No one expects you to handle everything perfectly after a construction accident. However, there are four mistakes to avoid to protect your right to compensation and prevent complications with your claim. These include accepting a settlement too quickly, delaying medical care, discussing the accident with uninvolved parties, and waiting to contact a Long Island construction accident lawyer.
A Long Island construction accident lawyer can guide you through the process and help ensure that all responsible parties are identified. They can advise you on what steps to take and what to avoid so that your injuries and losses are properly documented. By understanding these common mistakes, you can focus on your recovery while preserving your legal options.
In This Article
Reading time: 5 minutes
- Mistake #1: Settling Your Construction Accident Case Too Fast
- Mistake #2: Not Seeking Medical Care Right Away
- Mistake #3: Discussing Your Workplace Accident Too Openly
- Mistake #4: Trying to Handle Your Construction Accident Case Alone
- Avoid These Mistakes—Hire a Construction Accident Attorney
Mistake #1: Settling Your Construction Accident Case Too Fast
Never sign a settlement agreement until you know exactly how much your case is worth. Insurance companies often try to convince accident victims to take less than they need, and if you accept their initial assessment of your losses, you could run out of money while you still have bills to pay. Accepting an early settlement offer directly from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier will, in almost all cases, mean that you took far less than the true likely value of your claim. Beware of these tactics that insurance companies often use to get accident victims to settle too quickly:- Visiting accident victims in the hospital
- Making an immediate offer that might sound good, but does not account for all of your losses
- Stating that they will not negotiate
- Implying their settlement offer is only available for a limited time
- Claiming that hiring a lawyer would just slow the process down
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Mistake #2: Not Seeking Medical Care Right Away
Some workers might be tempted to “tough it out” and work through the pain. This is one of the worst mistakes to avoid after a construction accident: not only are you putting your health at risk, but you are making it more difficult to prove that you really were injured on the job and that you deserve damages from the negligent party. As soon as possible after the accident happens, see a doctor. This could mean consulting an onsite medic or going to the emergency room, depending on your injuries. Once you have seen a doctor:- Keep all follow-up appointments
- Continue with all recommended treatments until your doctor says to stop
- Keep all bills, receipts, and other materials related to your treatment
When Will I Go Back to Work After a Construction Accident Injury?
Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to return to work. They might give you permission to work part-time or in a light-duty capacity as you recover, depending on the nature and severity of your injuries. It is very important for both your health and your case that you do not return to work until your doctor gives you permission. If you feel your doctor is trying to send you back to work too soon, tell your personal injury lawyer. We will advise you about the next steps.Mistake #3: Discussing Your Workplace Accident Too Openly
After such a traumatic event, it is natural to want to share your feelings and experiences with people you care about, whether in person or online via social media. However, any public statement you make could be used by the insurance company to undermine your claim. For example:- If you talk to a reporter doing a story on the accident, the insurer will review the report for any supposed inconsistencies or inaccuracies with your story.
- If you post a photo of yourself doing something as innocent as simply smiling on social media, the insurer might say you were not that badly injured after all.
- If you make light of the accident in any way, even if you think it is clear that you are joking, the insurer might argue that the accident was not serious or that it was your fault.
- Do not give a recorded or unrecorded statement.
- Do not sign anything.
- Tell them you are going to speak with your attorney before you speak with them (Your conversation should be limited to obtaining their name, company name, claim number, phone number, and email address. Then give us the information you collected, and we’ll take it from there. The one exception to what you should tell them follows.)
- Give them your legal representative’s contact information.
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Mistake #4: Trying to Handle Your Construction Accident Case Alone
There are various laws that govern construction accident cases specifically, as well as laws like the statute of limitations that apply to all personal injury cases. The insurance company is already familiar with all of these laws and the legal process generally, so you would be at a significant disadvantage if you tried to deal with them alone. Fortunately, your case does not have to be you versus the insurer: our legal team will fight aggressively on your behalf while providing the compassionate support you deserve. While you rest at home, our construction accident lawyers will take care of all legal tasks, including:- Providing regular updates about what we are doing and how your case is going
- Identifying all at-fault parties and explaining how their negligence caused your accident and injuries
- Communicating with others and working with you to craft the right responses to their questions, offers, and requests
- Gathering evidence, including materials that you might have trouble accessing on your own, such as construction company records
- Calculating damages, including both past and probable future losses, so you do not run out of funds while you are still healing from your injuries
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Avoid These Mistakes—Hire a Construction Accident Attorney
Even a single innocent misstep could derail your entire legal case. Do not risk making these four mistakes after a construction accident. Call Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., for a free consultation from our multilingual team. We have the experience, the resources, and the determination to support your family through this difficult time.Call or text (516) 932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form