Construction Crash Attorney

Higher Risk of Crash and Injuries in Illinois

The construction industry experiences its fair share of hazards and crashes. It is among the most dangerous occupational industries in the entire nation. Construction workers in Illinois face daily risks that may threaten their health and lives and impact their homes and financial futures. Statistics gathered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s reveal that the construction industry has a high rate of crashes and death.

The leading causes of crashes and deaths on Illinois construction sites include:

• Slip and falls;

• Electrocution;

• Being struck by an object;

• Being caught in between equipment;

• Falls from heights;

• Collapse of equipment or materials; and

• Faulty safety equipment.

If you or someone you know has been injured on a construction site in Illinois, and the company in charge acted negligently or recklessly in causing the crash, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for injuries suffered.

Top OSHA Violations Resulting in Construction Crashes and Injuries in Illinois

The Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency that is tasked with ensuring the health and safety of American workers. OSHA sets and enforces protective workplace standards, establishes community partnerships for workplace safety, provides training, outreach, and education to employers and workers, and encourages continual improvements in processes relating to workplace health and safety.

While construction crashes vary, there are common OSHA violations that result in injuries to Illinois construction workers. The top 10 most commonly cited OSHA standards violations generally include:

• Scaffolding issues;

• Failure to control hazardous materials;

• Substandard fall protections;

• Improper respiratory protection;

• Faulty electrical and/or wiring methods;

• Unsafe ladders;

• Defective powered industrial trucks;

• Poor electrical system designs;

• Failure to follow hazard communication standards; and

• Improper machine guarding.

Common Illinois Construction Crash Injuries

Illinois construction crashes can cause minor and major injuries to an crash victim. Some injuries may include bruising or scratches while others can result in broken bones. Unfortunately, depending on the severity of the incident an Illinois construction crash can result in fatal injuries. Some of the most common and more serious injuries resulting from construction crashes may include:

• Spinal cord injuries;

• Traumatic brain injuries;

• Other major head injuries;

• Catastrophic injuries;

• Severe concussions;

• Internal bleeding;

• Damage to internal organs;

• Severe burn injuries;

• Major head injuries;

• Back injuries; and

• Severe eye injuries (vision loss).

Knowing Your Rights After a Construction Crash Injury in Illinois

When a construction worker is injured on the job and the employer did not use ordinary care – whether by committing an act or failing to commit an act – the employer can be found negligent for the crash. If an employer is found negligent, it can be held legally and financially responsible for injuries suffered by the construction crash victim. Negligence happens when:

• An employer fails to exercise reasonable care that a reasonably prudent person would have under the same scenario; or

• An employer takes action that a reasonably prudent person would not take under the same scenario.

Simply put, an employer has a legal duty to its employees to maintain the workplace in a safe manner. Failure to do so is a violation of this duty. If the breach of legal duty owed to the employee was the actual and legal cause of the construction crash that caused the injuries, and the crash was reasonably foreseeable, the employer was negligent. Thus, an employer can be held financially responsible for harm suffered by the Illinois construction worker.

Damages Available in Illinois Construction Crashes

While the monetary compensation available in an Illinois construction crash lawsuit can vary from case-to-case depending on the circumstances of the incident, there are common damages available to victims. The amount of damages available to a construction crash victim in Illinois will depend on the factors that caused the crash, the level of bad behavior of the defendant(s), and the severity of the injuries among other factors. Possible damages in Illinois include:

• Medical costs;

• Loss of past wages;

• Loss of future earning capacity;

• Property damage and/or loss;

• Pain and suffering;

• Mental anguish;

• Loss of enjoyment of life; and

• Other damages deemed proper by the court.

If the defendant(s) responsible for the construction crash acted reckless— namely, willfully and/or maliciously — an Illinois court may choose to also award punitive damages. Intended to punish the defendant’s bad behavior and discourage others from behaving in the same way, punitive damages in Illinois can be nine times the original damage award amount.

Free Case Evaluation in Illinois by outstanding Construction Crash Lawyer

The Illinois construction crash lawyers at Owaynat Law will aggressively fight to obtain the monetary compensation you deserve as a result of a construction crash. When someone is hurt in an Illinois construction crash, whether it is a construction worker or an innocent bystander, due to the fault of another, the responsible party should be held accountable. With years of experience representing the injured across the state of Illinois, the lawyers for construction crash in Illinois at Owaynat Law can help you through this difficult time. Contact us today at (773) 645-9997 or fill this form for your free initial case evaluation.