If you’re injured at a construction site in DC, move to a safe location right away and alert your supervisor about the accident. Get medical attention as soon as possible, even for seemingly minor injuries, and make sure you keep records of your treatment.
Take photos or video of the area where you were hurt, along with any equipment involved, to document the scene thoroughly. Notify your employer in writing about what happened.
Finally, contact a construction accident attorney in Washington DC as soon as you can. Early legal guidance is especially important in Washington, DC, where contributory negligence laws could affect your ability to recover compensation. Call us for a free consultation today.
Importance of Quick Notification
Telling your employer and starting your claim promptly after a workplace injury in Washington, DC is crucial, since missing deadlines can cost you your benefits or right to sue. Different types of cases in California have their own time limits for taking action.
Workers’ Compensation Deadlines
In California, you must notify your employer of your injury within 30 days of the accident. While a verbal conversation helps, official notice for workers’ compensation protections needs to be in writing.
- Except as provided by sections 5402 and 5403, no claim to recover compensation under this division shall be maintained unless within thirty days after the occurrence of the injury which is claimed to have caused the disability or death, there is served upon the employer notice in writing, signed by the person injured or someone in his behalf, or in case of the death of the person injured, by a dependent or someone in the dependent’s behalf.
If you miss this deadline, you could lose valuable benefits even if the injury is valid and it’s clear that it happened at work.
Personal Injury Lawsuit Deadlines
If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit, for example, against a third-party for negligence, the window is usually three years from the date of your accident.
[(a)] Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, actions for the following purposes may not be brought after the expiration of the period specified below from the time the right to maintain the action accrues:
(3) for the recovery of damages for an injury to real or personal property— 3 years;
However, that doesn’t mean you should wait that long. You should still reach out to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so they can help you discover your options and get a claim started.
No matter what type of case you have, it can be beneficial to speak with legal representation.
What To Do if You’re Injured as a Passerby
If you’re injured as a passerby on or near a construction site, your steps immediately after the accident can make a major difference for your health and any legal claim you may have. Stay calm and move to safety if you are able. Don’t assume someone else will take charge. Take the following steps:
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible
- Take clear photos or videos of the scene, any hazards, warning signs (or the lack thereof), and what caused your injury
- Get contact information and statements from any witnesses who saw what happened
- Report the injury to whoever supervises or is responsible for the property, and ask for a copy of any incident report
Even if you weren’t working on the site, you as a bystander could have the right to compensation if your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence.
If you have any questions about a potential lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim, our team can help. Contact us at (202) 919-5453 today to schedule a free consultation.