CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS
McDermott & McDermott, Ltd. provides hope to victims of construction accidents through aggressive, knowledgeable representation of their interests as well as their rights to proper compensation.
It has been estimated that over 9 million people (nationwide) work in the construction industry. U.S. workers employed in the construction industry make up approximately 6 percent of this country's workforce. The United States Department of Labor (OSHA) published statistics showing that in the year 2015, there were, on average, more than 93 fatalities per week occurring in private industry; and of these known fatalities, 21.4% of these fatalities occurred in the construction industry. Simple math tells us that the construction industry hold an unreasonably high level of danger (construction workers only constitute 6% of the workforce, yet sustain 21.4% of the deaths!) because this industry has the largest number of work-related deaths of any American industry sector. This alarming statistic does not address the alarming percentage of construction-related injuries, NOT resulting in death.
Construction-related injuries come from a variety of sources. Falls, dropped equipment, cranes, overhead power lines, scaffolding, motor vehicles, and use of heavy equipment are among the most common sources. Other dangers such as carbon monoxide, confined spaces and trench cave-ins can also cause serious and even fatal injuries. Construction workers are exposed to a variety of dangerous conditions at worksites, often due to negligent and dangerous conditions and practices of architects, general contractors, subcontractors, product manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and others.
Evident from the extent, nature and numbers, a construction site accident can be extremely serious, and often causes permanent disability, loss of a limb, blindness, head injury, fractured or broken bones, amputation, scarring, and wrongful death. As of the year 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) claims that the following four (4) types of accidents comprise the “fatal four”, followed by other causes, as noted below:
- Slip &/or Falls;
- Struck by an Object;
- Electrical Injuries and Electrocution;
- Caught-in between (includes, crushed by collapsing structures, equipment or material);
- Explosions;
- Ladder or Scaffolding Accidents; and/or
- Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Often, the medical bills relating to construction accidents will be large, and there generally is a long period of disability and lost wages. Worker's compensation may pay for some of the medical bills and lost earnings, but Workers’ Compensation cannot adequately compensate an injured worker for the many permanent losses and disability arising from serious construction accidents, including (but not limited to) pain and suffering and also the oftentimes significant wage loss differential between their normal “take-home pay” and what they might receive via the Workers’ Compensation TTD.
Another problem which often arises in the “Construction Accident” area of law is that when you are injured in a construction accident, your employer may do everything in its power to prove you were at fault, and attempt to deny you fair compensation. If your employer is successful in proving fault on your part, this outcome takes away many benefits and compensation rightfully due you and financially benefits your employer/construction company. Many companies fail to follow all proper work protocols, fail to maintain properly operating equipment, fail to assign sufficient labor to accomplish necessary tasks, etc., thus creating an unsafe work environment. A company that provides an unsafe work environment has already proven its willingness to bend the rules to increase profits. You deserve an aggressive, devoted, and experienced firm of trial lawyers on your side dedicated to fighting for your right to fair benefits and fair compensation.
If you have been injured in a construction accident, it is essential that you hire qualified and experienced trial lawyers to handle your case. McDermott & McDermott, LTD. has successfully represented clients who were injured on construction sites throughout the State of Illinois for years.
Knowing that these injuries often leave our Clients incapable of travel, our Chicagoland construction accident lawyers will come to you – at your home or in the hospital, to meet with you and to begin work on your case BEFORE you make any mistake(s) which could seriously jeopardize your case by inadvertently saying something you should not have said – often while still in pain or under the influence of drugs administered to you in the hospital or by your doctor, for pain relief of the injuries. We handle cases from the initial investigation through trial. Because of our successful trial results, we are often able to get many of our Clients a fast and fair settlement of their construction accident claims.
Contact McDermott & McDermott, LTD. today for an appointment at 708-747-9440.
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