Theoretically, an injury can occur on just about any job. However, some occupations put you far more at risk than others. If you work in construction, you might feel tempted to roll out the term “occupational hazard” on a regular basis. However, what you really need to know is still technically what anyone who has experienced an injury on the job needs to know. When do I need to get others involved? First, we are talking about medical attention. Then, we are talking about legal attention.
INJURY
When you consider the existence of the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (“OSHA”) and its thorough documentation of steps to prevent construction accidents, it makes sense to gauge the severity of your injury accordingly. A minor injury would be one that does not disrupt your life or lead to a longer series of complications. An injury like this one does not require consultation with an attorney. If the bill for treatment is merely in the hundreds, it is probably one that would not require legal aid. Do contact an attorney when you are facing catastrophic injury such as death, serious impairment of a bodily function, chronic pain, brain injuries or permanent disfigurement. These injuries will likely cause a significant impact on your life and will likely impact your ability to maintain a certain lifestyle. These types of injuries are most certainly cause for contacting a legal professional.
BILLS
Anyone experiencing a change in financial circumstances following an injury should get in touch with an attorney. If that sounds cut and dry, that is only because bills are burdensome trails of paper leaving mountains of stress in their wake. What do you think happens when you are out of commission for even the tiniest increment of time? The bills pile up. The type of injury and the nature of the potential claims are major factors that go beyond medical bills. We are also talking about property loss and lost wages and benefits. These major factors or simply the ballooning medical costs reaching thousands of dollars ought to be good reason to contact an attorney.
DISPUTE
Establishing who is at fault and proving the nature and extent of all injuries and economic damages is the job of an experienced attorney. Most likely, if your accident was in the course of your employment, you will have two types of claims: one claim against the negligent party and another claim against your employer. The claim against your employer is governed by the laws of the New Jersey Division of Workers’ Compensation. If you have a recovery or settlement in the Workers’ Compensation matter, your employer will have a lien against your settlement or recovery in your matter against the negligent party. For more information regarding a Workers’ Compensation lien, stay tuned for a blog on this issue.
If you have questions regarding construction site accidents, contact the Law Office of H. Benjamin Sharlin LLC for a free consultation. The Law Office of H. Benjamin Sharlin LLC is owned and operated by H. Benjamin Sharlin and serves all of Mercer County, New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Mr. Sharlin is a bilingual Spanish-speaking attorney who vigorously represents the interests of all his clients.
Please be advised that this blog is for informational purposes only, is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
The Law Office of H. Benjamin Sharlin LLC
is owned and operated by H. Benjamin Sharlin and serves all of Mercer County, New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Mr. Sharlin is a bilingual Spanish-speaking attorney who vigorously represents the interests of all his clients.
Call (609) 585-0606 or click the button below to schedule an appointment
