Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Workers in Chicago often take on tasks without a second thought. They show up on time, do their job, and then go home, all to support themselves and their families. And in exchange for their efforts, these workers are compensated with wages and in some cases additional benefits by their employers which make the time spent on the job worthwhile.
But what happens when something goes wrong at the workplace? This is a scenario that construction workers in Chicago know all too well as there are numerous incidents on construction sites each year involving employees. Often, those incidents result in injuries to the workers who are involved or to others who may be on the site at the time, potentially leading to the need for medical treatment and time missed from work.
Being injured while working is very unfortunate but it does not have to be the end of the story for a victim. Instead, laws in Illinois allow hurt workers to seek relief through the use of a workers’ compensation claim for the harm that they sustained as well as their other damages, whatever those may be. Typically, a worker who is hurt is entitled to receive all necessary medical treatment at an employer’s expense as well as compensation for the time that he or she will be unable to work. Additionally, many victims deserve pay for things like pain and suffering and their inconvenience in the form of a lump sum, and if injuries are deemed to be permanent, greater payment may be proper. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you realize what relief may be possible in your case if you suffered while working.
While it is good that victims can get relief from Chicago workplace injuries, the best option is to understand why accidents happen in the first place so that they can be avoided whenever possible.
Among all types of employees, construction workers experience one of the highest incidents of on-the-job injuries per 1,000 employees. Some of the reasons are easy to understand but others are complicated and require an in-depth review for the full facts to come to light.
First, many work sites contain obvious dangers and hazards that an employee may come across during his or her shift. One prime example of this is the presence of heavy machinery which may be used by anyone on the site in an effort to perform a number of tasks from erection to demolition. This machinery, when used properly, can take an impossible task and make it possible and it can save hundreds of man-hours during the building process. But if an employee fails to exercise safety while operating a machine, that employee and/or others may be hurt, causing them to suffer due to their jobs.
Along those lines is another hazard that is present at many construction sites. As workers in this industry tend to deal with incomplete or ongoing projects, sites are often in a state of disrepair or incompletion which can make them inherently dangerous. An example is when a large building begins construction. In Chicago, the first step generally is to dig out an area for the foundation or for any subfloors to be laid. To do this, a large hole ends up in the ground that would not be there if construction was not taking place, and the hole can become dangerous if an employee slips and falls into it. This happens with some regularity when a job site is improperly marked or the hazard is not identified with caution tape or another type of barrier.
In addition to some threats that are unique to construction workers, they tend to face the same issues as other workers which increasing their odds of having an accident. Tripping and falling on the site of a construction project happens when tools, products, and other debris is not properly maintained or stored and can lead an employee to sustain injuries. Common harm that stems from a tripping incident includes broken or fractured bones, lacerations to the skin, bruising, injuries to the knees and wrists, and head injuries.
Like many other types of employees, construction workers sometimes need to drive for the job and anything that happens on the road while that worker is on-the-clock can be a job-related incident. Car accidents, truck collisions, and even crashes with a pedestrian may affect a worker who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time or who may be operating under poor instructions from a supervisor.
Those who work in construction have rights if they find themselves the victims of an accident. If you have questions, speaking with a personal injury attorney may be a good place to start so that you can get the assistance you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Why Back and Neck Injuries after a Car Accident Should Never Be Ignored, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 17, 2016.