Construction Site Accidents – FAQs

Q. I was injured in a construction site accident, what do I need to do?

Construction site injuries can vary in seriousness and, depending on the degree of your injury, you may want to contact a lawyer, union representative, insurance company, site manager or all of the above. A lawyer can counsel you on whether you have a valid claim against your employer or manufacturer to claim medical expenses, lost wages or even damages. In the first instance however, you should always approach the safety officer or foreman of your company. They will then advise you on whether or not they have a compensation plan in place and your possible entitlement to a claim. If this proves unsatisfactory then you may need to seek private, independent legal aid.

Q. I have been injured on a construction site accident, am I eligible for Workers’ Compensation?

Yes, any employee who has been injured in the workplace or suffers from a work-related illness is eligible for Worker’s Compensation. It is designed to pay benefits to injured employees based on a percentage of their earnings, in order to cover medical expenses, lost wages and other losses. However, by accepting Workers’ Compensation from your employer you are effectively waiving you right to take legal action against them for damages.

Q. I have been receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits, due to an injury at the workplace. Now, it has come to my attention that a negligent third party was involved in my accident, can I still sue?

By accepting Worker’s Compensation, you have waived the right to sue your employer, however, you can still sue a negligent third party. But, if you are awarded a claim, you will have to reimburse your employer or insurance company for any compensation that was received from them under the Worker’s Compensation Law.