What Kind of Documentation is Required After a Construction Accident?

All Practice Areas

After you are injured on the job on a construction site, you may be entitled to pursue a claim for workers’ compensation benefits to help pay for your medical recovery and make up for lost income if you miss time from work. Although a worker who is injured on the job is entitled to workers’ compensation, they still should gather documentation to help support their claim and prove their right to workers’ comp benefits. 

If you have been hurt in a construction accident, you should familiarize yourself with the documentation you may need for your workers’ comp claim and why having these documents is important for your claim. 

Steps to Take After a Construction Accident

To begin the process of pursuing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits for a construction accident, here’s what you need to do:

• Notify your employer of the accident and any injuries you may have suffered as soon as possible. Ideally, you should provide notice within 14 days of the accident; however, notice must be given no later than 90 days after the accident
• Document the accident scene, if it is safe for you to do so, by taking photos or video of important details, including equipment or machinery that may have caused the accident, any safety equipment or warning signs, and any visible injuries you may have suffered
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible. This way, your doctor or other medical professionals can diagnose your injuries. When you see a doctor, make sure to tell them that you are seeing them because you were involved in a work-related accident

What Records Should You Obtain After a Construction Accident?

Documentation that you may need to support your workers’ compensation claim after a construction accident includes:

• Photos and video from the accident scene, including any surveillance footage
• Copies of any accident/incident report that your co-workers or supervisors may have written up
• Copies of any claim paperwork that you filed with your employer after the accident
• Bills, invoices, and receipts of any medical expenses you paid for, as well as travel expenses that you may have incurred in going to medical appointments or procedures
• Statements from any eyewitnesses to the accident
• A diary or journal to document the impact that your injuries have on your ability to work or to take care of daily activities
• Copies of your medical records from the treatment for your injuries

Why is Documentation Important for a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

While you should not need to fight to get workers’ compensation benefits after being injured in a construction accident, injured workers sometimes need to pursue formal claims to secure their right to benefits. If your employer or its workers’ compensation insurer initially denies your claim, you may need documentation to both prove that your injuries are work-related and therefore compensable under workers’ compensation, as well as the extent of your injuries and how they preclude you from returning to work or being able to perform your normal job duties.

Contact a Rochelle Park Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Discuss Your New Jersey Workplace Injury Case

A workplace injury can be devastating, particularly if it prevents you from returning to work for an extended period of time. Although New Jersey Workers’ Compensation laws are supposed to provide you with reimbursement for medical expenses and replacement pay for missed time at work, it is not always easy to get the Workers’ Comp benefits you deserve. That is why you should speak with a knowledgeable Workers’ Compensation lawyer about your situation and get guidance throughout the claims process. The experienced Workers’ Compensation attorneys at The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. represent clients in Mahwah, Paramus, Ridgewood, Englewood, and all across New Jersey. Call (201) 380-7687 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation about your work injury case. Our main office is located at 340 West Passaic Street, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.