A fall from scaffolding or heavy equipment malfunction at a job site can create complications that extend well beyond the initial medical treatment. While you heal, you might have questions about what comes next. This blog explores your options for recovery and the broader impact of your accident.
Extensive medical needs
When you survive a construction accident, the first days and weeks are often focused on immediate treatment.
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that the average cost per medically consulted workplace injury reached $43,000 in 2023. Serious injuries common in construction,such as head or central nervous system trauma,can exceed $90,000 per claim.
Workers’ compensation can cover emergency surgeries, hospital stays and initial rehabilitation, but these expenses can pile up. Many workers face years of follow-up care, including physical therapy and chronic pain management, multiple follow-up surgeries and home modifications for mobility issues.
Losing the ability to earn
The financial impact of a construction accident goes beyond medical bills. Construction work requires physical strength, stamina and mobility. Your injury can permanently affect your ability to earn a living, and you may need to take a lower-paying job or leave the industry entirely.
What your options are
Ohio’s workers’ compensation system provides benefits to help with the long-term costs of construction injuries.
Medical benefits pay for necessary treatment, while wage-loss benefits help replace part of your income if you cannot work at the same level as before.
You can also qualify for permanent partial disability if your injury causes lasting physical impairment that cannot be fully resolved. If you are unable to return to work at all, then you can apply for permanent total disability benefits.
State law generally allows up to a year from the date of injury to file a claim, and missing this deadline could result in losing your right to benefits. Attorneys can file all the needed documents and review them to help make sure they are correct.