Whenever a construction worker falls from a ladder, gets their hand caught in machinery or suffers a back injury while lifting material, that moment tends to create two problems at once:
- You are hurt.
- You suddenly have to make decisions about reporting the accident, seeing a doctor, missing work and dealing with your employer or an insurance company.
The reality is that what you do next can affect whether your medical bills are covered, whether you receive income while you cannot work and, in some cases, whether you have another legal claim beyond workers’ compensation.
So, you need to know which rights may apply to you, what steps you should take immediately after an injury and which mistakes can cost you benefits or compensation you may otherwise be entitled to.
Below, construction accident lawyers break down six things every construction worker should know after getting hurt on the job:
- Report the Injury, However Minor
Every state has rules about notifying your employer and filing a workers’ compensation claim. The exact deadlines differ, but waiting can make a claim much harder.
This matters especially with injuries that worsen over time, meaning: if you first formally me...