The Illinois Hammer
Illinois Construction Accident Lawyer
Construction workers throughout Illinois are vital to the state’s economy and growth. However, construction work can be dangerous, and getting hurt on the job could threaten your financial security.
The experienced construction accident lawyers with The Illinois Hammer Injury Attorneys are passionate about helping injured workers recover and winning them the compensation they deserve. Contact us online or call 888-742-6637 today for a free consultation.
$115 MILLION recovered for work injuries
Content Reviewed by: Bradley Dworkin
Last Date Modified
- May 2, 2025
- The Illinois Hammer Is Here For Construction Workers
- Construction Accidents Caused by Negligence Are Not A Part of the Job
- What Types of Construction Accidents Happen in Illinois?
- Liable Parties in Construction Accidents
- Damages Available in Construction Accident Cases
- The Illinois Hammer Is Here For You and Your Family After a Construction Accident
The Illinois Hammer Is Here For Construction Workers
Our skilled team has recovered over $500 million for our clients during more than three decades of representing Illinois personal injury victims. We take the fight to insurance companies, hammering them relentlessly until they pay our clients every penny they’re owed.
While we’re tough on the opposition, we treat injury victims with compassion and empathy. We believe in doing whatever we can to give our clients one less thing to worry about, whether that’s helping them find medical attention or providing assistance in securing a same-day settlement loan.
While we’re based in Chicago, we serve all of Illinois. We have team members who speak Spanish and Hebrew, allowing us to break down language barriers and help all community members.
We understand the physical exhaustion, pain, and mental strain that comes with construction work and how getting hurt on the job can worsen those issues. If you or a family member were injured in a construction accident and need help, contact us today for more information about your legal options.
Construction Accidents Caused by Negligence Are Not A Part of the Job
Construction work is rife with occupational hazards, and accidents are all too common. Workers’ compensation covers most accidents or injuries on the job. Thus, you generally cannot sue your employer for a construction accident. However, if a third party causes a construction accident with their negligence or careless behavior, you can sue them and hold them legally accountable.
Federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules make companies responsible for avoiding preventable injuries and deaths. If a construction company fails to abide by these legal standards, you may be able to sue them for your injuries.
How Can I Know If I Have a Construction Accident Case in Illinois?
Illinois’ no-fault workers’ compensation system allows you to recover benefits for a construction accident without proving that anyone was negligent. However, you must establish negligence to succeed in a personal injury claim lawsuit against a contractor or other third party responsible for your accident.
Workers’ compensation claims are quicker and simpler than most third-party personal injury claims. However, workers’ compensation only covers your medical care and replaces a portion of your lost wages. It likely will not cover all your expenses and damages. A third-party lawsuit allows you to recover a wider range of damages, including pain and suffering.
Our Illinois construction accident attorneys can help you pursue all compensation available and secure your financial future after an injury.
What Types of Construction Accidents Happen in Illinois?
Table 1. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by selected industries and case type, Illinois, 2023
| Industry | Total recordable cases | Cases with days away from work, job transfer, or restriction | Other recordable cases | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Cases with days away from work | Cases with job transfer or restriction | |||
| All industries including state and local government | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Private industry | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| Goods-producing | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Natural resources and mining | 5.5 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 3.0 |
| Construction | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| Manufacturing | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| Service-providing | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Trade, transportation, and utilities | 3.6 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Information | 2.3 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| Financial activities | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Professional and business services | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Education and health services | 3.0 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.4 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.3 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| State and local government | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| State government | 4.2 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 1.4 |
| Local government | 4.0 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 2.2 |
Table 2. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by selected industries and selected case type, Illinois, 2022–23
| Industry | Total recordable cases | Cases with days away from work, job transfer, or restriction | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| All industries including state and local government | 2.9 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Private industry | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.5 |
| Goods-producing | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
| Natural resources and mining | 3.6 | 5.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Construction | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Manufacturing | 3.5 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
| Service-providing | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.5 |
| Trade, transportation, and utilities | 3.9 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Information | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 1.4 |
| Financial activities | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Professional and business services | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Education and health services | 4.5 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 2.6 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
| State and local government | 4.2 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| State government | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 |
| Local government | 4.2 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
The Illinois construction industry accounted for 15 percent of all statewide fatal workplace accidents in 2022. There were 27 deaths that year—up from 19 the previous year. The numbers show that contract work on building foundations, structures, and exteriors is particularly dangerous.
Compared to the U.S. as a whole, fatal transportation-related accidents and exposures to toxic substances are more common in Illinois—more than 40 percent of all of Illinois’ work-related deaths in 2022 involved motor vehicles. However, deaths from violence and falls, slips, and trips are less frequent in the Prairie State.
While these are the most common categories of workplace injuries, we also handle unique construction accident cases. Call us today at 888-742-6637 if you have questions about your situation or whether you have a valid claim.
The Importance of Reporting Construction Accidents
According to OSHA, even severe construction accidents are significantly underreported. While some might shy away from reporting an accident out of fear of repercussions, retaliation is illegal under Illinois law. Fully documenting your injuries is critical to successfully securing compensation.
Additionally, the state statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims is three years after an accident, and personal injury claims have a two-year deadline, with some exceptions for minors and disabilities. Getting started immediately will avoid any issues with legal deadlines or reporting responsibilities.
After a construction accident, your health and safety come first. Our dedicated attorneys can take care of reporting the incident and pursuing compensation for you, allowing you to focus on healing and spending more time with your family.
Liable Parties in Construction Accidents
Your employer will almost always be responsible for paying you workers’ compensation after an Illinois construction accident. However, third parties like contractors, property owners, equipment manufacturers, or others involved in keeping your worksite safe may share personal injury liability for the accident.
Illinois has a modified comparative negligence system for apportioning liability in personal injury lawsuits. Under that system, You can recover damages if you are not more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, but your damages will be reduced proportionately to your share of the fault.
Suppose a worker sustains $100,000 in damages. If a court finds a contractor is 80 percent responsible, but the worker shares 20 percent of the blame, the worker could receive $80,000.
Damages Available in Construction Accident Cases
Personal injury and workers’ compensation claims work together to fully compensate you for construction accident injuries from every party responsible. Our Illinois construction accident lawyers can handle both cases for you simultaneously.
Workers’ compensation will cover your medical expenses and compensate you for lost wages. In personal injury claims, you generally can seek recovery of your economic or non-economic damages. Economic damages cover financial losses like medical bills, lost wages, and lost earning potential, while non-economic damages compensate for subjective losses like emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment.
Our team can analyze the circumstances of your case and estimate how much your claim might be worth.
Wrongful Death Damages in Construction Accident Cases
The spouse, children, and personal representative of the estate of a construction accident victim can sue for wrongful death if the worker passes away from their injuries. Wrongful death claims can compensate surviving family members for damages like funeral and burial costs, medical expenses, lost financial support, and more.
The statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim in Illinois is two years. Our compassionate attorneys can file a timely claim for you, allowing you to focus your energy on grieving your loss with your family.
The Illinois Hammer Is Here For You and Your Family After a Construction Accident
Our skilled Illinois construction accident lawyers know how to get significant results and fight relentlessly to secure the compensation you deserve. We win 97 percent of the cases we take, and you won’t owe us anything unless we win yours.
Call us today at 888-742-6637 to schedule a free case evaluation.
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