Construction Accident

Experienced Legal Representation for Injured Construction Workers

If you’ve been injured on a job site, you may be facing serious construction accident injuries, mounting medical bills, and an uncertain future, but a Chicago construction accident lawyer can help. Construction remains one of the most dangerous industries, with common hazards including falls, electrocution, heavy machinery accidents, and structural failures. These incidents can leave workers and bystanders struggling with lost wages, ongoing medical treatment, and long-term disabilities.

Our Chicago construction accident law firm is committed to protecting the rights of injured workers and their families. Whether you need to file a workers’ compensation claim, pursue a third-party lawsuit, or seek damages for a wrongful death claim, we have the experience to fight against negligent employers, contractors, and manufacturers.

Read on to learn how to navigate the legal process after a construction site accident in Chicago and throughout Cook County, ensuring you get the construction accident compensation you deserve.

Compensation Secured by Our Construction Injury Attorneys

The construction site accident attorneys at our law firm have won major settlements worth millions of dollars for clients who wished to seek maximum compensation for injuries on construction sites.

You can get an idea of what we can make possible for you from the following settlements we’ve secured for clients:

• $5,000,000 in a product liability lawsuit for a carpenter injured by a table saw that didn’t have a blade guard. The lawsuit was filed against the manufacturer and maintenance company.
• $2,150,000 for a construction site worker who fell from 20-foot high scaffolding and suffered injuries due to a lack of proper safety equipment, such as fall protection equipment.
• $1,899,000 settlement in addition to full workers’ compensation benefits for a union carpenter who suffered construction accident injuries after falling from a poorly positioned ladder.
• $800,000 in a third-party liability claim by an injured worker against subcontractors and the general contractor for violating occupational safety regulations and having defective equipment.

Who Can File a Construction Accident Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Construction workers injured on the job can typically file a workers’ compensation claim to recover medical expenses, wage replacement, and benefits, though non-economic losses like pain and suffering by the injuries sustained are not covered.

Injured construction workers may seek additional compensation by filing civil lawsuit for injuries against any third parties involved whose negligence contributed to the accident, such as contractors or manufacturers of equipment.

Non-workers injured on construction sites, like pedestrians harmed by falling scaffolding, may be eligible to file personal injury claims and lawsuits. Families of victims who suffered workplace fatalities in Chicago can pursue wrongful death claims to seek compensation and justice.

Do You Have a Construction Accident Case?

To figure if you have a construction accident claim, you’ll need to determine if you have a workers’ compensation construction accident claim (where you don’t have to prove fault) or a personal injury lawsuit (where you have to prove fault and negligence, proving the person responsible owed you a duty of care). Whether you have a case will depend on what you were doing at the time of the accident and what the cause was.

You usually can’t sue your employer unless their actions were egregious or they lacked required workers’ compensation insurance. Third-party lawsuits may be possible against contractors, manufacturers, or property owners responsible for unsafe worksite conditions. A Chicago construction accident attorney can help clarify your legal options.

You Have Limited Time to File a Construction Accident Lawsuit

There’s a hard deadline on when you can file a construction accident lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations.

Under Illinois law, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years. You must file the lawsuit within two years of the day you were injured or you may not be able to claim any damages for medical bills and other losses. The deadline for a wrongful death lawsuit is the same – two years.

For a claim under Illinois workers’ compensation law, you must follow workplace accident reporting requirements and report construction accidents to construction companies within 45 days of when you first found out about your construction accident injury.

The statute of limitations for a workers’ compensation claim is up to three years from that date or within two years of the last date you were paid by the employer, whichever is later.

