Benefits Under Workers’ Compensation for an Injured Construction Worker

When a person is injured while working at a construction site, any resulting legal claim he or she files may be affected by workers' compensation laws, depending on the employment situation and the extent to which his or her employer is responsible.

Workers’ compensation is a system of laws that outlines specific benefits to which an injured employee is entitled. It works as an important safety net for construction workers when they are injured while on the job. A workers' compensation claim is not a lawsuit against an employer, rather a request for certain benefits.

Under workers' compensation program, an injured employee is entitled to the following:

Medical care: Under medical treatment compensation, an injured construction worker is entitled to reasonable necessary medical treatment to cure or relieve the effects of his or her injury. This may include medical bills, prescriptions and even hospital visits.

Temporary disability: If the construction injuries causes a worker to take time away from work due to medical reasons, he or she might be entitled to temporary disability payments. Temporary disability benefits provide partial compensation for lost wages, such as about two-thirds of average weekly gross pay. This benefit is to be paid out every two weeks.

Permanent disability: If the injuries are severe and the injured cannot completely recover from the effects of the injury, he or she could be entitled to a monetary award. The amount of benefits will depend on how much limitation the injury places on the activities of the injured. Other elements, such as age, occupation and earnings at the time of injury are also taken into consideration.

Vocational rehabilitation: If the injury prevents the injured to return to his or her former job, he or she must be given vocational training to help him or her get another job. During vocational rehabilitation, the injured may be entitled to a partial income from the employer.

Benefits Under Workers’ Compensation for an Injured Construction Worker

My uncle was injured in a construction site accident. Someone told us that he is entitled to benefits under workers’ compensation. What are the benefits covered under workers’ compensation?

Under workers' compensation program, an injured employee is entitled to the following:

Medical care: An injured is entitled to medical treatment to cure or relieve the effects of his or her injury. This may include medical bills, prescriptions and even hospital visits.

Temporary disability: If the injuries causes the worker to take time away from work due to medical reasons. Temporary disability benefits provide partial compensation for lost wages, such as about two-thirds of average weekly gross pay.

Permanent disability: If the injuries are severe and the injured cannot completely recover from the effects of the injury. The amount of benefits will depend on how much limitation the injury places on the activities of the injured.

Vocational rehabilitation: If the injury prevents the injured to return to his or her former job, he or she must be given vocational training to help him or her get another job. During vocational rehabilitation, the injured may be entitled to a partial income from the employer.

How can one avoid a car accident caused by fatigue driving?

To avoid a car accident caused by fatigue driving, do the following things:

·         Take a 20-minute nap before driving.

·         If you need to drive more than 2 hours, schedule breaks for naps and exercise.

·         Have some caffeine through coffee, tea or pop.

·         Eat an energy-providing snack such as coffee, fruit or a protein bar.

·         Avoid alcohol or medications that make you drowsy.

·         Avoid driving late at night or in the early hours of the morning.

Driver Fatigue- A Major Cause of Car Accident

When a driver is fatigued and behind the wheel, it can result in a serious car accident. Being overly tired may cause the driver to have trouble concentrating. This will cause him or her to pay less attention to the road conditions, as well as to other vehicles around. The driver’s lack of concentration can make him or her miss an upcoming hazard on the road. A fatigued driver will less likely notice a problem that an alert driver would. Not only that, the driver’s drowsiness will cause him or her to react slowly and, therefore, result in accident.

What are the Signs of Driver Fatigue?

·         Consistent yawning

·         Trouble keeping eyes open and constant blinking

·         Trouble concentrating on the road or wandering thoughts

·         Difficulty keeping head up

·         Not remembering the previous few minutes or miles of driving

·         Weaving between lanes or onto the shoulder

·         Feeling like falling asleep

What Factors Increases the Risk of a Car Accident Caused by Driver Fatigue?

·         Loss of sleep

·         Sedating medications

·         Alcohol consumption

·         Unrecognized or untreated sleep disorders

·         Driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

·         Mid-afternoon driving

·         Driving a significant number of hours every day

·         Driving for long time periods without a break

How to Avoid a Car Accident Caused by Fatigue Driving?

·         To avoid a car accident caused by fatigue driving, do the following things:

·         Take a 20-minute nap before driving

·         If you need to drive more than 2 hours, schedule breaks for naps and exercise

·         Have some caffeine through coffee, tea or pop

·         Eat an energy-providing snack such as coffee, fruit or a protein bar

·         Avoid alcohol or medications that make you drowsy

·         Avoid driving late at night or in the early hours of the morning

Driver Fatigue- A Major Cause of Car Accident

What factors increase the risk of car accident caused by driver fatigue?

The following factors may increase the risk of car accidents caused by driver fatigue:

·         Loss of sleep

·         Sedating medications

·         Alcohol consumption

·         Unrecognized or untreated sleep disorders

·         Driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

·         Mid-afternoon driving

·         Driving a significant number of hours every day

·         Driving for long periods without a break

How can I take effective photos at the car accident scene?

Here are some tips to help you take effective photos at the scene of a car accident:

·         Take multiple photos of the scene from different angles.

·         Take pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident. Make sure that you get the vehicles' relative positions and different angles of their proximity to other cars.

·         Take photos of any traffic lights, stop signs, yield signs and any other traffic indicators that are near the accident scene.

·         Take photos of the weather condition, such as clouds, rain or snow. These pictures can be used if the other driver blames the weather for playing a role in the crash.

·         Take photos of any damaged street signs, trees, guardrails or any other stationary objects damaged by the accident.

·         Take photos of any broken glasses, windows, scratches and any other damaged parts of the vehicles. Check inside the vehicle and get photos of any interior damages as well.

·         Take photos of license plates of all vehicles involved in the accident and the other drivers' insurance cards.

·         Take photos of any roadside debris, skid marks or any other signs of crash in surrounding areas.

·         Take photos of the other driver(s), any passengers, witnesses and police officers. This will help avoid any confusion in identifying the people involved in the accident.

·         Take photos of any injuries you sustained that are visually apparent.

Car Accident Scene Photography Tips

A car accident can be devastating and overwhelming. However, preserving as much evidence as possible is important. Photographs of the accident scene are effective evidence. They can support your legal claims and provide proof of fault and damages. Photographs can also help the claims adjuster or the court accurately determine the amount of damages. It is, therefore, important to take quality and appropriate photos of the accident scene. Here are some tips to help you take effective photos at the scene of a car accident:

·         Take multiple photos of the scene from different angles.

·         Take pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident. Make sure that you get the vehicles' relative positions and different angles of their proximity to other cars.

·         Take photos of any traffic lights, stop signs, yield signs and any other traffic indicators that are near the accident scene.

·         Take photos of the weather condition, such as clouds, rain or snow. These pictures can be used if the other driver blames the weather for playing a role in the crash.

·         Take photos of any damaged street signs, trees, guardrails or any other stationary objects damaged by the accident.

·         Take photos of any broken glasses, windows, scratches and any other damaged parts of the vehicles. Check inside the vehicle and get photos of any interior damages as well.

·         Take photos of license plates of all vehicles involved in the accident and the other drivers' insurance cards.

·         Take photos of any roadside debris, skid marks or any other signs of crash in surrounding areas.

·         Take photos of the other driver(s), any passengers, witnesses and police officers. This will help avoid any confusion in identifying the people involved in the accident.

·         Take photos of any injuries you sustained that are visually apparent.