Construction Accident Lawyers in Chicago

Advocating for Construction Accident Victims in Illinois

Construction accidents are often caused by defective construction products, such as design and material deficiencies, but they can also result from construction or subsurface deficiencies. As such, construction defects can result in serious injuries and deaths. Depending on the circumstances of a construction accident, legal action may be brought under a number of claims, including premises liability, breach of contract, negligence, or product liability.

Building codes and regulations are designed to prevent construction defects, keep construction worksites safe, and ensure that structures are safe during the construction process and upon completion. Although a construction accident can occur absent a building code violation, this type of violation often indicates an inherent construction defect.

At Cogan & Power, P.C., our Chicago construction accident attorneys can guide you through the maze of complex liability issues and help you recover the compensation that you need and deserve. We take a collaborative approach to legal representation so we can evaluate all possible legal claims and the interplay between several legal theories. This approach has helped us secure millions on behalf of our injured clients.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation online or at (312) 477-2500 to get started!

Top 10 Common Construction Accidents and Their Causes

Construction is a dangerous job, as workers face many risks on the job. In 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 1,102 construction worker fatalities and a rate of 2.8 injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time construction workers, illustrating the risks and hazards of working in this industry. As such, we describe 10 common construction accidents below to clarify the causes of these serious incidents:

1. Falls: Construction workers often perform their jobs from elevated surfaces such as rooftops, ladders, and scaffolding, making it no surprise that falls are among the leading causes of construction accidents.
2. Scaffolding defects: Being so high up from the ground and a critical component of many construction projects, scaffolds should be safe and reliable. However, defective scaffolding can cause serious injuries and death. The BLS reported 61 fatalities in 2018 resulted from scaffolding accidents.
3. Inadequate signage: Construction sites are full of warning signs, especially when they’re located on or near highways and streets. Thus, inadequate warning signs could result in car collisions and other mishaps on construction sites.
4. Structural defects: These flaws are often caused by negligent workmanship, defective building materials, and design issues. Construction workers who are exposed to these hazards risk getting seriously injured or killed.
5. Electrocutions: It is common to find exposed wires, unfinished systems, and downed power lines at construction sites. However, these factors can cause construction accidents.
6. Machinery accidents: Construction workers operate machinery such as cranes, jackhammers, and bulldozers, all of which are dangerous in and of themselves. As such, these power tools can cause serious injuries or death.
7. Explosions: As we mentioned before, exposed wires are common on construction sites. However, they can cause explosions or fires.
8. Subsurface defects: Many projects require construction workers to dig trenches and excavate surfaces, which can lead to unstable and unreliable grounding. As a result, workers could suffer injuries if the ground were to disintegrate or collapse.
9. Engineering or design defects: Many construction injuries are caused by engineering and design defects. Before the building phase occurs, a structure must be designed by an architect or engineer. Any flaws in that design process that lead to injuries could pave the way for a lawsuit.
10. Poor working conditions: Overexertion is a significant concern in the construction industry. These workers are often subject to long hours, high heat, and other tough working conditions. For these reasons, workers can suffer from dehydration, fainting, strokes, and other injuries.