Concord Construction Accident Attorneys

You Usually Don’t Have to Prove Fault

California workers’ compensation generally doesn’t require an injured worker to prove who caused an accident before seeking benefits. This no-fault approach means a construction worker’s ordinary mistake or carelessness doesn’t automatically eliminate eligibility. For example, you might have been rushing up a flight of stairs with your arms full of tools when you slipped and fell because you couldn’t catch yourself. The analysis is different for intentional self-injury and other statutory exclusions, which require review of the specific facts.

California workers’ compensation doesn’t provide pain-and-suffering or punitive damages, but it can address medical care, wage replacement, and disability. Your employer or its insurance provider may still argue that a statutory exclusion applies. Our Concord construction accident attorneys evaluate these disputes and the evidence supporting a claim.

Do Independent Contractors Get Workers’ Comp?

California employers are generally required to carry workers’ compensation coverage for employees, even when a company has only one worker. If you work in construction and have been classified as an independent contractor, whether you’re covered depends on your legal classification and the specific facts of your working relationship. A label used by a company doesn’t by itself resolve the issue. If the company claims you don’t qualify for benefits, that determination deserves a careful look at classification, control over the work, job duties, and the circumstances of the injury.

Steps to Take after a Concord Construction Injury

Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and ask for the DWC-1 claim form, the document used to formally file a California workers’ compensation claim. Under California law, your employer must provide or mail that form within one working day of learning about the injury. Failing to report within 30 days can create problems or jeopardize your benefits.

Beyond reporting, gather and preserve what you can. Keep copies of your claim paperwork, medical records, work-status reports, wage information, denial letters, any photographs of the scene, witness contact information, and relevant safety communications. Follow all medical instructions and make sure every body part or condition you believe relates to your construction work is identified during your medical evaluation. Our team reviews and organizes these records from the start so important details aren’t overlooked.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits & Claim Disputes

The benefits available through a California workers’ compensation claim depend on the injury, medical evidence, employment facts, wages, disability findings, and applicable state rules. For injured construction workers, those benefits can include medical treatment, temporary disability payments while you’re unable to work, permanent disability benefits if the injury causes lasting impairment, and supplemental job displacement benefits if you can’t return to your previous occupation.

A claim may be denied, medical care may be delayed, or an insurer may challenge your work restrictions or disability rating. When an insurer’s utilization review process denies or modifies requested treatment, California provides an independent medical review process to challenge that decision. Our team, which includes an attorney, Case Manager, Case Assistant, and Team Assistant, tracks these disputes and responds to insurer decisions throughout the claim.

A Dedicated Team for Your Construction Injury Claim

A construction accident can leave you feeling out of options, but you don’t have to take on an insurance company alone. At Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers, we’ve focused exclusively on workers’ compensation law since opening our doors in 1994. We’ve recovered more than $340 million in benefits for injured workers throughout Northern California.

Clients receive a dedicated team: an attorney, Case Manager, Case Assistant, and Team Assistant working together on the case. We offer free initial case evaluations with no obligation and work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover benefits for you. We also provide bilingual services in English and Spanish and are available 24/7 by phone, text, email, or online scheduling.

If you’re an injured construction worker in Concord, contact a construction accident lawyer at our firm or dial (888) 740-6434 now. Initial consultations are free.