A construction site can be a hectic place to work. There are so many moving parts, active machinery and operations going on at once that an accident can have a cascading effect for those working at the site. One person or unit’s negligence can result in injuries for those workers in another unit. There can be a wide array of contractors and subcontractors involved in any given day, that the task of determining who acted negligently can quickly become a complicated endeavor.
Thinking beyond workers’ compensation
Workers injured on a job site may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits come from their employer and will likely cover the time off for recovery and medical costs. When another party caused your injury, you may have a chance to file a third-party claim in addition to your workers’ compensation claim. Here’s what construction workers need to know about third-party claims:
- A third-party claim is brought against a person or business that is not your direct employer.
- That person or business entity’s negligence must have contributed to your accident.
- Third-party claims provide compensation for damages beyond your workers’ compensation benefits.
Understanding the relevant scenarios
In some cases, a person separate from your work site caused an injury or a mechanical failure from a faulty machine part caused the injury. Maybe a general contractor’s negligence led to your injury while you were working for one of their subcontractors? Each of these scenarios could represent a case for a third-party claim. You need compensation to account for the long-term implications of an injury. Pursue all your options in filing a claim.