What Happens if I Get Injured While Working a Home Remodeling Job?

Home remodeling jobs come with a lot of risks involved during the process. Working around power tools and dangerous materials, including some that may not seem dangerous, can put you at risk for injury. Even the wooden pallets that come on have more than 100 nails. These can be potential hazards for punctured wood and a trip to the ER to get a tetanus shot. So, who is responsible for paying the medical bills if an injury happens to arise?

What Are the Most Common Injuries When Remodeling a Home?

When it comes to home remodeling projects, there are plenty of ways that you can protect yourself from potential injury. Many of the most common injuries are caused by a lack of proper protection or user error when using power tools. These injuries can range from mild to severe.

Some of the most common injuries on a work site are related to tools, such as nail guns, grinders, and cutting tools. Any sort of electrical work also comes with the dangers of doing it. One area that may often go overlooked when working on a job is the hazard to your lungs. Breathing in materials from sanding, cutting, or fumes while confined in a small space can lead to lung damage. Sometimes this damage is so severe that you will face lifelong breathing problems.

Does the Company or the Homeowner Pay?

Health care in the United States is expensive. When you’ve been injured during a home remodeling project, you may be wondering who is responsible for paying your medical bills. Does that fall on you, your employer, or the homeowner?

Home insurance is a priority for the majority of homeowners, 85% have some sort of insurance policy for their home. While it may seem like the homeowner can cover your injury, more often than not, homeowners assume that the companies that hired contractors are in charge of insuring their workers.

The majority of homeowner insurance policies have accidental coverage. This covers most injuries that happen on their property. However, this typically only covers accidents related to the safety standards of the home. This usually does not cover injuries that are the result of human error. If you are employed by a licensed contractor or subcontractor, injuries are usually covered under the homeowner’s insurance or your company’s insurance.

Where this can get tricky is if you are operating as an independent contractor. The legal system needs to step in to receive a payout to cover your workplace injury unless the homeowner has specifically included independent contracts within their home insurance policy.

How Do I Start a Home Remodel Project Off Protected?

One of the ways to protect yourself starts before the project has even begun. You can check first with the homeowner to see if they have accident liability insurance and what the coverage looks like. While no one goes into a home remodeling project with the intent of getting injured, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Do I Need to Take My Case Before Courts?

If you get injured during the project and the homeowner or your company does not cover the cost of your injuries, there is another route that you can take to have the cost of your medical bills covered. Many injuries that are the result of a home remodeling project can be settled before even making it to court. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, those numbers are around 90 to 95% of personal injury cases. Making sure that you know the laws in your particular state makes the process of proceeding with an injury claim far similar.

There are many different things that can happen if you get injured while remodeling a home. Be sure to speak to your employer to find out what insurance they carry and always take the proper safety precautions to avoid an injury.