Springfield Construction Accident Lawyer

In Illinois, construction workers have limited protections for on-the-job injuries. If you were hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you might be able to pursue compensation through a lawsuit. But this can be difficult without an experienced attorney by your side every step of the way.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, each personal injury lawyer in our office fights aggressively for justice for our clients who have suffered from workplace injuries that could have been prevented with better safety practices and equipment.

We know how to navigate these cases efficiently so that no stone goes unturned when determining what caused the accident and who should be held responsible for any harm.

Our law firm works hard to ensure that all parties involved are held accountable. So call Springfield, IL, personal injury lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Dangerous Construction Sites in Springfield, Illinois

Every worker at a Sangamon County construction site is at risk of suffering severe injuries or dying from the negligent actions of others.

While the injured worker can seek worker’s compensation and surviving family members of a loved one lost on a construction site can file a wrongful death claim, holding other parties responsible can be difficult.

Many of these injured workers are harmed through someone else’s negligence or defective tool that leaves them resulting in severe injuries or death. On the other hand, if the accident was caused by defective equipment or unskilled labor, you might have a case to file without difficulty.

If you go forward with an injury claim in Illinois, neglectful actions such as these can be held against your employer and anyone else involved in the worksite.

You are entitled to compensation if your loved one lost his life because of someone’s mistakes or negligence. Legal action can help you get the financial restitution you need to recover from this shocking tragedy.

How Springfield Construction Accident Lawyers Can Help

Hiring a Springfield, IL, construction worker accident attorney specializing in wrongful death, construction accidents, and premises liability cases can ensure an adequate monetary recovery for your losses.

Springfield construction accident lawyers working on your behalf might be able to hold the project developer, property manager, property owners, project developer, co-workers, subcontractors, building material manufacturers, and distributors legally and financially accountable.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers handles construction site accident cases across Illinois. Contact our attorneys for a free case review if you or a family member was injured on a construction project in or around Springfield.

Illinois and National Construction Accident Statistics

According to National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) data, the incident rate of construction accidents has risen significantly, consequently ensuring more people are filing lawsuits for on-the-job injuries or wrongful death of a loved one.

Construction accidents occur every day across the nation and in Illinois. Most often, the victims are hard-working people who are doing their jobs.

Construction workers have many injury claims due to slips and falls, caught-in/between construction accidents, floods, floods, storms, mudslides, hurricanes, injuries caused by heavy machinery or tools used by fellow construction workers, electrocutions, trenching, and excavations.

Here is more information on some of the most common kinds of construction accident cases we see in the Illinois construction industry:

• Fall from Heights: Falls from heights can result in severe trauma and even death. If your employer was responsible for the work
• Cranes and Derricks: There are many laws and regulations for equipment like cranes and derricks. Sadly, construction accidents involving these pieces of equipment go on every year. As a result, the U.S Department of Labor has set forth stringent safety measures to protect people from fatal crane accidents or workplace injuries.
• Steel Erectors: Serious focus on steel erector safety practices will help prevent construction accidents like entrapment, electrocution, or even suffocation.
• Electrical Work: A high degree of electrical accidents occurs at construction sites. Ensure you thoroughly read the OSHA safety regulations and instructional guidelines before working with electricity.
• Asbestos Exposure: There were once hundreds of products produced with asbestos materials. Sadly, many manufacturers cut corners regarding safety precautions and make no effort to ensure the well-being of their workers—construction workers who routinely work with products containing asbestos without the proper safety equipment experience severe respiratory damage.
• Caught in/between Objects: These accidents often involve heavy machinery and tools such as drills, hammers, and saws.
• Burn Injuries: Any work involving high heat can be dangerous if safety measures are not in place. Steelworkers, for example, must use machinery correctly to avoid workplace construction accidents.
• Falling Objects: This is a widespread type of accident that typically causes blunt force trauma to the head for severe brain and neck injuries due to the nature of construction work. If you were injured by falling or flying objects, it is crucial to contact a Springfield construction accident lawyer as soon as possible.
• Forklift Construction Site Accidents: If your employer did not provide proper training in operating equipment, you could be subject to serious injury.
• Uneven Working Surfaces: Some construction sites use metal grates, wood slats, metal mesh, and fabricated sheeting to create a working surface. These surfaces can become slippery when wet or covered in ice and snow.
• Trenching and Excavation: Trenches and excavations can be dangerous due to unstable ground, unknown buried objects or utility lines, and other construction workers above you.
• Construction Site Storm Damage: Construction sites are often targets for severe weather. We have seen hundreds of cases, including floods and hurricanes.
• Construction Site Vehicle Accidents: Many dangers are associated with construction vehicle accidents. Workers must know the risks and familiarize themselves with safe driving practices.
• Construction Site Slip and Fall: Construction sites are often covered in tools, equipment, hardware, building materials, and other hazards. See medical attention immediately if you slip or trip on anything at a construction site.

Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to prevent death, injury, and illness in the workplace, including in the construction industry. OSHA’s mission is apparent – to protect American workers.

For decades, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has set rules and regulations to keep construction workers safe. However, if you were injured, it might be up to you to enforce your rights under these rules.

The Dangers of Working with Machinery

Using heavy equipment or machinery on a construction site places every worker, visitor, and contractor in harm’s way. There are significant dangers to working with machinery, especially when it was not designed or from a manufacturer defect.

Data shows that in 2016, over two million workers were involved in machinery-related injuries, and 97% of these severe injuries could have been prevented if better procedures had been enforced.

Your employer’s responsibility is to ensure you are familiar with all safety procedures for operating equipment. If they fail to do so and you are injured, you might be entitled to compensation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident involving heavy machinery, seek legal counsel before contacting any insurance company. Your construction accident could be eligible for compensation – even if the injury came from a defective product or negligent party.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim to Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits

In Illinois, nearly every employer must carry workers’ compensation insurance on each employee to ensure that they are covered in case of an on-the-job accident. Workers’ comp benefits pay the injured worker their lost wages and medical expenses during the healing process.

However, filing a claim can be challenging to ensure that you receive the maximum total and fair compensation you are entitled to receive. You must file your lawsuit within a strict time frame, and even then, you might have to appeal an initial denial.

Aside from the headache of navigating the workers’ compensation insurance system, you may also need to deal with a third-party claim or lawsuit filed against you by a co-worker.

The steps to filing a claim for workers’ compensation include:

• Report what occurred to your immediate supervisor or supervisor of the area.
• Return to work, but only as long as your doctor clears you. If it is unsafe for you to return to work immediately, inform your employer.
• Fill out the necessary paperwork and submit it as soon as possible, including an incident report, a physician’s statement, and a Request for Medical Examination (IME) form.

Once you have filed your claim with your employer, they must file a report of Injury or Illness (Form 104) with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

You will receive information in the mail about whether or not your claim for workers’ comp benefits is being accepted. If it is denied, you have 30 days to file an appeal.

If you wish to file a personal injury claim, speak to an experienced attorney. The laws for filing these claims are strict and specific. You may be tempted to work with your employer directly through the workers’ comp system, but this is not recommended.

An experienced lawyer can guide you through the legal process to determine if other individuals or entities could be liable for your injuries by filing a third-party claim.

Filing a Third-Party Claim to Receive Maximum Financial Recovery from All Parties Involved

Your Springfield construction accident lawyer can investigate your accident case to determine if you could receive additional compensation over and above their workers’ comp claim.

Potential third parties that might also be named as defendants in your construction accident lawsuit could include:

• Other contractors and subcontractors at the job site
• Truck drivers delivering goods and building materials
• Heavy equipment operators
• Crane operators
• Product manufacturers designing and selling defective equipment
• Equipment rental companies supplying defective equipment
• Other motorists involved in car accidents using the company vehicle

If the owner of your employer’s company was at fault in your construction accident, they might be held liable in a third-party claim filed against them. Most importantly, all parties’ insurance companies must be notified of your intent to file a third-party claim.

Typically, third-party claims involving the injured victim’s employer usually include some egregious behavior with the company failing to protect a construction worker from apparent hazards.

Some cases involve employers who fail to provide injured workers with proper protective gear and equipment, leading to severe injuries or fatalities.

