Even Tough Guys Get Hurt – Construction Workers Need to Report Injuries

Every major city, including Philadelphia, is marked on nearly every block by some form of large construction or renovation project. Outside of major cities, construction plays a vital role in building new communities and revamping existing towns. No matter their role, construction workers face serious injury while on these job. Fortunately, workers’ compensation exists to help these injured workers avoid financial devastation while fighting to get healthy.

The only catch is that you have to report your injury to be eligible for workers’ comp.

The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) recently had construction workers complete a survey centering on work injuries. More than 25 percent of the respondents noted that they had suffered a work-related injury over the course of their career that went unreported. While several workers noted that the fear of employer retaliation or simply not wanting to take time off work to get medical treatment as the main reasons for not reporting, the underlying reasons were more far-reaching, including:

• Workers feel that injury is part of the job
• Workers did not want to lose out on safety incentives
• Workers did not want to be perceived as a “complainer” or “whiner”
• Workers found the workers’ compensation process daunting

If you suffered a work-related industry, it is crucial that you report it as soon as possible. If you feel that the paperwork is confusing, or the workers’ compensation process is daunting, an experienced attorney can guide you from start to finish.