When you work long hours on a construction site, exhaustion sets in quickly. Heavy machinery, high scaffolding and physical labor take a heavy toll after a long day. If you get hurt during an extra shift, you might worry that working overtime puts your workers’ compensation coverage at risk.
The short answer is simple: you are fully covered.
Extra hours do not mean less protection
Construction workers often take on extra hours to provide for their families or help meet tight deadlines. Fortunately, workers’ compensation laws protect you based on your job status, not the clock.
Here is how the law safeguards your rights when an injury happens during extra hours:
- Covering your entire shift: Claim remains valid as long as your injury happens while performing job duties, whether it is hour four or hour fourteen.
- Accounting for overtime earnings: Benefit calculations generally factor in your actual earnings, meaning regular overtime pay can help ensure your lost wage benefits accurately reflect your true income.
- Protecting fatigued workers: Exhaustion increases accident risks, but working while tired does not disqualify you from receiving medical care or lost wage compensation.
All of these protections stem from New Jersey’s no-fault system, which ensures fault is never a barrier to getting your medical bills paid and lost wages replaced.
Prompt reporting secures your rights
While the law guarantees your coverage, taking action immediately after an accident is essential. Informing your supervisor or manager about the incident as soon as possible documents your claim from day one.
Reporting your injury creates a clear paper trail. This prevents insurance carriers from arguing that your injury occurred outside of work hours or after your shift had already ended.
Getting the support you deserve
Dealing with painful injuries, rising medical bills and missed paychecks causes immense stress. Many construction workers worry that filing a workers’ comp claim could upset their crew or jeopardize their future on the job. You do not have to carry that burden alone or guess your way through complex paperwork.
Partnering with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney helps protect your rights every step of the way. Having a knowledgeable advocate in your corner gives you peace of mind so you can focus on healing and getting back on your feet.