Have you been injured in a construction accident in Joliet, Illinois? It’s important to know that you have rights. At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys our Joliet construction accident lawyers are here to help you make the most of your legal claim for compensation. Contact us at (815) 726-1616.
Our law firm is a nationally acclaimed personal injury law firm dedicated to helping injured people after life-changing accidents. Backed by decades of combined experience, our award-winning litigators have successfully recovered tens of millions in benefits packages, settlements, and jury awards, changing the course of our clients’ lives forever.
We help you pursue compensation for medical care, loss of income during your recovery, and other injury-related damages.
Don’t let the insurance company or at-fault party off the hook. Demand that you’re made whole by trusting our top-rated legal team to fight for you. Contact our law office in Joliet to arrange a time for a free consultation.
How Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You After a Construction Accident in Joliet, IL
Whether you build highrises, residential homes, or work on road improvement projects in Joliet, you have an inherently dangerous job. There’s a lot going on at a job site at any given time, and just one simple mistake can be disastrous for everyone around. When you get hurt in a construction accident in Joliet, the consequences can affect every aspect of your life – from your physical health to your ability to make ends meet.
Fortunately, Illinois makes sure that construction workers are protected when accidents happen. Under state law, you may reserve the right to recover workers’ compensation benefits and/or seek damages in a construction accident lawsuit. However, getting compensation is often an uphill battle and is best supported by an experienced Joliet personal injury lawyer.
You have a lot of power in choosing which law firm you want to handle your construction accident case. Construction workers in Joliet consistently choose Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys. We’re award-winning Illinois trial attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for our commitment to our clients and proven ability to win life-changing financial awards.
By asking for our help, you’ll have the opportunity to focus on recovering while our legal team handles the rest, including:
- Investigating the circumstances of your construction accident to identify the full scope of your legal options
- Gathering evidence needed to support your legal claim, such as accident reports, medical records, equipment maintenance records, eyewitness statements, and employer safety protocols
- Bringing in expert witnesses and specialists to provide additional support for your legal claim
- Deposing eyewitnesses, co-workers, the property owner, your employer, and other parties
- Filing your claim(s) with your employer’s insurance company and/or the local court clerk
- Fighting for your best interests during case-related hearings, negotiations, appeals, and/or at trial, if necessary
You don’t have to navigate the aftermath and stress of a construction accident on your own. Count on our construction accident attorneys in Joliet to provide the support you need to move forward. We’ll take your case on a contingency fee basis, so there will be absolutely no cost to hire our law firm until we’ve recovered compensation for you.
Contact our law office in Joliet, IL, to get started. There’s no charge for your initial case evaluation.
Representing Joliet Construction Workers Who’ve Been Injured in All Types of Job Site Accidents
Construction is one of the most dangerous jobs in the state of Illinois. In 2022, 27 construction workers were killed on the job, which marked a 42 percent increase over the prior year.
Thousands more suffer serious injuries because of:
- Scaffolding accidents
- Ladder accidents
- Hoist accidents
- Crane accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Demolition accidents
- Excavation accidents
- Building collapse accidents
- Drilling accidents
- Roofing accidents
- Power tool accidents
- Punch press accidents
- Transportation accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
If you’ve been injured because of an accident on a construction site in Joliet, don’t hesitate to call Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your case. Our team is here to listen to your story, help you understand your potential legal options, and support a successful claim for compensation.
What Are the Leading Causes of Construction Accidents, Injuries, and Deaths?
Falls are, by far, the single greatest cause of construction worker injuries and deaths. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 986 construction-related deaths were reported across the United States in 2021. Falls accounted for 38 percent of these fatalities.
Joining falls on OSHA’s “Fatal Four” – which are the top causes of construction worker fatalities – are electrocution, being crushed by an object, and getting caught in/between an object.
