When you are working hard to bring home a paycheck, sustaining a construction site injury is one of the worst things that can happen to you. Not only can getting hurt result in significant hospital bills, but it can also make it difficult to support your family.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more than 1,000 workplace deaths in 2019 occurred at construction sites, with an even higher number of long-term injuries resulting from similar causes. Given these numbers, countless individuals face your situation every year. With that said, how do people cover the costs?
Types of claims
Depending on the circumstances of your injury, you may be eligible for one or two different types of claims: workers’ compensation or a third-party claim. If you wonder which you qualify for, here are some questions to consider before reaching out for help:
- Where were you when the accident happened?
- Who owned the equipment you were using?
- Were you on the clock when the injury occurred?
Workers’ compensation
If you sustained your injury while working for your employer, you might qualify for worker’s comp through the U.S. Department of Labor. Often, individuals use these funds to compensate for lost wages, medical treatments and vocational rehabilitation.
Third-party claims
Another option you may have is seeking compensation through a third party. If your injury was the result of a manufacturing defect of equipment your work uses but does not produce, a third party could also be liable. If so, you may be able to file a third-party claim.
While covering costs after a construction site injury can be stressful, you may have more options than you realize.