Construction sites are some of the most dangerous workplaces. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 20% of all work-related deaths are in the construction industry. As per OSHA, here are the most common causes of serious construction accident injuries and deaths:
- Slip-and-falls, trip-and-falls and falls from heights.
- Being struck by a falling object.
- Electrical accidents.
- Getting stuck or crushed in between two objects.
Workers’ Compensation
The
general rule is that workers’
compensation benefits are the sole and
exclusive remedy for injured construction workers who are injured in
the course and scope of their employment. Those benefits typically
cover the following:
- Reasonable and necessary medical bills in connection with the accident and injury.
- Temporary total disability benefits in an amount equal to two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wages during a period of incapacitation when the victim is unable to work.
- A lump sum award for any permanent partial disability.
The
Third-Party Liability Exception
What comes to issue
is that workers’ compensation benefits are limited, and they don’t
compensate for all of the damages that a personal injury settlement
or verdict might cover. That’s why thorough Chicago construction
injury lawyers always look for third-party liability on workers’
compensation cases.
If third-party liability is discovered,
the injured worker can bring a personal injury lawsuit at the same
time that workers’ compensation benefits are being paid. For example,
if a laborer from ABC Construction is injured as a result of the
carelessness and negligence of an electrician from XYZ Electrical
Contractors, then it’s likely that third-party liability exists. A
third-party liability case might pay damages in a greater amount than
any workers’ compensation benefits that an injured construction
worker might receive.
If you were injured in an accident on a
construction site, contact a Chicago construction injury lawyer here
at the Shea
Law Group at 877-365-0040 to arrange for
a free consultation and case review. You can also use our contact
form at our website. If we think third-party liability might exist in
your case, then we will advise you accordingly.
