, rehabilitation, therapy, medication, medical devices, and so forth. If your employer does not have workers compensation insurance, it may be possible to sue them for damages.
A lawyer may need to prove your case. Before you can collect workers compensation benefits or damages in a personal injury claim/lawsuit, you will need to show proof for your case. This may include determining elements such as:
- Finding out who was responsible.
- Whether or not safety measures were in place.
- Whether a breach of duty existed.
- How you were harmed, and to what extent.
- Whether the company has workers compensation.
- Whether you qualify for workers compensation.
Depending on the answers to the above, will depend on how you can proceed.
You should have one of the top workers comp lawyers Milwaukee turns to on your side. These cases can vary in their complexities. Some are straightforward and others rife with obstacles to overcome. By having a lawyer on you side, you can feel peace of mind in knowing that your rights and interests will be protected.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Hickey & Turim for their insight into construction accidents and injuries.
