Construction sites are full of dangerous equipment and tasks that can lead to severe injuries. As an injured employee, you may be eligible to collect workers’ compensation. With the help of your Tinley Park construction accident lawyer, you might also be able to file a civil case for damages. An experienced injury attorney at The Kryder Law Group, LLC can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
What Legal Recourse Do You Have if You Suffer Injuries on the Job Site?
You may be eligible for different kinds of legal relief, depending on:
- The cause of your accident
- The party or parties responsible for the accident
- Your status as an employee, contractor, or outside party
You could qualify for compensation for your injuries from various sources.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance and Injured Employees
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides financial benefits for employees injured on the job—or those who become ill with a work-related illness or disease. These benefits are available regardless of fault. As a result, employees who suffer construction accident injuries typically would be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, no matter the circumstances.
Product and Equipment Manufacturers and Product Liability Claims
If your construction accident occurred due to a defective tool, construction equipment, or machinery, you might have a third-party product liability claim. You can file this against the insurance company of the manufacturer or other company that designed, produced, or distributed the product.
Manufacturers must only create products that are safe for consumer use. If they fail to do so and injuries result, they can be liable for the costs of those injuries.
Negligence Claims That do not Involve People Working on a Construction Site
In some cases, a construction accident may injure a non-employee, such as a subcontractor or a nearby pedestrian. Depending on the circumstances, you might have a valid third-party personal injury claim or product liability claim.
For instance, if the construction company’s negligence led to the accident that caused you injuries as a non-employee, you might have a personal injury claim against that company. A seasoned job site accident attorney could review the circumstances of your case to determine whether you have a right to file a claim.
Can You Get Compensation for Your Construction Accident Injuries?
You have options after sustaining an injury while on a construction site, including:
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation benefits cover the reasonable cost of medical care to:
- Treat your injuries
- Pay for vocational rehabilitation program costs
- Pay for varying degrees of disability benefits
These benefits can include temporary partial or total disability benefits or permanent partial or total disability benefits. Furthermore, if your loved one was an employee who suffered a work-related injury, you may be entitled to benefits.
This can include a burial benefit. Survivor benefits are approximately ⅔ of the salary of the worker for the 52 weeks before the death occurred.
Damages in a Lawsuit
If you are eligible to file a lawsuit against any parties responsible for your construction accident, you may be able to claim various types of compensation. These could include:
- Medical expenses for treatment of your injury (current and future)
- Lost income from an inability to work
- Loss of future income capacity if you are permanently unable to work
- Damages for permanent impairments to bodily functions
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma from the accident
Wrongful death construction accidents can entitle surviving family members to benefits. Some of these benefits consist of:
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Last medical expenses for the deceased
- Damages for loss of companionship from a spouse or parent
- Damages for loss of financial support
- Pain and suffering
How Our Lawyers Can Help You Build a Strong Construction Accident Case
A Tinley Park construction accident attorney from our law firm will:
- Listen to your account of the construction accident
- Determine all potential legal causes of action
- Identify the parties responsible for causing your injuries
- Properly valuate your claim
- Begin the complex process of gathering all evidence necessary to prove your claim in court
The Kryder Law Group, LLC can help you with the full range of potential legal claims that might arise from your injuries in a construction accident. Our construction injury lawyers in Tinley Park can:
- Investigate the circumstances that led to your accident
- Determine the cause of your injuries
- Pursue all responsible parties for any available compensation
How Quickly do You Have to File a Construction Accident Claim?
Different deadlines govern legal cases and claims related to construction place accidents. Whatever the situation may be, you should promptly report any workplace injuries and pursue any compensation to which you may be entitled.
Reporting Workplace Injury Claims
According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, employees injured at work should report their injuries to their employer as soon as possible after they occur. However, if they want to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, they must report their injuries to their employer within 45 days of injury.
Filing Personal Injury Claims in Court
If you have a personal injury claim against a contractor, product manufacturer, or another third party, you are subject to the time limitations outlined in 735 ILCS 5./13-202. Under this statute, you generally have only two years from the date of the accident that led to your injuries to file your personal injury claim in court.
Filing Wrongful Death Claims in Court
If you are a surviving family member of an individual who suffered fatal injuries due to construction, you might have a valid wrongful death claim.
You may be able to seek damages against a product manufacturer or a third party whose negligence led to the death of your loved one. According to 740 ILCS 180/2, you have two years from the date of death to file your wrongful death claim in court.
Seek Damages with the Help of a Tinley Park Construction Accident Attorney
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC to learn more about how we can help with your case. We offer you a free, no-obligation consultation about your case.
If we decide to pursue your case, you pay us nothing upfront. Instead, we only get paid when you receive payment for your injuries.
(312) 223-1700 