Wheaton Construction Accidents

Work Injury Lawyers Serving Wheaton

Wheaton is a suburb of Chicago and is considered one of the best places to live in Illinois. The city is located in DuPage County and home to approximately 53,000 residents. There are over fifty parks in the area that people can enjoy. Some of these parks include Albright Park, Brighton Park, Clydesdale Park, Madison Park, Orchard Park, and Willow Point Conservatory. Working at a construction site is dangerous anywhere, and Wheaton is no exception. If you or someone you love has been injured through working construction, a seasoned Wheaton construction accident attorney can help you understand your legal options. At Therman Law Offices, we are dedicated to vigorously pursuing our clients’ claims to make sure injured workers are seeking the benefits and damages they deserve.

Illinois Construction Accidents

Construction is a notoriously dangerous industry. Workers routinely handle heavy machinery, dangerous equipment, work at great heights, and deal with a number of hazards at construction sites. Even when construction workers take all the safety precautions, they can be the victims of serious accidents. Construction accidents have a number of causes including, but not limited to:

• Workers being caught in between or under equipment or building materials;
• Falls from unsecured ladders, staircases or scaffolding;
• Untrained workers operating heavy machinery;
• Exposure to toxic substances or dangerous materials;
• Slip and falls or trip and falls due to objects in the path of a worker;
• Machinery malfunctions;
• Electrocution or injuries from faulty electrical work or exposed wires.

Workers’ Compensation in Illinois

When a construction worker is injured at work, he or she cannot sue the employer in most instances, but a construction accident attorney in Wheaton can still help you pursue financial compensation. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act typically covers all illnesses and injuries that are caused, in whole or part, by the employee’s work regardless of who was at fault for the illness or injury. This includes pre-existing conditions that are made worse by the employee’s job and work-related injuries sustained outside the workplace. Under Illinois law, injured workers are entitled to the following benefits:

• Coverage for all reasonable medical bills, hospital bills and rehabilitation costs associated with treatment for your injuries;
• Compensation for wages lost as a result of missing time from work due to your injury;
• Disability benefits depending on the nature and extent of your injury;
• Job retraining and vocational rehabilitation; and
• Death benefits for a deceased employee’s surviving spouse and children.

Third Party Claims

As mentioned earlier, an injured worker is generally barred from pursuing a civil claim against their employer. However, if a third party, meaning someone other than your colleague or employer, caused or contributed to the accident that caused your injuries, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against that party, and a Wheaton construction accident lawyer can help. For example, in cases where defective safety equipment or faulty materials were the cause of the injury on the construction site, an employee may be able to file a product liability case against the manufacturer or seller of the flawed product.

It is important to note that by pursuing a third party claim, an injured worker may be able to recover additional damages that are not available under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, such as compensation for pain and suffering. As such, the damages amount in personal injury claims tends to be higher than what is typically awarded through workers’ compensation. Of course, every claim is different and the exact amount of damages a person will be entitled to will vary depending on the specifics of that case.

Knowledgeable Construction Accident Attorneys in Wheaton

Construction accidents can lead to serious and long-term injuries. If you have been injured on a work site, an experienced construction accident lawyer who can help. At Therman Law Offices, we have consistently fought for the rights of Wheaton and Illinois construction workers, and can potentially do the same for you. These accidents are complex, and having an experienced attorney on your side can help you navigate the legal system. For more information, call us today at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.