3 Mistakes Injured Workers Make with Construction Accidents

Construction accidents come in all shapes and sizes. From death and debilitating heat strokes with lifetime attendant care all the way down to everyday scrapes and bruises. One thing that all construction accidents have in common is that they need to be taken seriously. I have assembled below three major mistakes that injured workers make with construction accidents, and the steps those injured workers should be taking to cure those mistakes.

Mistake No. 1

The first mistake injured workers make is simply not reporting the construction accident. I have heard reasons like “I thought I was just a strain and would get better over the weekend”; or “I was afraid if I reported the accident my crew would not get their safety bonus for the month”.

Without exception, and regardless of how minor the accident or injury seems the moment it happens, you must always report it to a supervisor. They may blow you off but report it nonetheless. Failure to report the accident to the employer, or their workers' compensation insurance company, within 30 days is grounds to deny your claim forever regardless of the severity of the resulting injury. For that reason, failure to report is the single biggest mistake you can make with a construction accident or any other work accident.

Mistake No. 2

The second biggest mistake made is not seeking treatment for the accident as quickly as possible. Waiting days, weeks, or months to seek treatment can make it difficult to prove the connection between your medical problems and the construction accident. For this reason, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. Make sure to be clear with the treating doctor that you were injured at work and give a good description of the manner I which you were injured.

Mistake No. 3

Last but not least is the mistake of not seeking the advice of a workers' compensation attorney or other qualified personal injury lawyer. These attorneys will not charge you for an initial consultation and will be able to advise you of your rights as an injured worker in Florida. They can advise you whether you are being provided all the benefits to which you are entitled, and if not, how to go about seeking those benefits.

If you have any questions about your construction accident, or any other accident suffered at work, call Michles & Booth immediately to set up your free initial consultation and make sure your rights are protected.