If you have been injured while working as a construction worker, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Construction work is a dangerous job and often involves working at a great height or operating large vehicles. Most construction businesses that hire construction workers are required to take out workers’ compensation insurance to cover construction workers if they fall sick or have an accident while on the job. This helps to protect the construction worker from the financial hardship caused by the accident. Workers’ compensation covers two thirds of the construction workers’ weekly wage while not at work and the total cost of all medical treatment. What to Do Before Filing a WC Claim The first thing you should do following an accident at work is to seek medical treatment. After the treatment you should make sure you get a medical report from your doctor proving that the treatment took place. You can use this to support your WC claim. The next thing you must do is tell your construction site supervisor or manager. You may be handed a form to fill in. You shouldn’t delay in completing the form because the longer you leave it the less chance your employer and its insurer will be convinced that you were working at the time the construction site accident took place. Filing Your Report for a WC Claim When you have filled in the forms you should return them to your employer who will submit the forms to its WC insurer on your behalf. If you’re having difficulty filing your report, you should contact your local workers’ comp office. With the report it is advisable you back up your claim by providing some evidence proving that the accident happened while you were on the job as a construction worker. The evidence could be all or some of the following: • other construction workers written reports which prove your injury happened while working on the construction site; • photos taken by you or other construction workers who saw the accident; • receipts for any medical treatment you have received and paid for; • video camera footage (if available) showing the construction site accident; • your physician’s diagnosis and probable treatment time. After You File Your Accident Report It is unlikely your WC claim will be approved immediately. The insurance company will take some time, as it will conduct an investigation to determine if your WC claim is valid. If your WC claim is denied then you can lodge an appeal. There are several reasons why a WC claim may be denied but the commonest reason is because the insurer isn’t convinced that your injury took place while you were working at your construction site job. If your WC claim is denied you should contact your local Workers' Compensation Appeals Board in order to file an appeal. The appeal’s hearing will take place and the judge will hear your case and tell the employer’s WC insurer to pay your WC as long as your claim is valid. Contact a Workers’ Comp Lawyer If you are finding it difficult to file your WC claim or your claim has been denied, the help of a WC lawyer can help to get your claim on the right track and get the workers’ compensation you deserve. Additional Resources What You Need To Know if You Were Hurt as a Lowe's Employee Workers’ Comp. After I Got Hurt Working in a Lowe’s* Warehouse
