Despite numerous laws and regulations designed to reduce accidents and injuries, construction sites are incredibly dangerous. Approximately one in five worker fatalities occurs in the construction industry. Equipment-related accidents, falling, electrocution, trench collapses, and struck-by accidents are just some of the common reasons for serious construction site injuries. If you were injured or a loved one was killed on a construction site, it is essential to understand your legal options. You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life, and other damages.

Bringing a Claim Against a Negligent Third Party

Some injured construction workers assume that workers’ compensation is the only avenue through which they may recover financial compensation because their injury occurred at work. However, this is not always the case. If the careless or dangerous actions of a third party caused or significantly contributed to your injuries, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit directly against this party.

The liable party in a construction site injury or death may be:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roofing is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. In 2017 alone, 2,060 roofers were injured and 96 were killed on the job. Falling accounts for a large percentage of severe and deadly roofing accidents. If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury on a roofing job, you may be facing expensive medical bills and major financial hardship. You may be able to get compensation for your losses through workers’ compensation or a third-party claim.

Getting Financial Compensation for Injuries Caused in a Roofing Accident

Roofing accidents are often life-changing. Severely broken bones, internal organ damage, and debilitating spine injuries are not uncommon. An injured roofer may be left with limited mobility or may even be paralyzed in a roofing accident. Traumatic brain injuries with devastating physical, mental, and psychological effects are also common consequences of a roofing accident. If you or a loved one were hurt while on a roofing job, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. However, the types and amount of compensation that you may recover depend on your worker classification, who is liable for the accident, and several other factors.  

Determining Liability for Your Accident  

If you are an employee of a company in Illinois, your employer is required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation typically covers medical expenses and two-thirds of the injured worker’s lost income. An employee is covered by workers’ compensation regardless of who is at fault for the accident. However, getting the compensation you need and deserve from a workers’ compensation insurer is often much more difficult than it would seem. Furthermore, if you are classified as an independent contractor and not an employee, you may not be entitled to workers’ compensation.

When we think about construction site injuries, we typically think about injured construction workers. When a construction worker is harmed as an employee on a construction site, he or she is typically entitled to compensation for medical bills and lost wages though workers’ compensation. You may wonder, however, what happens when a non-worker is injured at a construction site. For example, what happens if you are walking near a construction site and are injured by falling building debris? In a situation like this, you may be able to recover compensation via a personal injury claim.

Non-Employee Construction Site Injuries

Construction sites are filled with dangers. Partially-constructed buildings, suspended beams, hazardous materials, other dangers can lead to severe injuries and deaths. Construction companies and contractors are expected to follow strict safety regulations to protect the wellbeing of workers as well as non-workers. However, construction site accidents still can and do occur. A construction accident can lead to traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, amputation injuries, and much more.

When Does a Non-Worker Have a Valid Legal Claim?

If you were hurt on a construction site or your loved one was killed in a construction accident, you may wonder if you have a valid damages claim. Typically, a person is only entitled to compensation for injuries caused in a construction site if he or she was on the site legally. Individuals who are trespassing often have limited rights or no right to compensation. Most construction site injury or death claims are based on the concept of negligence. You may be entitled to compensation if your injury or your loved one’s death involved the following factors:

The city of Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods are constantly changing — new buildings are constructed while others are renovated or torn down, and highways and roads are remodeled in order to allow more efficient traffic flow. Construction projects such as these are necessary to maintain our busy way of life, but construction sites can also be extremely dangerous. If you have been injured while you were working on or visiting a construction site or your loved one was killed in a construction accident, a personal injury claim may allow you to recover compensation for your losses.

Common Causes of Construction Site Accidents

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that of the nearly 5,000 worker fatalities in 2018, over 20 percent were in the construction industry. Although construction projects are subject to strict regulations and safety rules, serious and often fatal injuries do occur. Just over one-third of all construction worker fatalities were caused by falling. Being struck by an object, such as dropped equipment or falling debris, was responsible for approximately 11 percent of the deaths. Electrocutions accounted for 8.5 percent of worker fatalities. Just over 5 percent of worker deaths were caused by being caught between equipment or objects or being crushed by a collapsing structure.

Damages Caused By a Construction Injury or Death

Construction site injuries are often catastrophic and may include broken bones, burns, internal organ damage, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). An individual seriously harmed in a construction site accident may be disabled or disfigured for the rest of his or her life. If a construction worker is injured while on the job, he or she will likely be entitled to worker’s compensation. However, this compensation may not be enough to cover the full extent of his or her medical bills, ongoing medical costs, lost wages, and other financial losses. When an individual is killed in a construction site accident, his or her family may be entitled to compensation for the loss of the deceased person’s financial support, funeral and burial expenses, as well as the loss of his or her companionship and guidance. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, the party liable for a construction site injury may be the general contractor, subcontractors, architects, equipment suppliers, product manufacturers, or another party.

Inhabitants of Chicago and the surrounding areas know that construction work is a never-ending process. Although there are many legal protections and regulation in place to try to prevent accidents, construction sites can be quite dangerous. If you have been hurt while visiting or working on a construction site, you may be able to recover costs associated with your injury through a personal injury lawsuit.

Causes of Construction-Related Injuries

Construction workers represent just 6 percent of the total workforce in the United States, and yet they account for 20 percent of all work-related fatalities. Construction work can be full of hazards and dangerously powerful equipment. Injuries and deaths on construction sites can be caused by tripping and falling, electrocution, mishandled equipment, unsecured scaffolding, motor vehicle accidents and more. Of course, those who work in construction know that there are certain risks associated with the profession, and employers or supervisors cannot prevent every negative incident that occurs on a construction site. However, when a worker or passerby is injured or killed due to negligence, someone will usually be held liable.