Construction accident attorneys help you claim compensation you deserve

If you have been injured in a New Jersey construction accident, you are entitled to compensation from your employer.

Construction is a dangerous industry, but injured workers who know their rights can get the redress they deserve. After your condition has stabilized, contact a construction accident attorney to ensure you receive just compensation.

Steps to take if you have been injured at a New Jersey construction site

Because workplace injury can seriously affect your health, longevity, and ability to provide for your family, all New Jersey employers are required by law to provide their injured workers with compensation, regardless of who is at fault.

If you have been injured in a New Jersey construction accident, take the following steps to ensure redress:

  1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention- The longer you wait for medical care, the harder it will be to prove that your injuries are the result of your accident. Keep careful records of the payments you have to make for medical care, particularly any out-of-pocket payments.
  2. Gather Information- Keeping thorough records will assist your claim.The more information you have, the harder it will be for employers to deny your claim.
    • Keep copies of your medical records.
    • Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses.
    • Have someone take pictures of the site of the accident before the damage is cleaned up.
    • Keep a diary of everything that happens to you after the accident.
  3. File a Report- Obtain your company's accident report forms and fill them out in as much detail as possible, as soon as possible. Include all injuries and medical treatments in the list. Before you submit the report, make a copy for yourself.
  4. Assess the Insurer- Ascertain who provides your employer's worker's compensation insurance, and read up on the policy. Contact the insurer if you have any questions.
  5. Wait Seven Days- If you still cannot work a week after the accident, you are entitled to begin receiving benefits on the eighth day.
  6. Contact an attorney - Although most New Jersey construction accident claims are settled out of court, legal action is sometimes required. If your employer denies your claim, talk to a lawyer about your rights. You may be able to take your employers to trial or make them answer to a judge of compensation.

Obtaining workers compensation also means knowing what not to do.

  • Do not let your employer talk you into not reporting the incident.
  • Never sign any forms releasing your employer from liability.
  • Never accept a settlement from your employer until you have talked to a lawyer and your medical condition has stabilized.

Contact Hark & Hark New Jersey Construction Accident Attorneys help ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

Construction is one of the most dangerous injuries in the US

Construction accidents account for roughly 5% of workplace injuries and 20% of workplace fatalities in 2013. One out of every ten construction workers is injured each year, and 75% of construction workers will be disabled by their injuries at some point in their careers.

Over 3% of construction laborers are injured each year in a New Jersey construction accident. For construction workers, the need to demand workers compensation is a virtual certainty, which is why it pays to anticipate the most likely sources of injury and plan accordingly.

The "Fatal Four" construction accidents account for highest rate of injury

The "Fatal Four" refers to the leading causes of construction worker deaths. These include falls, electrocutions, being struck by objects, and being caught "in between". You are at a higher risk of these dangers if you work in roofing, structural iron and steel work, or electric power line installation and repair.

Other Hazards

Besides the Fatal Four, construction workers face a variety of other dangers each year, including:

  • Burns
  • Forklift Misuse
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Excavation Accidents
  • Truck Crashes
  • Defective Equipment
  • Scaffolding and Ladder Accidents
  • Explosions
  • Building and Trench Collapse
  • Falls, Trips, and Slips

All construction workplace injuries are entitled to compensation

Any workplace injury - serious or mild - can have a serious effect on your long-term physical and psychological well-being, contributing to mental illnesses such as depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Thus however benign your injury may seem, it can put a serious strain on you in the long run, and you deserve compensation to deal with that strain.

For more information on New Jersey construction accident claims, workers compensation, or other work related injuries, contact Hark & Hark attorneys today.