Huntsville Construction Accident Attorney
America’s workers are the heart of our country’s productivity. Construction workers often perform difficult and dangerous jobs without which our homes and offices would not exist. Employers have a duty to provide for a safe workplace for their workers, yet even with the best of care, accidents may happen. The workers’ compensation system was designed to pay for employees’ medical expenses and lost wages when they are injured in an accident. If you recently were involved in a construction accident, contact the Huntsville construction accident lawyers at Conchin, Cole, Jordan & Sherrod to see how we can help.
How Workers’ Compensation Works in Alabama
When you are injured in an accident, workers’ compensation quickly steps in to provide for your medical expenses related to your accident and missed time at work. If you miss more than 3 days at work, the workers’ compensation will pay two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a maximum weekly benefit each week. As of July, 2017 that weekly maximum is $843 per week. If you miss more than 21 days of work, you can collect for the first 3 days missed as well.
The benefit of workers’ compensation is that you are able to quickly receive compensation for your injury and you do not need to prove your employer was negligent in order to receive benefits. This benefit is offset by the restriction against collecting for pain and suffering or other damages as a result of your injury. Under workers’ compensation, you may only collect for your medical expenses and lost wages.
Examples of Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries can occur in a variety of ways. Construction jobs are particularly dangerous and are often the most common source of injuries in the workplace.
Examples of workplace injuries include:
- Falls from ladders, scaffolding, or roofs and other heights are common, especially in construction.
- This is the most common form of injury in the workplace. An employee attempts to lift something too heavy, or strains a muscle in the course of their work.
- Equipment accidents. Many jobs involve operating equipment that can cause serious injury if not operated properly or if there is a malfunction.
- Particularly on busy construction sites, electrocution from live wires causes many injuries.
- Injuries over time. Many injuries are not readily apparent, but frequently breathing toxic fumes may cause lung damage or cancer over time. Carpel-tunnel syndrome is another example of a workplace injury caused by damage over time.
What to Do if Your Workers’ Compensation Doesn’t Pay Your Expenses
In some cases, insurance companies fail to adequately compensate employees for legitimate injuries resulting from work.
Employees are required to notify their employer in writing of their injury soon after the accident. The employer must then file your claim with the workers’ compensation insurance company. From there, the insurance company reviews your claim and typically must make a decision on benefits within 30 days.
If the insurance company denies your claim, you must file an appeal in district court. While the court will work with employees directly, without requiring that you engage an attorney, it is always a good idea to have an attorney experienced with workers’ compensation issues working on your behalf. In many cases, the insurance company will become more reasonable as soon as an attorney is brought into the case. The personal injury attorneys at Conchin, Cole, Jordan & Sherrod can help guide you through the system and fight to ensure you get the compensation you deserve after an injury. Contact us today.