Construction Injuries in Downtown Chicago: Why Skyscrapers Create Unique Legal Issues

Skyscrapers create unique legal issues due to the high risks of injury and death on the job that workers face when working at towering heights and the legal complications surrounding liability for construction injuries. Illinois laws, the multiple parties involved, and complex insurance policies make navigating these cases more challenging.
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Skilled legal representation can help you navigate construction injuries in downtown Chicago. Call the construction injury lawyers at DePaolo Zadeikis & Pino, LLC at 312-263-7560 for a free case evaluation.
Why Construction Sites in Downtown Chicago Present Higher Injury Risks
Construction is one of the most dangerous industries for workers in Illinois and the rest of the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry accounted for 21% of fatal work injuries in Illinois in 2023. Downtown Chicago is an ever-increasing forest of skyscrapers, with new ones continuing to be erected and old ones being torn down for repairs and updates.
New skyscrapers create job opportunities in the construction industry and other related industries. However, these sites are rife with grave risks that can cause severe injuries or even death. Common causes of construction worker injuries include:
Falls
With construction sites being several hundred feet tall, workers perform their jobs high above the ground, which poses a risk of serious falls from heights. Falls can also involve slip and fall injuries and collapses of scaffolding or ladders. Ladder cages are not safe and, thereby, don’t provide adequate fall protection.
Heavy Machinery
Skyscraper construction requires large, complicated machinery and tools. Heavy machinery and falling tools, debris, or building materials can strike workers, as well as passersby, causing severe injuries. Improper use of equipment or a malfunction can lead to crush injuries.
Electrocution
Defective power tools and machinery, exposed electrical components, and contact with live electrical wires create the risk of electrocution.
The Legal Complexities of Skyscraper Construction Injuries in Downtown Chicago
Several complexities come into play when a construction accident that results in injuries occurs in downtown Chicago. These include:
How a Worker Is Classified
Whether a worker is classified as an employee or independent contractor affects the course of action a victim can take after a construction accident. Understanding the difference between workers’ compensation and personal injury claims enables you to take the right steps to receive compensation.
Workers’ compensation provides benefits to employees for work-related illnesses or injuries. You don’t have to establish fault to be eligible for benefits. If a third party, such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner, played a part in causing your injuries, you can also file a claim against them. Non-workers who sustain injuries on a construction site can file personal injury claims or lawsuits against the responsible parties.
Independent contractors aren’t covered by workers’ compensation. A complex situation may arise when a worker sustains construction injuries on the job, and a company doesn’t consider them an employee despite the worker’s efforts benefiting the company. A company may argue that the injured worker isn’t a direct employee and, thus, isn’t covered by the company’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. As an employee, you may also face challenges after sustaining a construction injury when your employer alleges that you weren’t acting within the scope of your employment duties at the time of the construction accident. Your employer can use this as a reason to deny you workers’ compensation benefits.
Multiple Parties Are Involved
Large construction sites like skyscrapers are usually complex workplaces. The work being performed is usually advanced, high-pressure, and involves a large workforce. Multiple employers often have possession or control of the site concurrently. When a construction accident occurs, more than one party could be liable. As a result, determining the parties liable for construction injuries in downtown Chicago can be complicated.
Duty to Prove Liability
A challenge injured workers must also overcome is proving the liability of the third parties responsible for their accidents. You’ll need to prove the liability of third parties even as you recover from your Chicago construction injuries. That typically requires investigations and gathering documentary evidence, such as medical records and records showing you were working at the time of the accident, and testimonial evidence, such as statements made by eyewitnesses and accident reconstructionists.
How a Construction Injury Lawyer Can Help You Navigate Skyscraper Accidents
An experienced construction injury lawyer in Chicago understands construction injuries, workers’ compensation, and court systems. When you consult an experienced local lawyer, the lawyer will examine the details of your case, determine your legal options, and answer questions you may have, including common ones like “Can I get disability after a workers’ comp settlement?”
Your construction accident attorney will investigate your case thoroughly and compile crucial evidence, such as witness statements, safety reports, and physical evidence like damaged equipment. Your attorney may work with other professionals, such as accident reconstructionists and skyscraper construction safety experts, to build a strong case on your behalf.
In most cases, you’ll likely have a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation lawyers will help you file a claim and ensure you submit it within the set deadlines, protecting your right to compensation. If there are third parties who may be responsible for your construction accident, your lawyer will work diligently to identify them and help you hold them accountable through third-party personal injury claims.
Working with a construction injury lawyer increases your chances of receiving the amount of compensation you need. Your lawyer will take the time to understand your injuries and their impact on the quality of your life. He or she will review your accident report, medical records, employment records, and other important documents and work with experts like medical professionals and financial experts to evaluate the full extent of damages suffered accurately. With this information, your lawyer will pursue the fullest compensation possible through settlement negotiations or litigating your case in court if necessary.
At DePaolo Zadeikis & Pino, we’ve helped construction injury victims in Chicago secure compensation for their injuries through workers’ compensation and third-party claims for more than 30 years. We don’t charge you attorney fees until we win your case. Contact us for a free consultation about your construction accident case.