What to Do After a Construction Accident in Nevada
Construction sites can expose workers to many serious hazards, from falls and falling objects to heavy equipment, power tools, electrical systems, and hazardous materials. Even with proper safety precautions, accidents can happen in a matter of seconds. When injured on the job, knowing what to do afterward can help protect both your health and workers’ compensation claim.
Nevada workers’ compensation is designed to provide benefits to employees who suffer qualifying injuries on the job. These benefits may include medical treatment, temporary disability, permanent partial or total disability, and vocational rehabilitation, depending on the circumstances.
Seek Medical Attention for Your Construction Injury
Your health should come first after a construction accident. If you have suffered a serious injury, Nevada’s Workers’ Compensation Section advises injured workers to go to the nearest emergency room for treatment. For less serious injuries, you should still seek appropriate medical care rather than assuming the pain will go away on its own.
Construction injuries are not always immediately obvious. A worker may experience adrenaline during an accident and not realize the extent of an injury until later. Back injuries, torn muscles or ligaments, concussions, hearing damage, and other conditions may become more noticeable as time passes.
When you see a medical provider, explain that the injury happened at work and describe what you were doing when it occurred. Nevada workers’ compensation generally requires treatment through an authorized medical provider, except in situations such as an emergency requiring immediate care.
Report the Accident to Your Employer
After a construction accident, tell your supervisor or employer about the injury as soon as possible. Nevada’s injured-worker guidance instructs employees to notify their supervisor and complete the paperwork provided by the employer, including Form C-1, the Notice of Injury or Occupational Disease.
Reporting the accident creates an important record of what happened. Even if the injury initially seems minor, reporting it can become particularly important if symptoms worsen later.
A construction worker who strains their back while moving materials may initially believe the injury is simply soreness from a long day. If the pain becomes significantly worse over the following days, having already reported the workplace incident can help establish the history of the injury.
Complete the Workers’ Compensation Claim Forms
Reporting an accident to a supervisor and filing a workers’ compensation claim are related but separate steps. Nevada uses Form C-4, the Employee’s Claim for Compensation/Report of Initial Treatment, as part of the process for reporting an injury and seeking workers’ compensation benefits. The Nevada Division of Industrial Relations currently provides the C-4 as one of its workers’ compensation forms.
When completing injury paperwork, provide accurate information about the accident, symptoms, and affected body parts. Avoid minimizing an injury simply because you initially believe it will improve.
Document What Happened
Construction accidents can involve multiple workers, supervisors, contractors, pieces of equipment, and changing site conditions. Memories can also become less precise as time passes.
If you are physically able to do so, keep your own records of the accident and your recovery. You may want to write down:
- Where and when the accident occurred
- What task you were performing
- How the injury happened
- Who witnessed the accident
- What equipment or materials were involved
- When you first reported the injury
- Where you received medical treatment
- How the injury affects your ability to work
You should also keep copies of workers’ compensation paperwork, medical records, work restrictions, and communications relating to your claim.
Follow Your Medical Restrictions
After a construction injury, a doctor may place restrictions on lifting, climbing, bending, standing, operating equipment, or performing other job duties. Take those restrictions seriously.
Returning to physically demanding construction work before you are medically ready could make an existing injury worse. If your employer offers modified or restricted work, discuss the assignment with your medical provider and follow the restrictions provided for your injury.
Construction jobs can require significant physical strength and mobility, so even an injury that might seem manageable in an office environment can interfere with a worker’s ability to perform normal duties on a job site.
Understand the Workers’ Compensation Benefits That May Be Available
The purpose of workers’ compensation is not limited to paying the initial medical bill. Depending on the injury and the worker’s circumstances, Nevada workers’ compensation benefits may include medical treatment, temporary total or partial disability benefits, permanent partial disability, permanent total disability, vocational rehabilitation, and certain other claim-related expenses.
A worker who cannot immediately return to construction duties may need temporary disability benefits while recovering. A serious injury that causes permanent limitations may raise questions about permanent disability benefits or vocational rehabilitation.
What If Your Construction Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied?
An injured worker does not have to assume that a claim denial is the end of the process. Nevada provides appeal procedures for workers who disagree with certain claim determinations. The state’s current injured-worker materials explain that claimants can appeal a determination through the appropriate hearing process, subject to specific deadlines.
A denied claim can raise complicated questions about the cause of the injury, medical evidence, employment circumstances, or whether required procedures were followed. If you receive a denial or believe your benefits are not being handled correctly, reviewing the situation with a workers’ compensation attorney may help you understand your options.
Protecting Your Rights After a Construction Accident
A construction accident can leave a worker facing medical treatment, missed paychecks, and uncertainty about whether they will be able to return to the same job. If you were injured while working on a Nevada construction site, you do not have to navigate the workers’ compensation process alone. Attorney Jay Short is dedicated to helping you recover benefits for work-related injuries and illnesses. Specializing in workers’ compensation, we fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Call us anytime, day or night, at (775) 786-2006 for a free consultation, or reach out to us online for assistance.
GET YOUR FREE CASE EVALUATION NOW!
* Please note that our practice is limited to Work Injuries. We do not accept cases for Wrongful Termination, Employment Discrimination or Wage & Hour disputes.