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Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for Construction Accidents

Construction work is one of the most physically demanding and dangerous jobs in Chicago. Whether you’re working on a high-rise going up along the Chicago River, a residential build in Pilsen, or a highway project on the Kennedy Expressway, the risks are real and serious. If you’ve been hurt on a construction site, you have legal rights under Illinois law, and understanding those rights is the first step toward protecting them. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is a Chicago abogado de lesiones personales firm with decades of experience helping injured workers across the Chicago area get the benefits they deserve.

Why Construction Accidents in Chicago Are So Common and So Serious
What the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act Covers for Injured Construction Workers
Common Construction Accident Injuries and How Illinois Law Addresses Them
Third-Party Claims: When You Can Pursue More Than Workers’ Compensation
Deadlines and Steps to Protect Your Illinois Workers’ Compensation Claim
How Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Helps Injured Chicago Construction Workers
FAQs About Chicago Workers’ Compensation for Construction Accidents

Why Construction Accidents in Chicago Are So Common and So Serious

Construction sites are filled with hazards that simply don’t exist in most other workplaces. Heavy equipment, open heights, power tools, falling materials, and electrical systems all share the same space, often with dozens of workers moving around at once. That combination creates conditions where accidents can happen fast, and the injuries that result are often severe.

According to data tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in or between accidents, and electrocutions, known as the “Fatal Four,” account for roughly 60% of construction worker deaths annually. These are not fringe events. They happen on job sites every day across the country, and Chicago is no exception.

Fatal work injuries in Illinois totaled 145 in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 17% of Illinois workplace fatalities that year. For construction workers specifically, those numbers reflect a reality that ironworkers, carpenters, roofers, and concrete workers face every single shift.

Chicago’s construction boom adds even more workers to hazardous sites. Projects near Millennium Park, along the Riverwalk, and throughout the South and West Sides put thousands of tradespeople to work, and where there is heavy construction activity, there is also elevated injury risk. When an accident happens, the physical, financial, and emotional toll on a worker and their family can be overwhelming.

The good news is that Illinois law provides a clear path to compensation. You don’t have to navigate the system alone. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is ready to review your situation and help you understand exactly what you may be entitled to receive.

What the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act Covers for Injured Construction Workers

En workers’ compensation lawyer team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg regularly helps clients understand how the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, codified at 820 ILCS 305, applies to their specific situation. This law is the foundation of every construction injury claim in the state.

Under 820 ILCS 305/1, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act defines “employer” broadly. It covers private companies, corporations, public bodies, and any person who has someone working under a contract for hire. Construction, excavating, and electrical work are specifically listed among the industries covered under Section 3 of the Act. That means virtually every construction worker in Chicago is protected.

To receive benefits, an injured worker must show that their injury arose out of and in the course of their employment. This is the legal standard set out in 820 ILCS 305/1(d). You don’t have to prove your employer was negligent. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means that even if you made a mistake that contributed to the accident, you may still be entitled to benefits.

Under 820 ILCS 305/8(a), your employer is required to pay for all necessary first aid, medical and surgical services, and ongoing medical care reasonably required to treat your injury. That includes hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any vocational rehabilitation you need to return to work. Your employer must also pay for medical treatment, training, and maintenance costs related to your physical and vocational recovery.

Benefits also include wage replacement. If your injury prevents you from working, you may qualify for temporary total disability benefits, temporary partial disability benefits, or permanent disability benefits depending on the severity of your condition. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the state agency that oversees these claims, determines the benefit amounts based on your average weekly wage and the nature of your injury.

Common Construction Accident Injuries and How Illinois Law Addresses Them

Construction accidents produce some of the most serious injuries seen in any workplace. The type of injury you suffer directly affects what benefits you can claim and how your case is valued under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and open floors are among the most frequent causes of serious construction injuries in Chicago. OSHA’s most frequently cited construction standard in fiscal year 2024 was Fall Protection under 29 CFR 1926.501, which requires employers to provide protection when workers are at heights of six feet or more. When employers ignore this requirement, workers pay the price with broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

Struck-by accidents happen when workers are hit by falling tools, swinging equipment, or moving vehicles on a job site. Caught-in or between accidents occur when a worker gets trapped between machinery or materials. Electrocution injuries result from contact with live wires or improperly grounded equipment. Each of these accident types can cause injuries ranging from fractures and crush injuries to amputations and burns.

Under 820 ILCS 305/8(c), workers who suffer serious and permanent disfigurement to the hand, head, face, neck, arm, leg below the knee, or chest above the axillary line are entitled to compensation for that disfigurement. The amount is determined by agreement or by arbitration, and can reach up to 162 weeks of compensation for injuries occurring on or after February 1, 2006.

Repetitive motion injuries and occupational illnesses also affect construction workers. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, hearing loss from heavy machinery, and respiratory conditions from silica or chemical exposure are all compensable under Illinois law. If your condition developed gradually over time from the nature of your work, you still have a valid claim.

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg handles the full range of construction injury claims, from single-incident accidents to conditions that developed over years of physically demanding work on Chicago job sites.

Third-Party Claims: When You Can Pursue More Than Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is not always the only legal option available to an injured construction worker. When a party other than your direct employer caused or contributed to your accident, you may have the right to file a separate civil lawsuit, called a third-party claim, in addition to your workers’ compensation claim.

Construction sites in Chicago typically involve multiple parties, including general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, and staffing agencies. Under 820 ILCS 305/1(a)(3), a general contractor or principal who hires a subcontractor can be held liable for compensation to that subcontractor’s employees if the subcontractor does not carry adequate workers’ compensation insurance. This provision ensures that injured workers aren’t left without recourse simply because a subcontractor failed to meet its legal obligations.

The Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act, at 820 ILCS 310/5(b), also makes clear that when a worker’s injury or illness was caused by a third party, the worker can pursue legal action against that third party even while receiving workers’ compensation benefits from their employer. This is a critical distinction. A third-party lawsuit allows you to seek damages for pain and suffering, which workers’ compensation alone does not cover.

For example, if you were injured by defective scaffolding manufactured by a third-party company, or if a negligent subcontractor on a site near the Illinois Medical District created an unsafe condition that led to your fall, you may have a product liability or negligence claim against that party. These claims can significantly increase the total compensation available to you.

A workers’ compensation lawyer from Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can review your accident and identify every party who may share responsibility. Getting the full picture matters, because settling only your workers’ compensation claim without exploring third-party options could mean leaving significant compensation on the table.

Deadlines and Steps to Protect Your Illinois Workers’ Compensation Claim

Time is one of the most important factors in any workers’ compensation claim. Illinois law sets firm deadlines, and missing them can cost you your right to benefits entirely.

Under 820 ILCS 305/6(c), you must notify your employer of your work injury within 45 days of the accident. This notice can be oral or written, but written notice is always better because it creates a record. Failing to give notice within 45 days does not automatically end your claim, but it gives your employer and their insurer grounds to dispute it, which makes your case harder to win.

After giving notice, you have three years from the date of your injury, or two years from the last date your employer paid benefits, whichever is later, to file a formal Application for Adjustment of Claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Missing this deadline ends your case permanently. There is no grace period.

Once you report your injury, your employer is required to provide medical care. Under 820 ILCS 305/8(a), you have the right to choose your own treating physician. You are not required to use only the doctors your employer or their insurance company recommends. This is an important right that many workers don’t know they have.

Document everything from the beginning. Take photos of the accident scene if you can. Get the names of any witnesses. Keep records of every medical appointment, every prescription, and every day of work you miss. This documentation supports your claim and helps establish the full value of your losses.

If your employer retaliates against you for filing a claim, such as by firing you or cutting your hours, that is illegal under Illinois law. Workers who face retaliation have separate legal remedies available to them. Reach out to a workers’ compensation lawyer at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg as soon as possible after your injury. The earlier you get legal guidance, the better protected your rights will be.

How Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Helps Injured Chicago Construction Workers

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has been helping injured workers across Chicago and Illinois for decades. Our firm handles workers’ compensation claims for construction workers injured on job sites throughout Cook County, including those working near Wacker Drive, in the Loop, along the lakefront, and in neighborhoods from Rogers Park to Beverly.

We know that a serious construction injury doesn’t just affect your body. It affects your income, your family, your ability to do the work you’ve spent years training for. Our attorneys take the time to understand your situation fully before recommending a course of action. We don’t push for quick settlements that undervalue your claim.

Our team reviews every aspect of your case, from the accident circumstances and your medical records to the applicable provisions of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act and any potential third-party claims. We deal directly with insurance companies on your behalf, so you don’t have to face their adjusters alone. We also represent clients before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission when disputes arise.

Whether you were hurt in a fall from a scaffold near Soldier Field, struck by equipment on a West Loop build, or developed a serious occupational illness from years of working with hazardous materials, we are ready to help. Workers across the region also reach out to our workers’ compensation lawyer team in Springfield and our workers’ compensation lawyer office in Plainfield for the same dedicated representation.

We handle workers’ compensation cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg at (312) 222-0010 for a free consultation. You have nothing to lose by learning what your claim may be worth.

FAQs About Chicago Workers’ Compensation for Construction Accidents

Do I have to prove my employer was at fault to get workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois?

No. Illinois workers’ compensation is a no-fault system under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305). You only need to show that your injury arose out of and in the course of your employment. Even if you made a mistake that contributed to the accident, you may still be entitled to benefits including medical care and wage replacement.

What if I was injured while working for a subcontractor on a Chicago construction site?

You are still protected. Under 820 ILCS 305/1(a)(3), a general contractor or principal can be held liable to pay compensation to a subcontractor’s employees if the subcontractor does not have adequate workers’ compensation insurance. This means you have a path to benefits even if your direct employer failed to carry proper coverage.

How long do I have to file a workers’ compensation claim after a construction accident in Illinois?

You must notify your employer within 45 days of the accident under 820 ILCS 305/6(c). You then have three years from the date of injury, or two years from the last date benefits were paid, to file a formal Application for Adjustment of Claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your claim.

Can I sue a third party in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim?

Yes, in many cases. If someone other than your direct employer caused or contributed to your accident, such as a negligent subcontractor, a property owner, or an equipment manufacturer, you may be able to file a separate civil lawsuit against that party. Under 820 ILCS 310/5(b), pursuing a third-party claim does not prevent you from also receiving workers’ compensation benefits. A third-party claim can allow you to recover damages for pain and suffering, which workers’ compensation alone does not provide.

What medical benefits am I entitled to after a construction accident in Illinois?

Under 820 ILCS 305/8(a), your employer must pay for all necessary first aid, medical and surgical services, and ongoing medical care reasonably required to treat your work injury. This includes hospital services, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and vocational rehabilitation. You also have the right to choose your own treating physician rather than being limited to doctors selected by your employer or their insurer.

This page has been prepared by Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, located at 351 W. Hubbard Street, Suite 810, Chicago, IL 60654. Phone: (312) 222-0010. This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases.

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