Construction accidents that cause disfigurement take an emotional and physical toll that can last a lifetime. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation benefits for disfigurement are limited or non-existent.
Despite the fact that scarring and disfigurement can lead to ongoing mental trauma, if the disfigurement doesn’t affect your ability to work or decrease your future earnings, it can be ignored in a workers’ compensation settlement.
If you have been disfigured in a construction accident, you should seek advice from construction accident attorneys who understand workers’ compensation law as well as other legal remedies that may give you the financial support you and your family will need after a disfiguring accident.
Golitko & Daly, with offices in Kokomo and Indianapolis, specialize in on-the-job accidents, including construction accidents and disfigurement. If you have been disfigured or permanently scarred in a construction accident, it’s important to understand that filing a workers’ compensation claim is not your only option. And it may not be your best option, particularly when disfigurement is involved.
The tragedy is that disfigurement can create a brew of mental anguish that can last a lifetime, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Acute stress disorders
- Difficulty with personal and professional relationships
Mending psychological damage and dealing with social challenges are often more difficult to overcome than the physical aspects of the injury. Many victims of disfiguring accidents require expensive psychological care, which is a financial burden.
More Than Workers’ Compensation
With the limitations of workers’ compensation, particularly for disfigurement, the victim of a construction accident needs to seriously consider his options, a task that requires a thorough understanding of both workers’ compensation and personal injury law.
Workers’ compensation is not your only option if you have been disfigured in a construction accident. Among your choices:
- Filing for workers’ compensation, understanding that you may not receive benefits for disfigurement.
- Filing for workers’ compensation and also a personal injury lawsuit against a third party, such as an outside contractor or equipment manufacturer.
- Filing personal injury lawsuits against both a third party and your employer, waiving your rights to workers’ compensation.
It’s easy to see your options are complex and require the help of a skilled construction accident attorney who understands construction laws, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) guidelines, contractor liabilities, owner liabilities, and negligence.
Making a Choice
Determining the best path for just compensation will require understanding the circumstances around your injury and determining what legal actions are available. Making the right choice is important for you and your family’s financial future. At Golitko & Daly, we evaluate your case and can advise you of your rights and options. We will help you understand every course of action open to you so you can make an informed choice.
Golitko & Daly handles only cases that involve on-the-job accidents, construction accidents, work injuries, or wrongful deaths. Our specialization ensures up-to-date knowledge of the law and the ability to maximize claims. Our skilled team of lawyers can handle both workers’ compensation and personal injury claims. The team includes an IOSHA certified attorney and a lawyer with an engineering degree, ensuring the depth of knowledge necessary in construction accidents.
If you have suffered disfigurement due to a construction accident, you have special concerns due to benefit limitations from workers’ compensation. Understanding your best options for just compensation will be important.
There is no charge for discussing your case. If you need advice, please contact us.