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Construction Accidents – Do You Have A Legal Case?

Construction sites can be inherently dangerous places. Most companies do their best to put safety rules in place to prevent accidents and protect their workers. But unfortunately sometimes accidents still happen.

Accidents can happen due to unsafe conditions, or employee/employer errors. Sometimes equipment can fail or break, thus causing an accident. If you have been involved in a construction accident, even if it was minor, here are some steps you should take.

Report All Accidents

Even small accidents should be reported. There are many reasons why employees are sometimes hesitant to report an accident on the job. They might be fearful of being reprimanded, or that their job may be put in jeopardy for reporting the accident.

Still, it is important to report any accidents that take place. Not only is this important in regards to any future legal cases, but it also helps to protect other workers from the same issue.

Document the Accident and Take Photos

Documentation is important when construction accidents occur. Write down the names of those who were involved, or those who were witnesses. Construction accident legal cases are often won or lost on the basis of accurate documentation and photos. A few photos of an unsafe working condition or what caused the accident can make all the difference.

Get Medical Attention

Your health and well-being should always be of the utmost importance. Any injuries should be evaluated and treated by a medical professional. Some work sites may have an on-staff doctor for this purpose. If that is not the case, seek outside medical attention. if appropriate, call 911.

Insurance companies may deny injuries that were not properly reported at the time they occurred. Medical documentation is also important in the case of construction accident legal cases.

Workers Compensation

An accurate report of the accident is also important for Workers Compensation claims. This report must be filed with the employer. It is not a difficult report to fill out. However, be aware there are time limits for filing the report, and there are certain guidelines and rules that must be followed. Filing this report properly and on time is critical to receiving appropriate benefits.

For edushealth.com:

Anxiety Counseling: How CBT And Exposure Therapy Can Help Cure Anxiety

According to a report published by National Institutes of Health, various types of anxiety disorder ranks as the most common mental illness in the US, affecting as many as 40 million people which is about 18 percent of the whole population of the country. This is somewhat of an alarming piece of statistics and one that emphasizes the importance of anxiety counseling or anxiety therapy for the overall wellbeing of the populace.

There are several types of anxiety and stress disorders. According to practising therapists, the most common of these include OCD or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, PTSD or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, different kinds of phobias, panic disorder or panic attacks, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Anxiety Counseling

Irrespective of what type of anxiety disorder is besetting an individual, anxiety counseling can help. People suffering from anxiety disorders are living in pain. Living under constant stress, anxiety, unrelenting worries, fearsome thoughts, phobias or panic and anxiety attacks is extremely painful, and if left untreated or unattended, this can lead to long-term damages (in the form of systemic disease(s), serious health disorders and/or negative attitude or thought pattern that become so deep-rooted over time that it becomes next to impossible to get cured of them) and can permanently impair an individual’s ability to enjoy life.

This is why one needs to seek anxiety counseling or therapy. One concerning fact is that many who are suffering from anxiety disorders often take recourse to medication (read anti-depressants, tranquilizers) in order to gain temporary relief. What is even worse, many certified psychiatrists themselves often prescribe anxiety medication to their patients.

However, a majority of therapists are in agreement as to the fact that medication only serves to extenuate the symptoms, but cannot treat the underlying causes of those symptoms such as worries, fears, negative thought patterns, etc.

Anxiety Counseling Methods

Anxiety counseling typically employs two methods, CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy, in order to get to the roots of the problem. Depending on the therapist, counseling can either take recourse to both these methods or employ one or the other. What method will be employed also partially depends on the type of anxiety disorder the patient is suffering from.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is more of an umbrella term and a variety of treatment procedures can be defined as cognitive therapy. However, no matter what particular methods are employed, CBT is basically aimed at changing the thought pattern of the patient. Negative or illogical thought patterns are found to be the root of most anxiety disorders.

Many therapists relate that clients with anxiety problems often catastrophize, exaggerate or polarize (either/or) certain details in their minds. They keep ruminating these details to the point that they assume an exaggerated importance in their minds, thereby blocking out other perspectives that could help them interpret the given situation in a different light. So, the task for the therapist here is to help the client get away from the path of false cognitions and negative thinking and practice ways of self-monitoring and re-narrating (his unhealthy thoughts and preoccupations).

Exposure Therapy: This form of therapy makes patients confront their fears, phobias, or whatever it is that is making them anxious, instead of shying away from them. From one session to next, the therapist introduces things that make a client feel anxious in small, controlled increments. Exposure therapy is an efficient way of making the client focus on the causes of his anxiety and think deeply about it. Also referred to as ‘systemic desensitization’, this method practically asks the patient to tolerate stress. It is always painful for the patient in the initial stages, but that very pain forces him to analyze the situation in a rational manner and find out how he can live with a certain issue or issues (if it is not in his power to change them).

We can already see how this approach differs radically from anxiety medication. While the latter looks to provide instant, though temporary, relief from anxiety issues, therapy aims at eradicating the underlying causes of one’s anxiety by making him aware; by changing how he thinks about or approaches a situation; by trying to making him see things from other perspectives; and finally, by making him live with his points of fear and anxiety until he becomes desensitized to them.

Looking to see an excellent therapist? Look here for anxiety counseling in Philadelphia today.

Seek Legal Advice

Construction work site accidents can often be rather complex situations. A lot of things can factor in, including insurance claims, Workers Compensation, OSHA, work site safety violations, and potential construction accident legal cases.

Due the potential complexities and the issues that can arise, seeking legal council is always prudent. Even if the accident seems fairly small and simple, legal advice and representation can be valuable. This is especially true if you discover the employer does not have proper insurance coverage for workers on the job, or if there were unsafe working conditions.

Consulting with legal council can also help to ensure that you get the medical care you are entitled to. This kind of support can also help you with all the paperwork that accompanies work site accidents. You will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing a professional is accessing the situation and providing you with legal guidance.

Need to hire a good lawyer for this? Contact The Law Office Of Joel J. Turney today.