Illinois Laws & Chicago Municipal Codes That May Impact Your Case

Understanding Illinois and Chicago labor laws for injured workers is important when navigating construction accident claims. Below are some laws and safety regulations that may apply to your situation:

• Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) – Ensures injured workers can pursue compensation for on-the-job construction accident injuries.
• Illinois Occupational Safety & Health Act (820 ILCS 219) – Sets construction industry safety standards that employers must follow to protect employees from the dangers construction workers face.
• Chicago Building Code (Title 14A) – Chicago Department of Buildings regulations establish safety standards for construction sites and major construction projects in Chicago.
• Construction companies failed to carry insurance (820 ILCS 305/4) – Addresses situations where employers neglect to provide the necessary workers’ compensation insurance coverage to protect workers.
• Worker was employed illegally as a minor (820 ILCS 305/5) – Covers protections for minors who are injured while working in violation of employment laws.

It’s essential to understand these laws, as Chicago and Illinois labor law violations can be the foundation for determining the liable party and pursuing compensation.

Liability in Construction Accident Personal Injury Cases

It’s not uncommon for construction accidents to happen through no fault of your own or the fault of your employer. There might be multiple responsible parties for your accident, such as:

• Property Owner
• Construction Contractor
• Subcontractors
• Equipment Manufacturers
• Engineers
• Co-workers

Types of Cases That Our Construction Site Accident Lawyers Handle

Our construction accident attorneys have over two decades of experience handling nearly every type of construction accident claim, such as OSHA’s Fatal four, which are the leading types of accidents in the industry. These include falls, struck-by injuries, caught-in or between accidents, and electorcutions. Other types of personal injury claims we handle that are related to the construction industry include:

• Forklift injuries
• Fires or explosions
• Transportation accidents
• Crane accidents
• Toxic exposure on construction sites
• Ladder-related accidents
• Welding accidents
• Hoisting accidents
• Trench collapses
• Road construction injuries

Do You Need A Construction Accident Lawyer?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, it is often important to seek help from a Chicago construction accident lawyer. Here are some situations where construction accident personal injury lawyers can help:

• Your workers’ compensation claim is denied, delayed, or does not cover the full extent of your injuries and medical expenses.
• A third party, such as a contractor, subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer, may be legally responsible for your accident or injuries.
• Injuries sustained were severe or permanent injuries and limit your ability to return to your job or pursue your career.
• A loved one lost their life in a construction accident, and you want to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

A construction accident lawyer can guide you through these challenges and help ensure you are treated fairly throughout the process.

Chicago Construction Accident Statistics

Working in the construction industry is one of the most dangerous occupations to have. The most recent available data from OSHA reveals some interesting insight regarding Chicago construction accidents. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also sheds light on the larger trends of construction accidents in the state. This data reinforces the fact that Illinois construction industry risks are high:

Trade and transportation sectors accounted for 62% of the personal injuries

Approximately one in ten workers are injured each year in construction accidents

Over 2,500 construction site fatalities have been reported in Illinois between 2017 and 2023

Workers in transportation and material moving had the highest number of fatal injuries

89% of all work-related fatalities in Illinois were men

The year with the lowest reported fatal injuries was 1996 with 262

In the past 33 years, falls have accounted for 42% of all construction worker deaths

112,500 non-fatal work injuries in Illinois were reported by employers

20,800 of those cases were workplace illnesses

Illinois has a total recordable cases incidence rate of 2.7 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers

Common Causes of Construction Accidents

The common causes of construction accidents can vary significantly from one case to another. Some of the most common causes we typically see in cases resulting in construction accident injuries include:

• Overexertion of the workforce by construction companies
• Unsafe construction work environment
• Unavailability of proper safety equipment
• Failure to provide fall protection for workers on elevated structures
• Missing safety protections on power tools
• Faulty equipment or machinery
• Tripping hazards left unchecked
• Construction company disregarding Chicago Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations

Common Construction Site Injuries

The nature of construction site injuries tends to be quite similar in most cases. Some of the most common job site hazards in Chicago and resulting serious injuries include:

• Electric shock
• Burns
• Brain injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Broken bones and fractures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputation injuries in construction accidents
• Lacerations and severe cuts
• Brain injuries
• Crush injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Nerve damage
• Chronic pain from construction injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in injured workers
• Permanent disability from workplace accidents
• Vision and hearing loss from worksite accidents

What to Do After a Construction Accident in Chicago, IL

If you’re a construction employee injured on a construction site, it’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Here’s what you should do right away:

• Get Medical Attention
• Report the Accident to a Construction Site Manager or Supervisor
• Gather Evidence
• Get a Chicago Construction Accident Attorney

In most situations, you’re going to have a workers’ compensation case, which a Chicago construction accident lawyer can help you with. If they determine you can file a personal injury claim in addition to or instead of a workers’ comp claim, your personal injury lawyer can assist you with this as well.

