Chicago Construction Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Construction sites are one of the most dangerous worksites of any industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) repeatedly verifies as much each year when it evaluates the overall safety of all industries. Falls, struck by object accidents, caught-in/between accidents, and electrical accidents are among the most common and the most dangerous accidents on construction sites, according to OSHA.

Our law firm is ready to work on any construction injury case, though. If you suffered an on-the-job injury, then we know how to pursue workers’ compensation benefits for you.

Different injuries and illnesses often suffered by construction workers include:

• Head injuries
• Back injuries
• Knee injuries
• Repetitive strain injuries
• Occupational illnesses
• Crush injuries

A roadblock in many construction injury cases is figuring out if the injured construction worker has workers’ compensation. Many people in the construction industry are not employees. Instead, they are technically independent contractors who are hired to do one specific task on a jobsite. Under Illinois law, most employers do not have to provide workers’ compensation for independent contracts that they employ, which means that many construction workers are not provided this important insurance coverage.

Our Chicago construction worker injury lawyers can analyze your employment contract and your job duties to see if you are correctly classified as an employee or an independent contractor. If you are doing the work of an employee, even if you aren’t called one on the employment contract, then you could still be owed workers’ compensation benefits if you get hurt while working.

Another important consideration for construction injury cases is the addition of a workers’ union. Many construction workers belong to unions that collect nominal fees out of their paychecks for support and representation during any conflicts or meetings with their employer. Some of these unions may even offer guidance for how to get workers’ compensation after an on-the-job injury.

It is important to understand that many unions use a cut-and-dry approach to workers’ compensation cases. They offer basic support – possibly from someone who is not familiar with the laws behind Illinois workers’ comp – and expect the injured worker to take whatever benefits are immediately offered. If you want to fight for benefits more befitting your situation, then you might have to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer for yourself.