Chicago Factory Accident Attorneys

The factory or manufacturing industry is one of the largest employers in the U.S. In 2008, almost 16 million people worked in this industry, making up almost 11% of the workforce. These dedicated workers are responsible for making the products we use every day, from the cars we drive to the food we take out of the cupboard.

Manufacturing includes retail goods, machinery, chemicals and plastics. The heavy equipment and chemicals used during various phases of the manufacturing process can be hazardous if both the employees and the plant management do not adhere to the proper safety procedures.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is committing to protecting the rights of workers injured in Chicago factory accidents. Our firm has the resources needed to fully investigate your case so the responsible parties can be held accountable to the fullest extent. Contact our firm for a free review of your case by an attorney who has prosecuted other factory accident cases in Illinois on behalf of injured workers and their families.

Prevalence Of Factory Injuries

Although factory jobs are abundant and account for over ten percent of the total employees in the U.S., they are responsible for a much larger percentage of workplace injuries. In 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that over 30% of all workplace injuries happened in the factory or manufacturing sector. In a study released by the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), they cited that in 2008 there were 411 work-related deaths and 689, 700 work related injuries in the manufacturing field. The common causes of injury were:

• Contact with objects or equipment. Injuries sustained from falling objects or contact with equipment was the common cause in both fatalities and injuries.
• Transportation accidents. Transportation accidents were the 2^nd highest cause of fatalities in manufacturing.
• Repetitive motion and overexertion. The 2^nd highest cause of non-fatal injuries was repetitive work and overexertion on the job.

Causes Of Factory Injuries

Factory work is riddled with the chance of injury. There is often heavy machinery and equipment that can cause injury and the work itself is many times physically demanding. Common causes of injuries in a factory environment include:

• Slips and falls. Poor lighting, slippery footing and other hazards can cause workers to fall and have an injury.
• Mechanical malfunction. Heavy machinery can break or malfunction, causing serious injury or worse.
• Chemical exposure. Inhaling chemicals or getting chemical burns is a risk in some factory environments.
• Repetitive work. Some injuries are from constant strain on the body, leading to muscle and back injuries.

Factory supervisors and management are responsible for insuring that equipment remains safe and that all employees are properly trained to use dangerous machinery. When safety is secondary to production numbers, workplace injuries are more likely to happen and many times it is the management that is responsible.

For those who have been injured or for those who have lost a loved one to a manufacturing or factory accident, we are here to help you build a case against those responsible. Our expert work injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC are experienced at getting the best possible financial recovery for our clients.

In the case of an injured factory worker, there may actually be two possible cases to pursue.  As a worker injured on the job, a factory worker is entitled to file a workers compensation case against his or her employer. If the injured was caused by another party (aside from their employer or co-workers) as separate and distinct cause of action may be pursued in court, sometimes called a third-party lawsuit. Our Chicago, IL accident attorneys will carefully evaluate your circumstance and determine the most advantageous direction for your case.

We want to meet with you to hear your story and there is never any fee unless we are able to secure the best possible compensation for your injuries or loss.

Resources for more information on factory safety:

• http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-142/pdfs/2010-142.pdf
• http://www.bls.gov/news.release/osh.nr0.htm
• http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/pr116il.pdf