Your Rights After an Accident at a Construction Site in Chelmsford
Construction work is hard. It takes long hours with heavy tools and loud machines. Some days, even the weather makes it worse. The worst part in between all that is accidents happen too. More often than they should.
If you have been hurt while working on a construction site in Chelmsford, you may have the right to make a construction site accident claim. It can help you in covering your medical bills, lost wages and the mess the injury left behind. It is not only about checking off sections on paper. There is a lot you need to know. So, let’s dive into it.
What Is a Construction Site Accident Claim?
In a construction site accident claim you basically demand money to cover your losses after you suffer a non-fault injury at a construction site. To make this claim you must provide evidence related to what happened and how it was not your fault.
Your construction accident compensation can cover:
- Hospital bills and treatment
- Lost wages for the time you are not able to continue work
- Travel costs for medical visits
- Pain and emotional distress
- Ongoing rehab or therapy
Do Construction Site Accidents Happen More Than People Realise?
Accidents in the construction industry are common all over the UK. Since the past few years there has been a rise in the real estate industry due to which construction site accidents have increased significantly. People fall from scaffolding. A tool or an object drops from above. Machines break or get jammed. Sometimes, it is the wet floor, bad lighting or just poor planning.
There are also many construction sites where loose wires, boards and packaging are cluttered everywhere. One wrong step and someone is on the ground. A lot of these accidents can be avoided if safety precautions are kept in check on a regular basis.
How Can a Lawyer Make All the Difference?
You could try to deal with it yourself. However, construction accident claims can be complicated at times and you might lessen your chances to win a settlement without the right guidance. A construction accident lawyer understands the process, the timeframes and the ways insurance companies try to avoid paying.
They will:
- Look into what happened
- Collect witness statements before people forget
- Gather medical evidence
- Get records from the site or employer
- Make sure your construction accident claims don’t miss deadlines
It is always nice when someone has your back, especially when you are in pain or are stressed. There is no need to chase calls, remember deadlines or dig through paperwork. Construction accident lawyers handle all that, so you can just breathe and focus on getting better.
What Are Your Rights as a Worker at a Construction Site in Chelmsford?
When it comes to health and safety laws in a workplace, nothing is different between Chelmsford and any other part of the UK. Employers, site managers and contractors are the people in charge who must ensure workers are safe. It is their job to:
- Make sure you have protective gear, including helmets and harnesses
- Ensure you are trained to handle equipment safely
- Keep the machines well maintained all the time
- Put up clear warning signs where there’s danger
If they skip any of this and you get hurt, you have the legal right to make a construction site accident claim. Even if you work for yourself or through an agency, there’s still a chance you’re covered.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Construction Site Accident Claim?
If you want to win a deserving payout for your construction accident claim, you need to show that someone was careless or negligent in their duty of care you were owed. Here is how most construction site accident claims proceed:
- You claim that your employer or contractor was supposed to keep you safe
- You present evidence to show that your accident happened due to their fault
- You list all the losses you had to bear due to that non-fault construction site accident
Taking the photos of the accident spot or collecting camera footage of the accident scene can help your case significantly. Similarly, medical records and doctor notes regarding your injury are also vital. It is difficult to succeed in a claim without solid evidence.
How Much Compensation Could You Receive After an Accident At a Construction Site?
People always ask, how much is it worth? There is no single answer to how much amount you could receive as a settlement. Your construction accident compensation depends on:
- How badly have you been injured
- How long have you been off from work
- Whether you can go back to the same job
- How does your injury affect your mind and your life
A small injury might mean a few thousand pounds. A serious, life-changing injury could be much more. Hence, it is recommended to contact the legal professional at RU1NJURED. Our experienced panel Solicitors, will listen to your situation and advise you on how they could help you attain the settlement you deserve.
Steps to Take After a Construction Accident in Chelmsford
Construction site accidents happen quickly. One second you are working and the next you are holding your arm or lying on the floor and wondering what just happened. That is why it is important to know what to do straight after you get injured in a non-fault construction site accident. Here are a few steps that you can follow to increase your chances for a successful settlement:
- Get medical help. No matter if it looks small, get yourself examined. Some injuries don’t appear at first, then hit you hard later.
- Report it to your boss, site manager, whoever is in charge. Make sure they record it in the accident book.
- Take photos of the place where it happened, your injuries, any mess or unsafe stuff lying around. Rusty ladder, broken scaffold, wet floor,
- get it all.
- Talk to witnesses and ask them to write or record their statements regarding what they saw. People forget things quickly.
- Keep every paper. Doctor reports, hospital bills and even the bus ticket if you went for treatment. If you missed work, keep proof of that, too.
- Speak to a solicitor early. A good one from RU1NJURED will tell you where you stand and what you can do next.
Why Should You Act Quickly After a Construction Site Accident?
In the UK, you usually have three years to make a claim. Sounds like plenty of time, but it goes fast, and the evidence, well it doesn’t wait around. A broken scaffold can be fixed the next day. Wires can be moved. People move on to other jobs. If you wait, you might end up with nothing to prove your case.
Final Thoughts
The process is not always fast. Sometimes it is stressful and can get complicated. You must follow the right direction which a good construction accident lawyer can offer. So, if you have faced a non-fault construction site accident in Chelmsford, don’t let it slide. Know your rights. Get help from an expert. Make your construction accident claim count.
