Every time you step onto a construction site as a worker, you’re at risk of injury. Even if you take every safety step imaginable, you never know when something will go wrong.
Should you find yourself injured in a construction site work accident, here are the three things you should immediately do:
- Assess your injuries: This gives you a better understanding of what to do next. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so don’t hesitate to call 911 if you need transportation to a local hospital. Never assume that you can treat your injuries at home.
- Report the incident to your employer: If your supervisor is on the job site, let them know what happened. If not, contact your HR department as soon as you can. You don’t want your employer to have any opportunity to argue that you weren’t actually injured at work.
- Seek medical care: This goes along with assessing your injuries. When you seek immediate medical care, you’ll have a better understanding of your injuries, the treatment plan moving forward and the long-term impact of the accident on your life.
After you do all these things, you’re in better position to protect your legal rights. For example, you may want to file a workers’ compensation claim. Doing so allows you to receive regular payments until you’re able to go back to work.
In the event of a workers’ compensation denial, you have options. Most importantly, you don’t want to give in. Appeal the decision with the idea of having it overturned, thus allowing you to receive the compensation you deserve.