Construction sites are dangerous places. High-risk materials, heavy equipment, high elevations, and electricity are some of the hazards workers on a construction site face daily.
Hiring a legal professional to represent your best interests is advisable if you sustain an injury on a construction site. Protect yourself by contacting a legal professional for more information about your rights and options for your case.
Hurt on a New Jersey Construction Site?
If a subcontractor sustains an injury on a construction site, you may be eligible for workers compensation benefits or an injury claim. The following is a list of steps you can take if you are hurt on a construction site in New Jersey.
1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately
If you get hurt while working at a construction site, seek immediate medical attention Never try to take care of your injuries or seek medical help until you've been adequately evaluated by a qualified physician at a hospital treating injuries in your area. It is vital to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
If Emergency Medical Services personnel are treating you, they may ask questions. Tell them everything that happened, including any symptoms or pain you are experiencing. It's also vital to share any information about your medical history, including pre-existing medical conditions and medications you may be taking.
2. Report the Accident
You typically have 14 days to report the accident to your supervisor in New Jersey. Make sure you follow the time frames established by the law and your employer's policies. If you are self-employed, report the accident to the general contractor and other entity that hired you.
Post-accident notification is a significant part of safety on the job, but it can seem not very easy at first. Your lawyer can help you report the accident online and start filling out workers comp or insurance forms immediately after an incident occurs.
Another thing to do if you sustain injury in a workplace accident is to note any existing policies or procedures that might apply. These are all the requirements or company policies governing handling injuries. It would help if you followed all company procedures for documenting the accident.
Your employer is required to report all workplace injuries to state agencies. If your employer doesn't report the accident, it could lead to civil liability. The case against the employer will depend on whether the worker had reasonable time to separate from their job before seeking medical attention.
3. Gather the Relevant Contact Information
When involved in an accident at work, it is advisable to hire a lawyer to help in collecting contact information and gather as much evidence as possible. If you're hurt at work and need to collect info, here is some helpful advice that can help.
- Collect the contact information for witnesses and the contractors involved in the accident. These include their name, phone number, physical address for the central location of the business, email address, and website, if available.
- Take photos of the scene with any digital device if possible. The photos will be helpful in case a lawsuit proceeds or insurance needs filing in the future.
- Collect physical evidence, like blood, clothing, and other items damaged in the accident.
- It is also vital to write down your initial impressions of the accident, what happened and how it happened. You must share this information with your legal representative to help strengthen your case.
You need a lawyer to help you know your rights when injured on a construction site or while working in another industry.
4. File a Workers' Compensation Claim
If you're hurt on a construction site, filing a workers' compensation claim with the help of an attorney is vital. Workers' compensation is an individual and a company's responsibility. Depending on the specifics of your case, you may be eligible to have your medical expenses reimbursed and to receive payment for lost wages.
The law requires employers to maintain safety for their workers on the job and in their place of work. If your employer fails to observe safety precautions, the law requires that you receive compensation for your injuries.
You have a right to be compensated adequately and fairly for your medical expenses if you become injured at work by physical activity, work-related injury, or occupational illness. You also have a right to obtain an initial evaluation with reasonable promptness when needed.
5. Contact a NJ Workers' Compensation Lawyer
Are you a resident of New Jersey and its surroundings? Contact us and speak with an attorney specializing in construction-related accidents. It's vital to work with a legal professional if there is negligence on behalf of the contractor, like unsafe practices leading to your injury. Knowing what's due to you if you're hurt while working at a construction site is vital to your case, and we can help. We have locations across New Jersey and the tri-state area.