People working at construction sites are at risk of getting injured due to multiple reasons. Workers should work with caution to avoid getting hit by any of the machines or speeding cars near the site. While employers should provide the workers with the necessary clothes and safety measures to decrease the risk of accidents as much as possible, sometimes accidents take place regardless, which initiates a sequence of events that both the injured and the one responsible will have to go through. As a victim, you should keep in mind some crucial steps to take immediately after the unfortunate incident.
Go to the Nearest Medical Center
After being injured, your first priority should be calling an ambulance or asking someone to drive you to the nearest medical center. You should never neglect your cuts and bruises even if they look superficial because sometimes their effects don’t show except after a couple of hours. It’s better to stay in your place and limit your movement. After getting released from the hospital, request the medical documents and bills because they will be of use later on.
Call a Police Officer
You shouldn’t underestimate the role of a police officer in an accident. The police act as the third party that writes an unbiased honest report. They provide you with papers containing a detailed description of the incident. An officer will also check if the necessary precautions were provided and applied or not. A police report is valuable in negotiations with your employer. It is free of charge if the person requesting it is the victim. On the other hand, it is inadmissible in the court because it is considered hearsay. That means that the officer didn’t witness the accident firsthand.
Contact Your Employer
After you seek the necessary medical help and report the accident to the police, you should contact your employer. Time is an important factor to consider. Some states require workers to report accidents as soon as possible to get compensation. You should throw the ball in your employer’s court and wait for their reaction. The business owner should respond immediately to avoid serious consequences. Make sure to write a detailed and well-written report. You should be honest and transparent because if the investigations figure out that you lied, the whole report will be dismissed.
Seek Legal Assistance
The company may offer you a settlement but you won’t be able to tell whether the amount of money is enough or not. To receive workers’ compensation benefits, you should meet certain deadlines to file your claim. That’s why seeking legal assistance immediately is crucial. If you don’t want to waste your money, some law firms offer free consultations. After making sure that your case is valid there are a couple of steps you need to take. According to this law firm, it’s crucial to have a seasoned lawyer that specializes in this area to understand your situation better, and how to proceed. You should be vigilant and present the documents you previously gathered. The lawyer will take it from there and handle all of the negotiations with your employer to make sure that the odds are in your favor. They will also try to estimate the amount of compensation that you deserve.
Document the Accident
It is crucial to your case to gather information to help you get compensated. Your fellow employees that were present at that moment are the witnesses. You should ask them to record statements of what they saw. If they are too afraid to talk, don’t push it and let the professionals handle it. You should write a report and add it to the folder. Make sure to check if there were any photographs taken because they can prove that you were injured at work. You should also take photos of your sustained injuries. Your medical records should be added to the documents as well.
Go to Court
Unfortunately, sometimes all negotiations fail to get you what you deserve. That doesn’t mean that you should let go of your rights. You can take your case to court and present it in front of a judge. The system can get you good compensation, depending on the situation. For instance, if you were injured due to the negligence of your employer whether intentional or not, you will get a huge sum of money. However, if it was partially your fault because you failed to follow the safety measures set in place, you won’t get as much cash. The judge will also consider your physical and mental suffering.
Psychological Rehabilitation
Some accidents leave emotional scars. If you suffer from mental anguish, post-traumatic stress, or anxiety, you should reach out to a psychologist. It is normal to feel afraid after an accident and seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of. Your mental health is as important as your physical. Psychological rehabilitation will aid you in your recovery process.
A construction accident shouldn’t be taken lightly because its consequences are serious. You should be aware of the steps you should take after you get injured. It is essential to seek medical assistance for your physical ailments. Try to improve your psychological state as well. You should keep in mind that compensation won’t come easy to you. The important thing is to not despair if the negotiations failed. You still have a chance if you have a good lawyer by your side.
