May 19, 2021

Blog Thumbnail: Houston Injury & Accidents

Construction sites are dangerous. If you were seriously injured on the job site and are unsure what to do next, immediately call the lawyers at the Waldman Legal Group at 713-688-4878. Our attorneys will answer your questions and get you the help you deserve!

Our mission is to fight for workers! Don’t let fear keep you from obtaining the help you need. Tell us your concerns, and we can help you make the best decision for you and your family. Worried about immigration status or losing your job? Call us! Our consultations are FREE and ALL OUR DISCUSSIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL.

Unexpected causes of construction workers’ injuries.

Construction sites expose workers to hidden dangers. The leading causes of injuries in the construction workplace include:

  • Falling from Heights. Working at high elevations, near ledges or floor openings, without proper fall protection equipment, such as harness, lanyard, lifeline, and anchor points, leads to falls that cause injury or death. Many employers fail to provide these safety measures or do not enforce fall protection rules.
  • Falling Objects. Injuries caused by falling objects are common on construction sites. Even when workers are vigilant and wear adequate protective equipment, they can still suffer serious injuries or death from falling objects.  
  • Construction Site collapses. Inadequate building materials, faulty structural design, and inadequately procedures may lead to a structural collapse on a construction site. These can come without any warning, and often result in severe injuries or death.
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls. Misplaced objects, or uneven surfaces can cause workers to trip and fall. Surfaces that are muddy can result in workers slipping and falling. Severe injuries may result.

If you’ve been injured in a construction site accident, call the attorneys at the Waldman Legal Group at 713-688-4878.

What should you do if you start experiencing symptoms following your accident?

Seek immediate medical attention! If you were not taken to a hospital Emergency Room or clinic and you are injured, go to the hospital or an Urgent Care and seek medical care immediately! Do not wait, as a delay may be harmful to your health. The hospital or clinic will contact your employer for approval of the payment, but even if your employer does not approve payment, a hospital emergency room cannot deny you care if you have a medical emergency.

Sometimes you don’t start experiencing symptoms until several hours after the accident. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible!

Explain to the doctor all your injuries and how your injuries were caused by the incident on the job. Allow the doctor to run the necessary tests, prescribe the appropriate treatments, and monitor your situation, so the doctor can determine if your injuries have potential long-term effects.

Document as much as possible without further injuring yourself.

The one thing you can start doing early to assist your case is to start capturing important information from the beginning.

  • Take photographs of the area where you were injured and any conditions or equipment you believe caused your injuries. If you think it was a specific machine that caused your injuries, get the make and model of the machine or equipment. If you were hit on the head with a material, take photographs of that material.
  • Make a list of all coworkers and all other individuals present when you were injured. If you only know your coworkers by a specific nickname, still make this note, and we can investigate later on to find the identity of that potential witness.
  • Make a note of all your symptoms and every body part where it hurts, along with the specific days you experienced the symptoms and pain. If you have visible injuries, take photographs of those injuries.

What type of injuries can I sustain from these hidden dangers?

  • Head injury (concussion) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  • Spinal (neck and back) injuries.
  • Injuries to arms and legs.
  • Broken bones.
  • Paralysis.
  • Death.

My employer said they had workers’ compensation insurance and that I had nothing to worry about. What should I do next?

Call the Waldman Legal Group at 713-688-4878, and we will help you determine whether your employer has workers’ comp insurance. Sometimes employers will say that they have workers’ comp insurance when, in fact, they don’t have “official” workers’ comp coverage.

If your employer had workers’ comp coverage at the time of the accident, workers’ comp would be your exclusive remedy for benefits. You will want to file your workers’ comp claim as soon as possible. It may be beneficial for you to speak directly to a workers’ comp lawyer, so you know about the exact deadlines that apply to your claim. We can help you determine whether your employer has “real” worker’s comp or not.

My employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance. Could I still recover damages for my injuries?

Yes, if you can prove that the negligence of your employer or a coworker caused your injuries. If your employer did not have workers’ comp insurance at the time of your accident, you won’t be able to file a workers’ comp claim to recover benefits. You will have to sue your employer and any other responsible parties to recover compensation for the damages you sustained from your on-the-job injury. However, any amount of fault on the part of your employer or a coworker will support a judgment for your damages.

Aside from your employer, there may be potential claims against other potential parties that you may be able to make. Call the Waldman Legal Group for a free and confidential consultation. Our attorneys can assist you in identifying the responsible parties and determine the type of claim that you should pursue against them.

Don’t wait for injuries to get worse. Act now! Contact our attorneys to fight for your rights.

If you’re a worker who’s been severely injured due to any type of danger on the construction site, immediately contact the Waldman Legal Group at 713-688-4878. Don’t wait! Don’t let time run out. Let us help you obtain the fair compensation you deserve for the injuries you sustained on the construction site.

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