What to Do If You Are Injured on the Job

Workers in some professions, particularly in the construction industry, are constantly at risk for on-the-job injuries due to negligence.

If injured at work, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Learn steps that you should take if injured on the job, as well as the difference between a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury case.

Leighton Law represents workers injured while working in unsafe areas and has successfully obtained fair compensation for injured workers.

Injuries and Deaths on the Rise

Construction-related deaths recently increased after a brief decrease in the number of deaths at construction sites. Safety & Health, a publication of the National Safety Council, reported in 2018 that the number of employees killed at road construction sites rose 43 percent, from 72 deaths in 2013 to 103 deaths in 2016.

The Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund of North America reported in February 2018 that an estimated one in five of all workplace fatalities occurs in the construction industry. There were 24,650 non-fatal injuries to construction workers in 2016. Falls, along with incidents related to equipment, account for many construction workplace injuries and deaths.

Employers across the U.S. have a legal requirement to provide a reasonably safe and healthy working environment for all employees, including in the construction industry.

Workers’ Comp or Personal Injury?

Many workers likely do not understand the difference between a personal injury case and a workers’ compensation case. Any employee injured at work is entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, those benefits do not compensate you for pain and suffering. A personal injury lawsuit based on fault is necessary to receive any additional compensation.

What to Do After an Injury

Follow these important steps after any injury on the job:

• Report the incident to your supervisor immediately.
• File an accident report in writing so that there is a written record of your injury.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident.
• Consult an attorney who has litigated and tried workplace negligence cases.

Leighton Law has a long list of obtaining successful verdicts and settlements for workers injured on the job while working in unsafe areas. Learn about some successful cases and contact Leighton Law about your construction accident.