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Princeton, IL Construction Accident Lawyer

Princeton Construction Accident Lawyer

The nature of construction work is risky. Accidents often occur despite workers being aware of these hazards and adopting safety measures. Many times, these individuals suffer severe injuries or even fatalities.

In the event of an injury at your construction workplace, you may face substantial medical expenses and loss of income. While most claims are covered by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, what if your claim is rejected or a third party causes the injury?

There are alternatives available. If you or a family member suffer an injury at a construction site in Princeton, IL, you have several legal options to explore. At Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, we have a track record of assisting injured workers and their families in obtaining compensation for their losses and damages. Reach out to our Princeton, IL construction accident lawyer today.

Accident Risks on Construction Job Sites

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 2.6 million reported non-fatal workplace injuries reported between 2021-2022. Unfortunately, fatalities are not uncommon. In 2022, 1,069 construction professionals died while working, a rate of 9.6 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, according to same BLS data referenced above.

Construction sites are filled with hazards. Unfortunately, most of these incidents can lead to injuries that have a long-lasting impact on the victim’s life. Some of the most common types of construction accidents include:

Falls

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls pose a risk to construction workers. These incidents are responsible for a large portion of fatalities on construction sites. Falls can occur from considerable heights, leading to serious harm, but injuries can also result from slips and falls at ground level. Factors contributing to falls can include:

  • Unstable working surfaces
  • Misuse or failure of fall protection equipment
  • Human errors

Falling Objects

Another major hazard on construction sites is falling objects. These accidents often occur due to:

  • Inadequate securing or handling of loads
  • Failure to wear protective headgear
  • Poor housekeeping practices around the site

Serious injuries can occur when tools, materials, and other objects tumble from a great height. Often, this can inflict catastrophic injuries and even lead to fatalities on the job site.

Electrocutions

Many construction workers are near electricity on a daily basis. Electrocutions lead to accidents on construction sites. Certain jobs require workers to handle high-voltage electricity or interact with exposed wiring. These tragic accidents can occur due to contact with power lines, lack of ground-fault protection, path to ground missing or discontinuous, equipment not used in the manner prescribed, and improper use of extension and flexible cords.

Entrapment

Situations where a worker is caught, crushed, squeezed, or compressed between objects, can be extremely serious. These accidents often occur due to a lack of communication or inadequate safety protocols. Workers can become trapped in or between objects. Also, trench collapses or equipment rollovers can also lead to crushing injuries.

While some of these incidents can be accidents, negligence can play a major role in these accidents. In those situations, you may be able to take legal action beyond workers’ compensation. Contact a Princeton, IL construction accident lawyer to learn more.

Injuries on a Construction Site Injuries

With the potential accidents on a construction site, workers could sustain a variety of severe injuries, such as:

  • Fractures: These injuries can occur due to falls, being hit by objects, or machinery-related accidents.
  • Spinal cord injuries: Severe injuries are often the result of falls from height or accidents involving heavy machinery.
  • Back injuries: Back injuries are common from lifting heavy objects or from repetitive strain.
  • Burn injuries: Burns stem from electrical accidents, fires, or explosions on the site.
  • Traumatic brain injuries: Falls, being struck by an object, or machinery-related accidents all contributed to these injuries.
  • Eye injuries: Flying debris, chemical splashes, or intense light can cause vision damage.
  • Amputations: The loss of limbs may occur when an accident involves heavy machinery or power tools.
  • Chemical exposure: These happen when workers are exposed to hazardous substances, leading to respiratory diseases, skin conditions, or even cancer.

What Can I Recover If I’m Hurt?

In Illinois, workers’ compensation provides benefits extend to employees who suffer work-related injuries or diseases. They include:

  • Medical benefits: Workers’ compensation covers the medical costs, including necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation services.
  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits: Injured employees who cannot work may receive TTD benefits. This amount is often two-thirds of the average weekly wage.
  • Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits: Employees who can still work but are in a limited capacity can apply for these benefits.
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits: Employees may be entitled to these benefits if they are not able to return to the workforce due to injuries from an accident or illness.
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits: Employees who cannot work can apply for PTD.

If an employee dies from a work-related injury or disease, the surviving family members may receive death benefits. Sometimes, the injured workers will need to be retrained. In these cases, they can be eligible for vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The exact amount of these benefits can vary depending on the employee’s average weekly wage and their number of dependents.

Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Injured workers must seek compensation through their employer’s workers’ compensation policy. This system provides benefits to workers without proving fault and protects employers from lawsuits.

In most situations, injured workers are unable to sue their employer for an injury. As a result, they cannot receive compensation for:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Other non-economic damages

In Illinois, you can file a personal injury lawsuit for work-related injuries under certain circumstances. For example, if your employer intentionally caused you harm, you might have other legal options.

Another possibility is third-party liability. In these cases, if someone other than your employer or a co-worker caused your injury, you can file a lawsuit against that party. In these cases, you can pursue a third-party lawsuit. With that, your legal team needs to prove the negligence of these parties, leading to your injuries or illness. They include:

  • Contractors
  • Subcontractors
  • Property owners
  • Equipment manufacturers

Also, if your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, you may be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Remember that Illinois law requires employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance for full-time and part-time employees.

In these situations, you may be able to seek compensation in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits. However, you will need a solid foundation for your claim to prove that you deserve additional benefits beyond workers’ comp. A Princeton, IL, construction injury lawyer can help determine whether you have a viable case for additional legal action.

Allow Us to Fight for Your Legal Rights

If you need help getting the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve or want to answer questions about a potential lawsuit, contact the team at Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP. You have rights that need to be protected.

Our Princeton, IL construction accident lawyer can help you with the compensation they deserve. Schedule your consultation today.

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