If you were hurt on a worksite and you plan on bringing a workers’ comp or personal injury claim, you should start by scheduling a case review with a local lawyer. To make this meeting as productive as possible—and ensure your claim gets off on the right foot—take these steps in advance:
1. Preserve All Correspondence
If your employer—or their insurer—reaches out while you’re recovering, save the correspondence. This includes letters, emails, and voicemails, all of which you should bring to your first meeting with an attorney.
If you have any actual conversations with the liable party, try to keep them short, and write down what they consisted of as soon as you hang up the phone. Until you seek legal counsel, though, it’s best to avoid speaking to the opposing party at all. Otherwise, you could end up jeopardizing your case inadvertently.
2. Compile the Evidence You’ve Already Obtained
If you gathered any evidence before leaving the scene of the accident—or shortly thereafter—bring it to your initial case review for your lawyer to evaluate. You should also bring any documentation of damages that you’ve already incurred.
To determine the most strategic way to proceed, your attorney will want to review the following, if available:
· Photographs of the hazard that caused your injuries;
· The foreman’s incident report;
· Eyewitness contact details and statements;
· Diagnostic images;
· Medical records; and
· Receipts for expenses stemming from the injuries you sustained.
3. Keep a Journal
You should start a journal immediately after the accident. For your first entry, record everything that happened on the worksite that led to you getting hurt.
For future entries, write down the ways in which the injuries you sustained are hindering your quality of life. For example, are you unable to work? Do you experience debilitating pain? Are you forced to rely on friends and loved ones for help with basic tasks like grooming or housekeeping?
Your lawyer will use these entries to prove non-economic damages—e.g. pain and suffering—when the time comes.
4. Write Down All Your Questions
It’s wise to make a list of all the questions you have for your attorney before the meeting. This will ensure you don’t forget to ask any of them, even if you’re inundated with information.
Call 855-585-2969 to Discuss Your Case with a New York Construction Accident Lawyer
At Leitner Varughese, we understand just how devastating construction accidents can be. If you sustained serious injuries on a worksite because someone failed to act with reasonable care, we will help you gather the evidence needed to pursue fair compensation.
We’ve won more than $150 million in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We represent clients in New York City, Long Island, and throughout New York state. Call 855-585-2969 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation with a construction accident attorney in New York.
