Working in the construction industry is dangerous. You may need to hire a construction accident lawyer in Queens, NY, at some point in your career.
The industry is seemingly becoming more dangerous for New York City-based construction workers, too. According to the NYC Department of Buildings, nearly 700 construction workers were injured in 2023. This was the second-highest number of construction-related injuries in a year in a decade.
If you’re ever involved in an accident on a construction site in Queens, would you know how to respond? Taking the right steps in the immediate aftermath of a construction site accident is of the utmost importance.
See how you should react following a construction accident below.
Seek Medical Attention
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 162,500 construction workers are injured during construction accidents each year. Slips and falls, falling objects, and equipment malfunctions are just a few of the common causes of these accidents. They may result in everything from minor bumps and bruises to major traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
No matter which type of accident you’re involved in, make sure the first thing you do is seek medical attention for your injuries. Even if you don’t necessarily think you need to see a medical professional, take a trip to a local hospital in Queens, NY, anyway.
Seeking medical attention and documentation of your injuries will put you in a stronger position later if you choose to take legal action against the party responsible for your accident. It will also improve your chances of filing a successful workers’ compensation claim if you choose to do so by establishing a clear correlation with your accident.
File a Report With Your Employer
Your employer likely has accident reporting protocols in place. If you are involved in a construction accident, be sure to follow them regardless of whether it was a major or minor mishap.
Your employer should launch an investigation into your accident and see what caused it. They should also report your accident to their workers’ compensation insurance company to make it easier to file a workers’ comp claim should you decide to take legal action.
Your employer also must meet strict OSHA safety standards to avoid potential fines and other penalties. Ensure they’re doing their part to provide you and your fellow workers with a safe working environment at all times by notifying them of accidents and injuries right away.
Document Your Accident Scene
Your employer will likely document every aspect of your construction accident scene when you file a report. Still, you shouldn’t let this stop you from documenting the scene on your own, just in case your employer fails to do their part.
For starters, you should take out your smartphone and snap photographs and videos of your accident scene to highlight what happened. You should also speak with anyone who may have witnessed your accident and ask for their side of the story.
Gathering witness statements and collecting evidence will clarify what occurred during an accident. These steps might be useful for those who plan to pursue legal cases and/or file workers’ compensation claims.
Meet With a Construction Accident Lawyer
You may be entitled to collect workers’ compensation following a construction accident that left you unable to work for a certain period due to the injuries you sustained. You might also have the right to file a lawsuit and try to pin third-party liability on an equipment manufacturer or a construction materials supplier who caused your accident to occur.
Set up a legal consultation for an injury suffered during an accident on a Queens construction site. An accident lawyer will talk to you about the rights you have after being injured by one of the many construction site hazards.
Many accident attorneys offer free consultations to those who wish to discuss worksite incidents. You can explain your accident case to a local lawyer and have them review your legal options before you choose what to do next.
Contact Us After Sustaining Injuries During a Construction Accident in Queens
Did you sustain injuries during a recent accident on a construction site in Queens? These injuries could limit your ability to work for days, weeks, or even months. Understanding what to do after a construction accident might help you steer clear of making a bad situation even worse.
Elliot Ifraimoff & Associates, PC, is here to help accident victims put the pieces of their lives back together. Call us at (718) 205-1010 to discover more about the legal options you’ll have following a workplace accident involving injuries.
FAQs
Looking for answers to other construction accident questions you might have? See if you can find them by checking out a few commonly asked questions about these accidents below.
When Should You Call a Construction Accident Lawyer in Queens, NY, for Help?
You should call a construction accident lawyer in Queens, NY, for help as soon as possible following a worksite incident that involves injuries. The sooner you reach out to an accident attorney, the better your chances of reaching a successful outcome for your case.
How Can a Queens Construction Accident Attorney Assist Me?
A Queens construction accident attorney can assist you in many ways when recovering from injuries sustained in a workplace accident. They will, for example, evaluate your case and determine its viability. They will also lend a hand in determining liability in your case and even help you prove negligence on the part of a third party in some instances.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Queens Construction Accident Lawyer?
It doesn’t cost anything to hire a Queens construction accident lawyer in many cases. The majority of these types of personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t have to pay them anything up front, and they will instead be paid by collecting a portion of any settlement or judgment they help you earn.