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Damages Our Chicago Construction Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover

Workers’ compensation coverage limits your recovery to economic damages only. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation services, ongoing care costs, funeral expenses for deceased construction accident victims, and medications.

If you’re eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek the maximum possible compensation for non-economic losses as well. A passerby injured in a construction zone because workers or site managers failed to follow safety regulations can also claim both types of damages. They can do this through a personal injury lawsuit against the construction company and their insurance company.

Average Payouts in Construction Accident Cases

Workers’ compensation benefits typically provide 66.6% of your average weekly wages if you’re unable to work for at least 14 days. However, by accepting workers’ compensation benefits, you cannot file a lawsuit against your employer.

Nonetheless, you may be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against other legally responsible parties. Depending on the severity of the injuries and the negligence involved, these lawsuits can result in substantial settlements or court awarded damages, sometimes reaching millions.

Filing a Claim With Our Chicago Construction Accident Attorneys

As leading Chicago construction accident lawyers, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers follow a proven legal strategy to build strong claims for injured workers, contractors, and bystanders. We gather irrefutable evidence, consult with construction safety experts, and leverage Illinois workplace injury laws to hold negligent parties accountable. Here’s how our construction site injury lawyers will help:

• Free Evaluation – We offer a no-cost evaluation of your case to understand the full scope of your claim.
• Claim Investigation – Our team conducts thorough investigations, compiling critical evidence such as site conditions, witness statements from co-workers and the construction site manager, and safety reports.
• Settlement Negotiations and Mediation – We work to negotiate a fair settlement or participate in mediation with all parties involved.
• Going to Trial – If a settlement cannot be reached with the construction company and their insurance company, we are prepared to litigate your case in court.

The Time It Takes to Settle a Construction Accident Case

Your construction accident settlement may come quickly, within a matter of months, if it’s not contested and the insurance company doesn’t drag matters out necessarily. It may end up taking longer if there are multiple liable parties or if the case is contested.

If the case ends up going to trial, you can expect the whole process to take a couple of years at the very least, since trials do take time.

The Cost of Hiring a Construction Site Accident Attorney

Don’t lose hope after construction site accidents as you can get a top-notch legal team for no upfront cost. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, our Chicago construction accident attorneys take your workers’ compensation claim and construction lawsuit on a contingency fee basis.

This means we’ll conduct the investigation, negotiate with the insurance and construction company, and also take the case to trial if needed without charging you a single penny. Our Chicago trial attorneys only get paid once you receive a confirmed settlement and our fee will be a percentage of that settlement.

Contact an Experienced Chicago Construction Accident Lawyer Today!

Your accident may have left you with serious injuries forever changing the trajectory of your life. We’re on a mission to make sure victims like you don’t have to suffer due to someone else’s negligence. We’ll fight for you and get you the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Contact a Chicago construction law firm, like Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, which is highly experienced in construction accidents. Contact (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation. You’ll be connected to a Chicago construction accident attorney experienced in accident lawsuits who’ll explain everything you need to know about how to proceed and hold those who caused your accident accountable.

Our downtown office, near the Richard J. Daley Center, Dirkson United States Courthouse, and the Chicago Workers’ Compensation Commission, offers convenient access from Aurora, Joliet, and Waukegan via I-90, I-94, and I-290.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

225 W Wacker Dr #1660
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 835-8895
Toll Free: (888) 424-5757

Resources: [1] OSHA, [2] BLS,

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.