How Construction Workers Should Handle An On-The-Job Injury In Minnesota

Rough estimates suggest that there are around 150,000 construction workers in Minnesota, and the manual labor required of those workers mean that thousands of them are injured on the job each year. Getting compensation for construction injuries may seem straightforward, but it’s not always an easy process. In today’s blog, we share some tips for how construction workers should handle a workers’ compensation claim in Minnesota.

What Construction Workers Should Do After An Injury

Construction workers are going to follow a similar path as anyone else who suffers an on-the-job injury, so it’s not like we’re going to provide some radically different advice. However, they also face some challenges that can be unique to the industry, so it’s helpful to know how to navigate these challenges. For example, oftentimes there can be a sentiment in the industry that you just grit your teeth and work with some pain. Manual labor is extremely physical, so some aches and pains can seem normalized, but an actual injury shouldn’t be ignored. Don’t feel like you cannot report an injury or miss time because you’re nursing an injury simply because there is a belief that you should just tough it out.

Sometimes construction workers also run into issues when reporting their injury to their boss. Again, they can face pressure not to file a claim or even face repercussions for pushing forward with a claim. It’s illegal for hours to be cut or other consequential actions to be taken against an employee simply because they filed for injury compensation, but it happens more than it should. If you are facing pressure not to file your claim or you fear that doing so could hurt your career, touch base with a workers’ compensation lawyer.

There’s also the potential obstacle of being evaluated by a physician. Research shows that men are more likely to work in the construction field, and men are also less likely than women to see a doctor for health issues, so it’s not always a given that a construction worker will seek out a medical evaluation right after an injury. The longer you wait to see a doctor after an injury, the more red flags it sends up to the insurance company, and the easier it will be for them to deny your claim. Seek out medical care right away, even if you’re not sure if the injury will keep you out of work for an extended period.

Other than those potential hurdles, collecting compensation for a work injury in the construction injury is similar to any other industry. Following an incident, you’ll want to report the injury to your supervisor as soon as possible. You’ll also want to seek immediate medical care and have your injuries documented by a professional. From there, most find it easiest to connect with a workers’ compensation law firm like the team at Margolis Law Office.

We’ll handle building your case and filing all the paperwork so that you can focus on your health. We understand that your job is how you provide for your family, but if you don’t take care of your health and collect compensation you’re due to receive, it could severely cripple your future financial earnings, so don’t try to push through an injury just so you can keep collecting a paycheck.

At Margolis Law Office, we know how important it is for you to receive a fair and comprehensive claim award, and we know how to ensure things like overtime pay are correctly calculated into your award. Don’t end up with a fractional settlement because you tried to file on your own, let a team of legal experts get you everything you deserve. For more information, or to talk to someone about a potential injury claim, give our team a call today at (952) 230-2700.