You may have seen large construction projects involving towering cranes and newly constructed buildings that touch the clouds. In the United States, the construction industry generates about $2.8 trillion every year. Construction is one of the largest industries on the planet. Then you may have seen breaking news about a major construction site disaster like a crane collapse or building fire. Every day, countless workers at construction sites get injured as a result of the inherent dangers presented by their work. Often, these injuries are completely preventable, and solely due to a company’s desire to cut corners and make money. If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, it is important to know your rights.
Consult With A Construction Injury Attorney Right Away
After a construction accident, the most important thing for an injured worker to do is to find the right lawyers. This may be counter-intuitive to a lot of people since you would hope that the job would have your best interest in mind, but what a worker needs to understand is that the construction world is a business, and any workplace accident implicates insurance coverage, and sometimes, liability for damages beyond insurance coverage. Whether it is Worker’s Compensation claims, immediate medical treatment fees, or fear of possible future litigation, the financial implications of a worker’s injury can have a profound effect on the way an employer deals with a worker’s injuries. Even if you have the support of your employer following an accident, it is important to contact an attorney right away to protect your rights.
Get a Personal Injury Lawyer Who Specializes In Construction Accidents and Catastrophic Injuries
There are two types of attorneys who will be invaluable in helping an injured worker navigate the initial processes after an incident. The first (Labor Law Personal Injury) attorney will listen carefully to every aspect of the incident and the job, give you an honest read of the facts of the case, and give you a rundown of the legal liability of the case. This attorney can also identify all of the entities and people involved, hire an investigator to obtain location photos and witness statements and make preservation demands for pertinent equipment, photos, and videos. As you can imagine, these initial first steps must be taken immediately after the incident, or else witnesses might change their stories, the incident location can change, or the equipment responsible for the injury might grow legs and disappear.
Get a Worker’s Compensation Lawyer Who Can Assist You In Getting the Insurance Coverage You’re Entitled To
The second (Workers’ Compensation) attorney will walk you through the initial steps in setting up a claim for medical treatment and, if needed, claims for lost wages. This attorney will help you fill out the forms, and make sure to ensure pertinent coverage for your needs. This attorney will also help to establish that certain injuries are permanent – especially severe and traumatic injuries – and this can result in a handsome “permanency settlement” from the Workers’ Compensation case.
The importance of all of these steps at the incipiency of a claim after a construction site incident cannot be understated, as missteps at any point during the initial days could be fatal to your claim.
What You Should Do Immediately After An Accident
The most important things for an injured construction worker to do immediately after a workplace injury, beyond getting proper medical treatment, is to: (1) gather evidence (identifying witnesses, taking photos of the incident location or the equipment involved, and preserving any materials or equipment that might be important to use for future litigation); (2) set the story straight (making sure not to follow the “company line” and to report exactly what happened); and (3) fill out all the pertinent forms in a way that will assist you in future steps of our case.
Talk To A Construction Injury Attorney Today
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a construction site incident, please do not hesitate to contact or call the experienced attorneys at Grandelli & Eskenasi for a free legal consultation at 212-668-8400. It is crucial that you seek legal representation as soon as you can.
