While workplace accidents can happen in any industry, employees in construction face frequent, significant risks because of the dynamics of the site. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there are approximately 4,400 total recordable cases of on-the-job injuries every year in the Virginia construction sector. Workers lose around 2,900 days away from work, dealing with a job restriction, or being transferred to another position while recovering. In addition to the loss in wages, construction employees incur medical costs for treatment and suffer many other consequences.
Virginia’s workers’ compensation system was established to help injured employees get back to work as soon as possible, so they may qualify for monetary benefits after a construction accident. Because the process can be complex and overwhelming, it is smart to retain a Virginia workers’ compensation attorney who will handle all legal tasks. There are also a few things you can do to support your claim if you were hurt on a construction site.
Your rights under workers’ comp laws are important, but you need to make your health and well-being a priority after a construction site accident. Even when you think your injuries may not be serious, you should still head to the ER for serious and life-threatening injuries. If you are not in an emergency situation, you will need to get treatment from one of the three doctors on your employer’s Panel of Physicians.
If you are able, depending on the severity of your injuries, do your best to collect details from the scene. Grab your cell phone and take pictures of the following:
In addition, talk to witnesses who observed the accident. You can get their contact information or ask for a brief written summary of what happened. The input of witnesses may be useful as support for your workers’ comp claim.
Your recollection of the construction site accident will be very important, but keep in mind how your memory may fade over time. Once your injuries are stabilized, create a journal detailing everything you remember about the incident. Include information on how you think the accident happened and what factors contributed to it.
Under Virginia workers’ compensation laws, an injured employee must deliver a Notice of Accident to their employer within 30 days after the incident. You will only need to include basic details about your position, the time and date of the accident, and a statement that you were injured. Failure to submit this notice could lead your employer’s insurance company to deny your claim.
If you can handle a few of these tasks, you support your rights and the efforts of your construction accident attorney. For more information about the workers’ comp process in Virginia, please contact Hampton Injury Law to schedule a case evaluation.
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