Illinois construction accident attorneys know that a construction accident can forever change a family.  They understand the physical, emotional and financial pain that an injured construction worker can experience and they recognize the intense loss felt by family members whose loved one is killed in a construction accident.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released the final statistics concerning 2007 occupational fatalities.  In 2007, 1,172 people died while working in the construction industry.  The most common cause of death was falls followed by transportation incidents, contact with objects and equipment, exposure to harmful substances or environments, assaults or violent acts and fire and explosions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that 2.8% of full time construction workers were injured badly enough to miss work or take a job transfer or job restriction.

The Responsibility of Construction Industry Employers

Construction employers have a duty off care to provide reasonably safe work environments for their employees.  That means that they should follow the recommendations of the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), industry standards and common sense when establishing and maintaining their construction sites and outfitting their employees with safety equipment.

In order for a construction employee or his or her surviving family members to prevail in a lawsuit against an employer, they must prove that:

  • The employer breached its duty of care by failing to act like a reasonable construction employer would act in similar circumstances.  For example, if industry regulations and common sense require an employer to have a fire extinguisher on site and the employer did not have a fire extinguisher present when a worker was hurt in a fire then the employer may have breached its duty of care;
  • The employer’s breach of its duty of care caused the employee’s injuries.  In the example provided above, the plaintiff would need to prove his or her fire injuries were caused by the employer’s negligence; and
  • The plaintiff is entitled to damages as a matter of law.

Hiring Illinois Construction Accident Lawyers

Construction accidents can be life changing.  An injured party may no longer be able to earn a livelihood in his or her chosen profession.  He or she may be permanently disabled.  Worse yet, a life may be lost.

Your Illinois construction accident attorney can advise you as to your legal rights and options.  It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident so that important evidence is maintained and so that any lawsuits can be filed before the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Dolan Law Offices represents plaintiffs in construction accidents throughout Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area, including Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County, and the towns of Aurora, Addison, Chicago Heights, Joliet, Hillsdale, Plainfield, Rolling Meadows, Des Plains, Schaumburg, Palatine, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Wheaton, Waukegan, Inverness, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Bartlett, Itasca, Bloomingdale and Oak Park.

Please contact us today for a free consultation.  The Chicago construction accident attorneys of Dolan Law Offices will not collect a fee from you unless your case results in a monetary verdict or settlement.