Construction sites are common in large cities like Chicago. When equipment and materials involved in construction projects are mishandled or neglected, people who are working onsite can be injured. Falling objects pose one such risk for construction workers.
If you or someone you love has been injured by a falling object, do not wait. You may be entitled to significant financial compensation for the costs resulting from your construction site injury.
A personal injury trial lawyer at Hale & Monico can help. Our legal team is dedicated to pursuing justice for injury victims in Chicago.
We have recovered millions in compensation for our clients, and we will fight diligently for you. If you have experienced a construction site injury, make sure to contact a skilled attorney at Hale & Monico as soon as possible.
Steps to Take After a Falling Object Accident
In the minutes following an accident, most people feel confused and overwhelmed. This is completely normal.
Construction accident victims may face painful injuries, skyrocketing medical bills, and an inability to work while they recover. If you have sustained these types of personal and economic harms, make sure to speak with an attorney.
A skilled Chicago injury lawyer will review the facts of your case and help you determine the best path forward. You could have several legal options depending on the facts of your falling object accident.
Suing Your Employer
In some instances, construction workers may be able to bring a civil lawsuit against their employer following an injury, but this is rare.
In most cases, employees must apply for workers’ compensation benefits in order to recover financially. When you accept workers’ comp benefit payments, you forego the option of filing suit against your employer.
You can only sue your employer if they were grossly negligent or do not have the legally required workers’ compensation insurance. Speaking with a legal professional will help you understand your options in detail.
Securing Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If your construction site falling object accident occurred while you were on the job, you might be entitled to earned benefits. A Chicago falling object attorney can help you apply for the workers’ compensation payments that you are owed.
Workers’ compensation payments are intended to cover the following financial losses:
- Lost income and wages from missing work
- Current and future medical care costs
- Disability payments
It is important to understand that workers’ compensation benefits do not cover non-economic losses, including:
- Pain and suffering
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Mental anguish
- Decreased quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Embarrassment
In order to recover financial compensation for non-economic losses, victims must pursue a third-party legal claim.
Filing a Third-Party Lawsuit After a Falling Object Accident
If you have been struck by a falling object on a work site, you may be required to seek financial recovery through the workers’ compensation program. However, some construction site accidents are the fault of a negligent party other than your employer.
If a third party is responsible for the damages you sustained, you might have a case for a personal injury lawsuit. Some of the parties that are commonly liable for falling object accidents on construction sites are:
- Equipment providers or manufacturers
- Subcontractors
- Vehicle operators or drivers
A knowledgeable Chicago personal injury attorney will help you determine liability in your construction accident case. In some cases, more than one party may be responsible for the harm you sustained.
Do not allow negligent individuals or organizations to go unchallenged. Seek legal advice from one of the compassionate tort attorneys at Hale & Monico.
Calculating the Value of Your Legal Claim
Most victims of personal injuries do not have experience determining the value of an accident claim. Because of this, greedy insurance companies often attempt to undermine or devalue valid injury claims.
A knowledgeable legal professional can help you calculate the amount of compensation you can hope to recover. You should not settle for less than your case is worth.
Some of the factors that will influence the value of your claim include:
- The nature and severity of your injury
- The costs of your current and past medical care
- The anticipated expenses for future treatments
- Your ability or inability to work after the accident
- Your injury’s impact on your day-to-day life
- The emotional effects of your injuries
When you hire legal representation at Hale & Monico, your lawyer will collect relevant evidence to support your claim. We will work diligently as we seek to recover the compensation that you are rightfully owed.
Contact Hale & Monico Today
If you have been injured by a falling object on a construction site, contact Hale & Monico as soon as possible. Our firm has a long history of successfully representing injury and accident victims.
We will work tirelessly to recover the level of financial compensation that you deserve. Contact our Chicago personal injury attorneys today.