Injured on Your Construction Site: What Now?

Ladyblogger
October 7, 2012

Industry statistics state that 10 percent of all construction workers will be involved in an accident every year. Due to this relatively high probability, it is essential for construction workers to understand both how to protect themselves from an injury and how to get their needs taken care of if they are injured. Some employees may feel pressured not to pursue a potential lawsuit if they are hurt on the job, but there are laws in place to protect you, and it is important to get your medical needs met.

How Can I Protect Myself From an Injury?

Following all of the safety guidelines that your company has put in place is imperative, even if you think that some of them are unnecessary. According to www.construction-accident-attorney.net, not only will these rules help keep you from becoming a construction site accident, but it will also be necessary to prove that you followed the guidelines if you end up in court. You should also take personal responsibility for your safety by keeping a close eye on your surroundings. If something seems amiss, you must point it out to your supervisor to protect both yourself and your co-workers. It is also important to avoid any poor examples that your co-workers set. For example, if someone else who you work closely with constantly takes their safety glasses or hardhat off, you should not emulate them. Your safety is much more important than fitting in with someone who is not showing the proper respect to the dangerous aspects of the job site.

What To Do If You are Injured

The very first step is to immediately notify your supervisor and follow any of your company’s injury guidelines. No matter where they want to send you, it is important that you do exactly as you are told. If you fail to report to the company clinic, then it will be much more difficult for you to successfully pursue legal action. After all, most companies have an injury policy in place, and if you fail to follow it, then it will be more difficult to prove that your injury was actually obtained on the job site. You will most likely be asked to submit to a drug test wherever your company sends you. If you refuse to take it or if you fail the test, then your employer’s legal responsibility for your injuries might be waived. This depends somewhat on whether or not you signed paperwork indicating that you would be working in a drug free workplace, but even if you did not, your employer may still try to prove that your drug usage caused the accident.

Workers’ Compensation Claims

If your injury is serious enough to make you miss more than a couple of days of work, you will probably need to file a workers’ compensation claim for either short or long-term disability. Make sure that you accurately and completely fill out all of the applicable forms and that you show up on time to all of your appointments. In some instances, a claim might be declined even when the injured party does everything that they are supposed to. If this happens to you, then you will need to contact an attorney who specializes in worker’s compensation claims. Because it is always possible that an injury will end in a lawsuit, it is important to keep documentation about everything from the moment that you are injured.

Anthony Joseph writes on various legal subjects, and is a contributing author for www.construction-accident-attorney.net. Construction accidents can consist of anything from slips and falls, to major equipment failures that can result in the death of several individuals. Having the right accident attorney on your side can keep you protected and ahead of the game.