How is it possible that workers can fall, suffer electrocutions, or get struck by objects on Joliet construction sites? After all, construction operations must comply with strict safety regulations established by Illinois lawmakers and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
Unfortunately, most construction accidents, injuries, and deaths result from employer violations of these safety laws. Employers cut corners to save on labor, money, and time, and workplace safety suffers as a result.
Violations include:
- Failing to provide workers with necessary safety equipment
- Negligently constructing scaffolds and other elevated platforms
- Failing to inspect work equipment regularly
- Providing workers with defective tools and equipment
- Failing to inspect work conditions regularly, leading to unsafe conditions (e.g., slip and fall hazards and falling objects)
It’s important to understand exactly why and how your construction accident happened. Our Joliet construction accident attorneys are prepared to investigate your case, determine the underlying cause, and help you advocate for the full financial award you need to recover and move forward with your life.
Will I Qualify For Workers’ Compensation Benefits If I’ve Been Hurt in a Construction Accident?
There’s a good chance. Illinois requires all employers with at least one employee to maintain workers’ compensation insurance. In nearly all instances, construction businesses must obtain insurance.
Workers’ compensation benefits can be awarded to employees who sustain job-related injuries in the course of their employment.
Benefits can include compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Lost wages – including compensation for both temporary and/or permanent disability
- Funeral expenses if a construction accident is fatal
Workers’ compensation only pays for certain types of economic damages, which are intended to offset the financial costs associated with a construction accident. What’s more, wage replacement benefits will only offset a fraction of your lost income after you’re hurt on a Joliet job site. If you want to recover the full extent of your damages, you’ll need to consider filing a civil personal injury lawsuit against a liable third party.
Can I Sue My Employer For My Construction Accident Injuries?
Not if you recover workers’ compensation. However, you will reserve the right to sue someone else if their wrongful actions or negligence contributed to your construction accident injuries.
Potentially liable third parties might include a/an:
- Property owner
- Vehicle motorist
- Equipment manufacturer
- General contractor
- Architect
- Engineer
Through a construction accident lawsuit, you’ll be able to request economic and non-economic damages, including money for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and job benefits
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing care
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Physical scarring
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of companionship
Punitive damages may also be available if your construction accident lawsuit goes to trial. There, a jury could decide that the defendant’s conduct was intentional or malicious and order them to pay additional compensation as a punishment.
Common Construction Accident Injuries
At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we fight for construction workers who’ve sustained severe injuries on the job, including:
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Chest injuries
- Nerve damage
- Crushing injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated disc injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Brain injuries
- Concussions
- Eye injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Make sure to report your construction accident and resulting injuries to your employer right away. Then, seek prompt medical care. Once you’ve received medical treatment, reach out to our Joliet personal injury attorneys to discuss the details of your construction accident case.
Can Shared Fault Limit My Ability to Get Compensation After an Illinois Construction Accident?
Maybe.
Illinois’ modified comparative fault statute won’t apply to workers’ compensation claims. You can receive full benefits even if you share responsibility for your construction accident.
However, shared fault will affect a civil lawsuit for damages. Damages are reduced proportionately to fault if you’re 50% or less responsible. Once shared fault exceeds half, you forfeit the right to compensation from another liable party.
What is the Deadline For Filing a Construction Accident Claim in Illinois?
It depends.
Workers’ compensation claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations, while matters of civil personal injury litigation are subject to a two-year statute of limitations.
There could be exceptions. You must file your claim within the applicable statute of limitations if you want to reserve the right to get compensation.
Schedule a Time For a Free Case Review With an Experienced Joliet Construction Accident Lawyer
Call Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys after a construction accident in Joliet, Illinois. Our Joliet construction accident attorneys are top-rated legal advocates who’ve helped clients win tens of millions in monetary awards from insurance companies, at-fault individuals, and manufacturers.
Now, we’re prepared to invest the full force of our personal injury law firm into your fight for compensation, too.
We provide a free case evaluation, so contact our Joliet law office to get started.