By most objective measures the economy of Southern Nevada is coming to life, and leading the way is the construction industry. Read nearly any newspaper or trade journal and you’ll see articles regarding the boom of new projects in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada. New projects are being announced, from the Resorts World project to the Convention Center expansion, to construction of the new NFL stadium to house the Raiders, to new apartment projects around the valley. Construction jobs around Vegas are on the rebound.
“A dead industry during the recession, construction now is the Silver State’s fastest growing sector. Construction employment as of October was up 13 percent year over year,” touted Nevada Business in a January 2017 article.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal in a March 3 article indicates that home purchase loans are on the rise. “More than 36,000 home-purchase loans were issued in the Las Vegas area last year, up 8.5 percent from 2015 and the third consecutive annual increase.”
Construction union locals are also seeing the trend and getting their workers ready for work.
With this growth in major new projects for Las Vegas, however, comes a potential increase in on-the-job injuries. It’s our hope that all employers will provide a safe workplace for their employees, but inevitably construction accidents will occur. It’s important that all employees understand their worker’s compensation benefits and know how to file for them when these situations occur.
Workers Compensation Basics
Worker’s Compensation was put in place in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century as a means of limiting employers’ liability when workers were injured on the job, beginning with the Federal Employers Liability Acts of 1906 and 1908, and ending when Mississippi became the last state to pass state laws implementing Workers Compensation for that state in 1948. Worker’s Compensation exchanges a worker’s ability to sue their employers for job injuries, in return for employers providing medical benefits and wage replacement when injuries occur.
In Nevada, all employers of at least 1 employee are required to carry worker’s compensation insurance with few exceptions. Sole proprietors are not required to do so, if they are the only employee but can carry coverage for themselves, if they choose. Certain casual employees are not required to be covered, if the employment is for less than 20 days with a labor cost of less than $500.
If your employer is located outside of Nevada, but you work in Nevada, you will be covered by the worker’s compensation plan of the State where your employer is headquartered, in most cases. Temporary employees who come into Nevada but are insured in another state are not required to be covered under Nevada worker’s compensation, with the exception of the construction trades.
How to Claim Benefits
If you are injured on the job, in almost all cases, the injury must be reported within 7 days of the occurrence of the injury. This can be done by filing a C-1 Incident Report with your employer. Your employer will then refer you to a medical provider where a C-4 form, or Report of Initial Treatment, will be completed. Copies of these forms are available from your employer, but can also be found online at the Nevada Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) site.
The medical provider will assess the injury, provide treatment, and instructions for further treatment and when you can return to work. The company’s worker’s compensation insurance provider will pay these medical benefits.
Most worker’s compensation claims can be handled between you and your employer in this fashion. A description of worker’s rights and benefits is also available on the Nevada DIR site, which gives a comprehensive outline of benefits available to you.
In cases where the injuries are serious and may require long-term recovery and care, and a long period where you can’t work, or if you employer does not provide the benefits as described, you may wish to consult with a Worker’s Compensation attorney to assist with your claim.
The Richard Harris Law Firm Can Help with Your Worker’s Compensation Claim
If you’ve been injured on the job and will be disabled and unable to work for an extended period, call us today to discuss your situation. We have highly qualified attorneys who are fully knowledgeable in all aspects of Worker’s Compensation policies and procedures. We can ensure that your rights are protected, and that you receive all benefits you are eligible for.
Call us today to discuss your case at (702) 444-4444.
