Were you injured on a construction site in Wheaton, IL? Call Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys at (630) 690-1919 to get help with the legal issues. An experienced Wheaton construction accident lawyer can fight to ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible.
We’re here to help you stand up to the insurance companies. Call our law offices in Wheaton, Illinois, to schedule your free consultation today.
Why Trust Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys to Help Me Recover Compensation After a Construction Accident in Wheaton?
Personal injury victims in Illinois trust Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys because we’ve dedicated our careers to helping ordinary people take on powerful insurance companies–and we’ve won.
Our Wheaton personal injury lawyers have decades of experience advocating on behalf of injured clients. When you hire us, you’re hiring a team that’s already recovered over $100 million in compensation for our clients.
For our efforts, we’ve been recognized with:
- Over 600 Google reviews from satisfied clients
- Super Lawyers rating
- A perfect-10 Avvo lawyer rating
Our Wheaton personal injury attorneys have been nationally recognized and listed among the National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 40” civil trial law firms. These awards matter because they’re all based on our dedication to providing the highest possible quality legal services.
We are prepared to start fighting for you from day one. Whether your employer is challenging your right to benefits, your check doesn’t seem quite right, or you just want to ensure you understand your options, we’re here to help.
Call today for your free consultation with our Wheaton construction accident attorneys.
What Are My Options After a Construction Accident in Illinois?
Unlike many injury victims, injured employees in Illinois have two possible avenues for recovering compensation:
- Workers’ compensation claims
- Personal injury claims
Workers’ compensation insurance typically covers nearly every Illinois employee.
Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, you’re entitled to workers’ comp benefits if:
- An Illinois employer hired you as their employee
- You were injured in the course of employment (because of something work-related)
After an injury that prevents you from working, you’ll immediately file a workers’ compensation claim. Our lawyers can help with the paperwork. We can also evaluate your rights under Illinois personal injury laws.
When Are Personal Injury Claims an Option for Injured Construction Workers?
Some construction injury victims have both workers’ compensation and personal injury claims.
With workplace accidents, you can’t sue your employer. That’s true even if they were responsible for your accident. By purchasing workers’ compensation insurance, they’re protected from lawsuits.
Third-party claims remain an option. Say you were injured because a subcontractor failed to install the scaffolding properly. If you were injured when the scaffolding collapsed, you can sue the contractor for their negligence.
Personal injury lawsuits remain an option if anyone other than your employer or their employees was responsible.
How Much Money is My Wheaton Construction Accident Case Worth?
Your workers’ compensation case value depends on:
- The type of disability you have suffered
- Your average wages prior to the disability
- Whether you can perform restricted duties and earn some income even with the injury
- The length of your recovery
- Whether your earnings remain limited even after reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI)
- Whether your injuries are temporary or permanent
If you can’t work for at least three days, you’ll start to receive weekly wage replacement checks.
That check covers two-thirds of your income before the disability. The amount of your check is always subject to a statewide cap, regardless of your prior earnings. The weekly maximum varies depending on when your injury occurred.
The identity of the at-fault party is also relevant to the money you ultimately receive. Construction accident victims who win personal injury cases tend to take home more money. Personal injury laws allow you to seek compensation for a broader range of losses.
Before taking any insurance settlement (from workers’ comp or otherwise), it’s always important to consult an experienced attorney who will evaluate the unique details of your case.
What Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available to Construction Accident Victims in Wheaton?
Illinois workers’ compensation provides benefits for:
- All reasonable medical expenses, including ER visits, hospitalization, surgeries, follow-up care, medications, etc.
- Disability benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits, if you can work once you reach MMI but must retrain for a new line of work
- Death benefits in fatal injury cases
Available disability benefits, of course, depend on the nature of your disability.
Disability benefits include:
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits if you cannot work during recovery
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits if your earnings are reduced during recovery, but you can earn some income
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) if your earnings remain reduced even after reaching MMI
- Permanent total disability (PTD), typically because you’re unable to ever work again
You don’t have to prove fault to receive these workers’ compensation benefits. Still, remember that they aren’t automatic. Your employer and their insurance company will have to approve them.
What Damages Are Available in Personal Injury Cases?
Any economic or non-economic loss can be recovered in a personal injury claim, including:
- Your lost wages and job benefits
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Medical expenses denied by workers’ comp
To recover these additional damages, you must have proof of liability. Our Wheaton construction accident attorneys will carefully review the facts. We have the tools to help you determine whether you have the right to additional damages.
What Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Illinois?
At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we work on a contingency fee basis. Our fees depend on the amount of compensation we recover for you. We take a percentage when we successfully negotiate a settlement or win a verdict.
Can I Still Receive Compensation if Someone Blames Me for Causing a Construction Accident in Illinois?
Typically, yes. Illinois’ shared fault laws do not usually impact the value of workers’ compensation benefits.
If you’re filing a personal injury lawsuit, the other side might try blaming you. In personal injury cases, you’re generally barred from recovering compensation under Illinois law if you were more than 50% responsible. Your compensation is reduced if you were partly responsible, but the other party was mostly responsible.
Our Attorneys in Wheaton Handle All Types of Construction Accident Injury Claims
Our lawyers represent clients who have suffered all types of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Hearing damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you were injured on the job, be sure to see a doctor approved by your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance company, or consult a lawyer. While you may be able to opt out and see your own doctor, you’ll have to follow the proper procedure to do so. Otherwise, your employer may deny your medical coverage.
How Common are Construction Accidents in Illinois?
Private industry employers in Illinois reported a total of 101,400 non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses during 2023.
Roughly 4,000 of those injuries were construction-related. Regarding severity, 2,700 construction workers suffered injuries severe enough to require time away from work, job transfers, or job restrictions. Thirty Illinois construction workers died in fatal workplace accidents in 2023.
What Are the Common Types of Construction Accidents in Wheaton?
Our team handles all types of construction accident cases, including cases involving:
- Scaffolding accidents and falls
- Slip and fall accidents
- Ladder falls
- Heavy machinery accidents, including crane and forklift accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Dangerous property conditions
- Defective work tools or equipment
- Demolition accidents
- Lack of proper safety protection
- Fires or explosions
- Electrocution
- Building collapse
- Welding accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Falling objects
- Getting caught between two objects
If you were injured in a construction site accident, we’re here to handle every aspect of your case.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation for Construction Accident Injuries in Illinois?
In the workers’ compensation context, you’ll only have to prove that you were injured on the job and classified as an employee, not an independent contractor.
Personal injury cases typically require proof of negligence. Negligence means that someone failed to use a reasonable amount of caution, and you were hurt because of it.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Construction Accident in Illinois?
You typically have 45 days from the date of the construction accident to notify your employer. You risk losing your workers’ comp benefits if you wait any longer. In personal injury cases, you usually have two years to file a lawsuit in Illinois.
Your lawyer can ensure that your claim is filed on time so that you don’t lose your right to valuable workers’ compensation benefits and damages.
Contact Our Wheaton Construction Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Contact our lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today if you were injured on a construction site. An experienced Wheaton construction accident lawyer can help you make the most of your compensation award.
