The steps you take immediately after a construction accident can have a significant impact on your ability to recover full compensation. If you are able to do so safely, take these steps:

• Seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries do not appear severe. Some conditions, including traumatic brain injuries and internal trauma, may not be immediately apparent.
• Report the accident to your supervisor and make sure the incident is documented in writing.
• If you are physically able, photograph the scene, any equipment involved, and your visible injuries.
• Collect the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident.
• Keep copies of all medical records, bills, and correspondence with your employer or their insurer.

A New Jersey accident attorney can help you pursue full compensation for your injuries.

In most cases, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury claim. Waiting too long can bar your recovery entirely. If a public entity is involved, a Notice of Tort Claim must be filed within 90 days. Contact an NJ construction accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

If you or a loved one was injured in a construction accident, New Jersey law provides several categories of compensation you may be entitled to pursue.

Economic Damages

• Past and future medical expenses
• Rehabilitation and in-home care costs
• Lost wages during recovery
• Loss of future earning capacity in cases involving permanent injury

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium for spouses and family members

Punitive damages may be available when a contractor’s or property owner’s conduct rose to the level of willful disregard for worker safety. Under New Jersey law, punitive damages are capped at $350,000 or five times the compensatory damages award, whichever is greater.

In the worst-case scenario, wrongful death damages are available if a construction accident results in a worker fatality. Surviving family members may recover:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Lost financial support
• Loss of companionship and guidance

An experienced New Jersey construction accident attorney can help pursue full accountability when negligence on a job site causes harm.

Yes. Accepting workers’ compensation benefits does not prevent you from pursuing a separate legal claim against a negligent third party. In New Jersey, workers’ compensation covers your medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, but it does not fully compensate you for pain and suffering, permanent disability, or long-term loss of earning capacity. It is important to know that accepting workers’ compensation does prevent you from suing your direct employer, but not from pursuing other responsible parties.

The construction industry presents many hazards that workers’ compensation alone cannot fully address. Scaffolding accidents, crane accidents, heavy machinery malfunctions, and falling objects can cause catastrophic work-related injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long-term care. When those accidents result from OSHA violations, failures in safety protocol, or inadequate safety equipment, additional legal options may be available to you.

If your injuries were caused or contributed to by the negligence of a general contractor, subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer, you may have the right to file a third-party claim in addition to receiving workers’ compensation.

Third-party claims can significantly increase the total compensation available to you and your family. An experienced construction accident attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your accident.