Keep everything. Save the original, full-resolution files from your device or camera. Do not rely on cloud storage or social media albums alone, as these often compress files. Create a dedicated folder on your computer and make backups. For organization, use clear filenames or a simple log (e.g., “2024-05-15_Scene_Staircase_Wide.jpg”). Provide all this to your attorney in its original format. Proper organization helps build a clear, chronological story of the incident and its aftermath.

Witness memories fade and details become less reliable quickly. More critically, people move, change phone numbers, and become harder to locate over time. Securing their name, phone number, and email address on the spot preserves your ability to have them provide a statement later. This information is often the single most important piece of evidence you can collect yourself at the scene, as it locks in a source for the facts of what happened.

Typically, you are responsible. Unlike employees, contractors do not receive workers’ compensation coverage from the company hiring them. Your financial recovery options are limited to personal insurance (like health or disability), or by proving the hiring party was legally at fault for your injury through a liability claim. This requires showing they were negligent, such as by providing unsafe equipment or a hazardous worksite, which is more difficult than a standard workers’ comp claim.