Construction work is one of the most physically intensive and hazardous jobs available. Construction workers rely on their health and fitness to perform the daily tasks required of them. For those workers hurt on the job, they need a variety of remedies to get them back on their feet.
Receiving Workers' Compensation Benefits
If you’re performing a duty related to your job when you become injured, it shouldn’t matter whether you’re at the job site or using a company vehicle to perform necessary errands and tasks. A worker should be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits regardless of the circumstances surrounding your work injury unless you were in breach of your employment agreement, negligent, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Given the limited nature of workers’ compensation benefits, there are some scenarios where an employer may be additionally liable for your injury:
Negligence: If your employer knew of dangerous conditions and did nothing to remedy those conditions or acted negligently in addressing concerns, they may be liable for a personal injury lawsuit.
Intentional harm: If an employer created a situation with the purpose of causing you injury, you could have grounds for a lawsuit and potential criminal charges.
Employer’s contractor/subcontractor: Your employer, in some cases, could be held accountable for injuries caused by a contractor they hired.
The Long Road to Recovery
All of these claims require physical evidence to prove that your employer caused your injury. Construction accidents can very quickly result in catastrophic injuries that might require years of rehabilitation, sometimes without the possibility of regaining your ability to work. In these cases, you need compensation to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain and suffering this injury will bring to your life. If you were injured at your job site, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options for pursuing compensation.