What are My Rights as a New York Construction Worker?

Employment Law News | November 7, 2019

Working as a construction worker can come with risks every day because of the nature of the job. Some days may be less risky than others, but the job overall involves a lot of working with various tools, climbing high places, and moving heavy objects. One mistake is all it takes to cause a personal injury. Whether you should call 911 depends on the severity of the injury, but whether you should seek compensation for your injury is entirely up to you. An injury occurring on the job usually warrants compensation. Talk to a New York personal injury attorney for more information.  

Workers’ Compensation Benefits 

Workers’ compensation is probably one of the most common types of benefits sought after suffering an injury on the job. These benefits are offered exclusively to employees like construction workers who were construction workers at construction siteinjured during work hours. The first step to initiating the worker’s compensation process is to notify your supervisor as soon as possible about your injury. Failing to notify your supervisor within a certain period of time after the accident could lead to a denial of compensation.  

Various financial benefits are offered if you are granted workers’ compensation. One of these is medical coverage. This means that any medical bills for doctor visits, treatments, or hospital stays related to your work injury may be covered by your employer. As many people know, this can save a ton of money considering how expensive certain medical tests and treatments can be. 

Cash benefits may also be offered to cover lost wages while you are in the hospital or healing at home. These might only cover a percentage of your wages. If your injury was severe enough to cause impairment, you could also receive Social Security Benefits for disabilities.  

Personal Injury Lawsuits

When it comes to suffering a personal injury caused by co-workers or unsafe conditions allowed by your employer, you could be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. This would mean your employer and property owners are responsible for compensating you for your injuries.  

Talking to a lawyer can help you figure out whether this applies to your situation. A lawyer can help you gather evidence to see if you are eligible to receive compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.  

Get Help from a New York Workplace Accident Lawyer 

Being a construction worker can be a risky job at times. Knowing the right Syracuse workplace accident attorney to call after an accident can help you be prepared to seek the compensation you need to fully recover. Medical bills alone can put many people into a financial crisis, but lost wages on top of this from missed work can make the financial situation dire. A lawyer has the experience needed to know how to handle these types of cases. 

At Gattuso & Ciotoli, we have over 50 years of experience with personal injury claims. Contact us today at (315) 314-8000 for a free consultation. You can find us in Central New York, Syracuse, Watertown, Binghamton, Syracuse, North Syracuse, Camillus, Liverpool, Cortland, and Auburn. We will work with you to find the evidence you need to prove your claim.