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Construction Accidents

Construction is a vitally important industry, yet is one of the most hazardous for the people who work in it. When a construction worker is injured in a work site accident, he or she should be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits. Workers' compensation is a no-fault system which provides limited benefits in return for the certainty of receiving compensation for work-related injuries.

One of the trade-offs for receiving workers' compensation is that the level of compensation for work-related injuries is normally less than what an injured party would be entitled to if he were successful in a liability lawsuit. Also, when a worker is injured in a construction accident they are entitled to receive worker's compensation benefits, he is not permitted to file a liability lawsuit against his employer.

However, when someone is at least partially to blame for the injury besides the injured worker's employer or co-employee, the injured worker can pursue both a liability lawsuit against the responsible parties as well as a worker's compensation case against his own employer.

Some of the theories of liability which our Illinois construction accident lawyers have presented on behalf of injured construction workers include:

Unsafe work practices - When another contractor or its employees engage in unsafe work practices that put the employees of other contractors on the site in danger.
Unsafe equipment - When contractors use unsafe equipment on the job site which put employees of other contractors at risk, or when there is equipment which is used by all the contractors on the site such as ladders, ramps, or scaffolding which is not maintained in safe condition by those responsible, including the general contractor and others in charge of safety on the job site.
Unsafe working conditions - When there are unsafe conditions such as uncovered floor openings, deep ruts or mud, missing guard rails, or other tripping, slipping, or fall hazards. In this case, both the contractor responsible for creating the hazard and the entity responsible for overall job site conditions (usually the general contractor or owner) has liability for failing to prevent and/or correct unsafe job site conditions.
Failure to control the job site - On most construction sites, the general contractor has the right to control the work being done by the subcontractor it hires. When the general contractor fails to do this to prevent injury to workers on the site, it may be responsible for injuries suffered by the worker. This responsibility may include stopping unsafe work practices adopted by the injured worker's employer and properly coordinating the work done by the various contractors on the job.
Product liability - If there is a defect in the design, manufacture or maintenance of the equipment used by the injured worker, this may be the basis of a lawsuit against the manufacturer or maintenance company responsible for the injury-producing equipment.

Knowledgeable representation is essential

Identification of facts which help develop a liability lawsuit against the responsible parties is one of the benefits of hiring a firm such as the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. Our background in handling these kinds of cases gives us insight into the contractual obligations of the contractors on the site to ensure worker safety. Further, our understanding of OSHA regulations and construction industry safety customs and practices allows us to help juries understand why blame for the accident rests upon the proper parties and not upon the injured worker.

Injured workers deserve skilled, experienced representation when they are hurt on construction sites. Many construction industry jobs, especially union jobs, pay high wages for demanding labor. Even very minor work restrictions can end a construction worker's career and result in a significant loss of income for the injured worker and his family. The legal issues involving the interaction of the worker's compensation case and the liability lawsuit can be very difficult even for experienced personal injury attorneys. Having knowledgeable representation can help ensure the injured worker the recovery he is entitled to.

The Law Offices of
Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
100 W Monroe St.,
Ste 2100
Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: 312.263.1080
Fax: 312.263.0153

Proudly Serving Many Illinois Cities and Counties, Including:
Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Naperville, Joliet, Waukegan, Geneva, Sycamore, Woodstock, Kankakee, Morris, Ottawa; Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Winnebago, DeKalb, McHenry, Kankakee, Grundy, LaSalle, Peoria, McLean, Champaign, Tazewell Counties

Library for Construction Accidents:

Types of Third Party Lawsuits - Construction Accidents
Third party liability suits in Illinois frequently arise out of construction accidents. Our Chicago law firm gives examples of some of the kinds of construction site accidents that lawyers in our law firm have handled.
Common Construction Site Accidents in Illinois (Part A)
Construction site accidents can cause serious injuries. If you or a loved one has been involved in a construction site accident, a Chicago construction accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file your personal injury claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080
Common Construction Site Accidents in Illinois (Part B)
Construction site accidents can cause serious or fatal injuries. If you or a loved one has been involved in an Illinois construction accident, a Chicago construction accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file your personal injury claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080
Illinois Scaffolding Accidents (Part A)
Scaffolding accidents can lead to serious, if not fatal, construction site injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a scaffolding accident, a Chicago construction accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file your personal injury claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.
Illinois Scaffolding Accidents (Part B)
When proper safety precautions are not met, the result can be a serious or fatal scaffolding accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a scaffolding accident, a Chicago construction accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file your personal injury claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080
Crane Accidents and Injuries (Part A)
Poor crane safety regulation can lead to construction site injuries. If you have questions, an experienced Chicago construction accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation. – 312-263-1080.
Crane Accidents and Injuries (Part B)
Crane safety regulations are strict because it is a very dangerous business. If you have questions, an experienced Chicago construction accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation. – 312-263-1080.
Trench Collapse Accidents (Part A)
Trenches are hazardous places in which to work, safety standards are in place for a reason. If you have been injured in a trench collapse accident, you may be entitled to compensation beyond Worker’s Compensation. If you have been in a construction site accident, an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation. – 312-263-1080.
Trench Collapse Accidents (Part B)
If you have been injured in a trench collapse accident, you deserve compensation. If you have been in a construction site accident, an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation. – 312-263-1080.
A Basic Overview of Construction Accidents (Part A)
An Illinois construction accident can leave you with permanent disabilities. The dangerous conditions you face can cause many construction site injuries. A Chicago construction accident attorney like those at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file a claim if you are injured in a construction site accident. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.
A Basic Overview of Construction Accidents (Part B)
There are many hazards that can lead to construction site injuries. To recover damages for medical expenses, you may need to file a personal injury claim with the help of a Chicago construction accident attorney. The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. will give your case a free evaluation, contact us today – 312-263-1080.

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Blog for Construction Accidents

Frequent Questions for Construction Accidents:

Case Results for Construction Accidents:

Carpenter injured on job site secures settlement

Awarded: $320,000

Fall from Ladder on CTA Construction Project Yields Settlement

Awarded: $700,000

Web Resources for Construction Accidents:

Illinois Worker's Compensation Commission
Description: The official site of the Worker's Compensation Commission, the body that adjudicates worker's compensation cases.
NIOSH Trenching and Excavation Resources
Description: Information from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health on trenching and excavation safety.

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