The choices made early often determine whether your case is valued fairly later. Start with safety and medical care, then shift to documentation.
**Within the first 72 hours, prioritize: **
- Get medical evaluation and follow-up. Even if pain seems manageable, delaying care can lead to disputes about causation.
- Write down what you remember while it’s fresh. Include weather/lighting, where you were on the site, who was directing the work, and what safety measures (if any) were in place.
- Preserve jobsite evidence immediately. If you can safely do so, capture photos of hazards, equipment condition, barriers, signage, and the general layout.
- Save all paperwork. Incident reports, supervisor contact info, discharge instructions, work restrictions, and any communications from the employer or insurer.
- Be careful with recorded statements. Insurers may ask for “quick clarity.” A brief, unguarded response can be used to narrow the facts.
A construction accident is already overwhelming—your goal is to create a clean, consistent record that matches your medical timeline.


