What to Do After a Construction Injury
A few steps after a construction injury protect your health and your options — including a third-party claim beyond workers' comp. Here is a simple checklist.
Get medical care
See a doctor right away and keep the records. If you are a worker, report the injury to your employer as required for any workers' comp claim.
Note every company on the site
Write down the companies working on the project — the general contractor, subcontractors, and equipment companies — and who was doing what. This is key to finding a third party at fault.
Photograph the scene and equipment
If you can, photograph the hazard, the equipment involved, and the surrounding site before anything is cleaned up or removed. Note any equipment make and model.
Get witnesses
Get names and numbers for coworkers, other workers, and any bystanders who saw what happened, while they can still be found.
Get advice about a third-party claim
Beyond any workers' comp claim, a lawyer can identify whether a third party is responsible and preserve the site records and equipment before they are lost.
The deadlines and rules depend on your state
The steps above apply wherever you were hurt. Filing deadlines, fault rules, and limits on damages differ by state — pick yours for what applies to construction accidents.
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This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the law differs by state.