Chicago Construction Accident Lawyer

From falling demolition debris to precariously placed 2x4s and I-beams, many types of building materials may fall and strike someone at a construction site. Hard hats, eye protection, and other safety equipment should be used to prevent “struck by” injuries, which can cause brain injury, paralysis and even death.

Electrocution is considered one of OSHA's four major construction hazards, and failing to maintain electrical safety standards exposes construction crews to this grave risk. All electrical circuitry—internal wiring, ​​overhead electrical, inside and outside lighting—must be installed by a licensed electrician. Electrocution injuries can cause pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, and movement difficulty, as well as electrical burns.

Backhoes, loaders, bulldozers, trenchers, pile drivers, compactors: any type of large machinery can pose an even larger risk to construction crew members. Construction companies must train operators to prevent user error, and maintain all machinery to prevent product malfunctions. Poorly marked sites, uneven flooring, and maintenance issues can all contribute to a machinery accident.

Construction sites are common places to see a wide variety of explosive materials. From natural gas to propane and oil, flammable material must be treated with the utmost caution. Without adhering to appropriate safety standards,  to maintain appropriate safety standards around dangerous goods can mean chemical burns, eye injuries, or worse. 

Slip-and-fall injuries are not limited to construction sites; many premises liability cases stem from uneven floors, unmarked stairs, poor lighting, and other hazards that may be present in the building. On construction sites, slip-and-fall accidents may be the result of wet floors, floor castors for moving heavy material, or stairwells that are not up to code. Slip-and-fall injuries can cause broken bones, back injuries, and more.

Building collapses can be profoundly devastating. In one of the most extreme types of construction accident injury, a building can collapse accidentally, or prematurely if demolition has been improperly executed. When a building collapses, both the property owner and the construction company may be found liable. 

Many people don’t realize that the air quality in many construction sites can be just as dangerous as any piece of heavy machinery or exposed wire. Anyone exposed to particulate matter, even for a short time, can develop a number of respiratory conditions as a result. Formaldehyde, mold, dust, silica, as well as any dangerous chemicals used in the production or treatment of building materials, can pose a risk.

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, occur after an impact or violent jostling to the head. TBIs resulting from construction site accidents are often concurrent with other types of construction accident injury, including motor vehicle injuries, “struck by object” injuries, or falls. Because of the complicated nature of these cases, an experienced Chicago traumatic brain injury attorney should always represent your case.

Cranes can be used on construction sites to hoist heavy materials up several stories. Cranes have a high fulcrum and wide moment arm, and all too often, some element of poor visibility for the user. Injuries may result if the crane operator cannot see how their crane load is oriented, or if the wind or inclement weather causes the load to swing. Operator error, poor training, and crane machinery malfunctions can all increase the risk of a serious accident.

Forklifts are among the most common types of machinery on construction sites; they are relatively light and mobile but have high load capacity. Forklift operation requires extensive training and healthy vigilance for one’s forklift load, surroundings, and blind spots. Not all forklift accidents can be avoided through user caution, however; poor training, defective machinery, and improperly marked weight call all result in this type of construction workplace injury.

Construction sites may require the digging of trenches for plumbing, foundation setting, underground wiring or similar. OSHA requires employers to provide ladders, steps, ramps, or other safe means of egress for workers working in trench excavations 4 feet (1.22 meters) or deeper. Trench accidents occur when workers get trapped while working in trenches or are struck by falling objects while working below ground level.