Steps To Take Following Your Construction Accident
July 10, 2018
Working in construction or even being on a construction site comes with many risks of injury. From dangerous heavy equipment and machinery to scaffolding and trenches, there are plenty of things that can, and do, go wrong. These accidents often lead to injury and can even be fatal for workers and sometimes pedestrians in the vicinity.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in 2016 there were 5,190 workers killed on the job, which averages out to more than 14 deaths per day. When it comes to injuries, there were almost 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2016. From slips and falls to scaffolding and trench collapses, construction accidents can result in serious injury, which is why you need to be aware of your rights and what steps to take if you have been injured in a construction accident.
Seek Medical Attention and Document Everything
Depending on your accident and subsequent injury, you may have received immediate, on-site medical care. Regardless of what you received at the time of your accident, you should still seek out an independent medical examination with your own doctor. They are already familiar with your medical history, which will help in pinpointing any new injuries. While some injuries like back and neck injuries are readily apparent, others like brain damage or internal bleeding cannot be found without a proper examination. Be sure to request documentation of your visits, results, treatment, and progression of your injuries. While these documents will help support expenses involving medical treatment, be mindful that this is not the only form of documentation you should keep.
Photographs of your injuries, the location of your incident, and its surrounding areas and equipment can go a long way in helping people understand what took place. Make sure to take a variety of photos from a variety of angles. You should also reach out to anyone who may have witnessed your incident and see if they would be willing to give you a statement. Witnesses can be helpful in supporting your account of the incident and strengthen your personal injury case. Other documentation that should be kept includes lost wages and things like pain and suffering. Lost wages are one tangible item that you will seek compensation for, especially if your construction accident has left you unable to work or unable to work at the same level as before the incident.
Documenting pain and suffering can be difficult since it is less concrete. Keeping a journal on how you feel day to day and of any challenges you face because of your accident is a good place to start. It creates a baseline of what you have suffered due to your injury. One last step to take is to seek out the knowledge of an experienced personal injury lawyer. While this step can be taken at almost any time following your construction accident, you should do it as soon as you can.
Successful Personal Injury Lawyers Help Injured Clients in PA
Hiring a personal injury lawyer should be a no-brainer. They have the experience and tools to help make your personal injury claim as strong as possible and can help you navigate the many steps that are necessary to build a strong claim. Many times, construction accidents come as the result of negligence and a lawyer can seek out the responsible party or parties.
In Pennsylvania, the legal team at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. are the ones to handle your case. They are compassionate, knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to personal injury cases and will do all they can to get you the compensation and justice you deserve. Complete the contact form to speak with an experienced lawyer and take your first step on the path to legal and financial recovery today.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.