Filing Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Central Illinois

Any construction worker injured on the job who does not survive the accident creates a legal remedy for their survivors. Every surviving family member who lost a loved one in a construction site accident is entitled to maximum benefits and loss of income related to their passing.

Usually, qualifying family members include surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. The deceased family member’s estate would generally receive death benefits if no children were involved.

In addition to receiving compensation for financial hardships caused by a construction accident, surviving family members can also file a wrongful death lawsuit against those responsible for their loved one’s passing.

Contact a knowledgeable construction accident lawyer immediately if you have lost a loved one or suffered injuries in a construction site accident. An experienced attorney can help you understand the details of your injury workers’ compensation claim and ensure it is filed correctly from the start.

How Much Is My Construction Site Accident Case Worth?

The evidence and facts involving your construction accident case are likely significantly different than most other claims. Because of that, it is challenging to accurately determine the worth of your personal injury lawsuit in seeking financial recovery for damages.

However, our lawyers use a specific method. Several factors determine our negotiated settlement amounts for wrongful death claims.

• The age of the deceased at the time of their passing
• Their earnings at the time of their passing to determine past lost wages and future lost income
• The severity of the accident causing the death
• All associated medical costs
• The deceased’s dependents, including children and other family members, will suffer financially due to the death
• The extent of the family’s pain, suffering, mental anxiety, and emotional distress over losing their loved one

Because wrongful death lawsuits are highly complex, you should not attempt this process without working with a reputable construction accident attorney. The best way for our super lawyers to determine what your case is worth is by obtaining all available evidence that exactly shows what happened.

Construction Accidents and the Illinois Statute of Limitations

Under Illinois law, claimants must file their construction accident case or workers’ compensation claim within two years of the accident or decedent’s death.

Cases involving more severe injuries or fatalities are subject to a more complex statute of limitations laws, which can put additional pressure on the injured victim’s family members, who must file their personal injury lawsuit within a certain period.

The best way for an experienced, passionate lawyer to protect your rights is by filing your construction accident lawsuit before these deadlines arrive.

Contact a Springfield construction accident lawyer at (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form to schedule a free legal consultation.

Current and Proposed Large Construction Projects in Springfield, Illinois

Springfield, Illinois: The city fathers have announced that EmberClear will construct an 1100-megawatt gas-to-electric power plant at any one of numerous locations, including Pawnee. The project is expected to take years to complete.

Meredosia, Morgan County, Illinois: The Meredosia Bridge Project is expected to be completed by the end of September 2018. The project will encompass building a new structure over the Illinois River that requires excavation, significant earthwork, pump station construction, and paving.

Springfield, Illinois: The Carpenter Street Underpass Project is just the first major construction that will take place across Springfield’s 10th St. rail corridor. The project is expected to help improve access to the city’s medical facilities by reducing previously unavoidable delays for medical emergency vehicles. The project will include drilling shafts, roadway paving, installing concrete curbs, and constructing a pump station.

Springfield, Illinois
City Building Department
Springfield Department of Building & Zoning
300 S. 7th St.
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 789-2171

Hiring A Springfield Construction Accident Lawyer To Protect Your Legal Rights After An Accident

Did you suffer serious injuries or lose a loved one through a construction site accident in Springfield, Illinois? If so, you are likely entitled to receive full and fair compensation for your losses.

An attorney working on your behalf can assist you in filing workers’ compensation forms to obtain monetary benefits. In addition, surviving family members can hire a construction accident attorney to seek damages from all those responsible for taking the life of a loved one.

Our Sangamon and Greene County skilled personal injury attorneys specialize in construction site accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death cases. Our Springfield construction worker injury lawyers might also hold third parties for additional monetary recovery.

The legal team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can review your compensation case and provide various legal options on how to proceed. Contact a personal injury attorney today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free initial consultation to start your case now.

Your Springfield construction accident lawyer accepts all personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This promise ensures you will not pay attorney’s fees until your personal injury lawyer resolves your case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

Resources:

• NIH – Trends in Catastrophic Occupational Incidents among Electrical Contractors
• BLS – Fatal Occupational Injuries