Few people in the Chicago area realize how the laws of the state are designed to protect injured workers, and as a result, when people are hurt, they may not realize that they can be compensated for their damages. But regardless of the industry in which you work, you are protected under the law if you are hurt while on-the-clock and that may entitle you to bring a claim for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and wages you missed while you were unable to work. When in doubt, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you realize whether you are covered and if so, what relief may be possible in your case.
Before it ever gets to the point of a claim for injuries, it is a good idea to understand some of the typical ways in which injuries occur at a job site so that steps can be taken to avoid those injuries whenever possible. Among all the commonly reported incidents in Chicago, falls are some of the most frequent type of accident that leads to harm. Unlike some injuries, falls can happen at any type of job and in any setting from an office to a construction site. This means that anyone who works in the greater Chicago area may be at risk for an on-the-job fall, though some workers face a greater risk than others.
Unfortunately, many employed by the Chicago Transit Authority face the risk of falls on a daily basis, especially those who perform maintenance and construction on the elevated tracks. As the CTA trains utilize 224.1 miles of tracks each day, there are countless spots that are in need of repair at any time. Some of these tracks are underground and therefore may not pose a falling risk but many are elevated as they snake their way through the city, requiring workers to operate above the ground and without anything below them to ensure safety.
Construction workers are also at a significant risk for falls on the job site as the nature of their work dictates that falls may be possible. Certain types of projects, like excavations and foundation work, may involve the creation of a fall hazard as the surface of a plot of land is altered. Other types of projects, like renovation work, may involve the use of scaffolding around an existing or emerging structure. However it arises, if there is a difference between the elevation of where a worker stands and the elevation of the ground nearby, a fall is possible.
In Illinois, buildings tend to be multi-leveled to increase the capacity of the structure without taking up a greater footprint. With additional levels comes additional stairways, another common hazard that leads to falls. Maintenance workers, doormen, security guards, and custodians are some common professions that may involve the use of stairways and that may pose an unusually high risk of falling.
No matter what the profession is in which you work, if you were involved in an on-the-job accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation and the legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. wants to help. We offer a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation to victims who call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we keep a licensed lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you have questions or if you are looking for help, call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us get to work for you.
Prior Blog Entry:
New Technology Could Prevent Half of All Chicago Car Accidents, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 7, 2015.