Personal injuries on a construction site can result in overwhelming medical expenses and significant ongoing health issues. If you or a loved one has been involved in a construction accident, it is important to find a skilled lawyer to help you recover as much as possible. Our attorneys at Golitko & Daly Personal Injury Law Firm in Indianapolis, IN can represent you in your case, and help you obtain compensation for construction accident damages and ambulance fees.

Worker’s Compensation: What You Should Know

While some construction accident injuries will be covered by worker’s compensation insurance, it is often not enough to fully meet the needs of the victim. For example, some employers only offer the bare minimum coverage. Others fail to carry any worker’s compensation insurance at all.

Typically, worker’s compensation insurance is limited to medical fees and a partial compensation for lost wages. Unfortunately, most workers receive only approximately 50 to 70 percent of their normal wages. Compensation for pain and suffering is rarely included.

Know Your Rights

If and when a worker’s compensation claim is made, insurance companies will often deny it or resist payment. Additionally, worker’s compensation laws may even limit your ability to recover losses from your place of employment.

If you have been injured on the job, you have a right to file a civil lawsuit against other parties that may be responsible. Regarding construction site accidents, this could be a general contractor or a property owner. Construction accident lawsuits are subject to a variety of statutes of limitation. Therefore, filing a lawsuit is extremely time-sensitive. If the victim does not file the lawsuit within the set amount of time, he or she will not be able to be compensated for any damages.

Will Worker’s Compensation Insurance Cover Ambulance Fees?

If you were transported from the construction site to a hospital via an ambulance or medical helicopter, it should be included in the worker’s compensation coverage. Often, victims will receive medical bills for an ambulance ride, costing them upwards of $1,000. This could be due to the fact that the ambulance did not have your worker’s compensation insurance information at the time of the transport. To address this issue, provide the hospital with the adjuster’s name and contact information, including your specific claim number. This should take care of the issue and prevent you from paying the bill.

If this method does not work, contact us right away. We can file a penalty petition, which should resolve the issue rather quickly.

What to Do if You Are Injured on the Job

Many employees are nervous about asking their employer to file a worker’s compensation insurance claim, thinking it could cost them their job. However, it is illegal to fire an employee for asking for worker’s compensation benefits. By following these simple recommendations, you can increase your chance of an accepted claim. If you have been injured on the job:

• Provide your employer with written notice of the accident within 30 days. (If the employer witnessed the accident or has direct knowledge of it, this step is not necessary.)
• Make sure your employer submits information regarding the accident to either the company’s worker’s compensation insurance carrier or the Worker’s Compensation Board of Indiana. Be sure to obtain a copy of the paperwork for your own records.
• Contact the Worker’s Compensation Board to make sure your incident has been reported.

Receive the Compensation You Deserve

If you or a family member has been injured on a construction site, seek the help of an experienced attorney to help you recover your losses and regain your life. To schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers, call our office at (800) 520-1644 or contact us online anytime.