Every year, crane accidents cause catastrophic and fatal injuries to workers. These injuries can lead to extensive medical treatment and economic hardships, for which victims have the right to recover compensation.
If you or someone you love was hurt, a Waukegan crane injury lawyer with Schlack & Bassmaji could help you seek the money you need to cover your medical expenses and support your family. Our client-focused workers’ compensation attorneys have served hard-working people in Illinois for over 20 years. We could help you build a solid claim and advocate for you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more.
There are many causes of crane accidents, from problems with the machine itself to issues with the crane’s loading and operation. Common causes of crane accidents include:
These accident causes can result in struck-by incidents, one of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “fatal four.” Struck-by incidents can involve a crane hitting, falling on, or swinging into a person. Another fatal four, electrocutions, can also happen during crane accidents if the machine hits a power line.
If you were hurt, our crane injury attorneys in Waukegan are here to help. We assist clients with claims involving catastrophic injuries, including broken bones, burns, brain injuries, and spinal cord damage.
Just about every employer in Illinois must carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides benefits to employees who sustain work-related injuries. Workers’ comp is no-fault insurance, so you do not have to prove your employer or anyone else was liable for the accident. However, you will need to show that your injury occurred on the job and is serious enough to interfere with your ability to work.
Typically, you cannot sue employers who have workers’ comp coverage. But you may have a personal injury case against a responsible third party, such as a crane operator, coworker, property owner, maintenance provider, or machine or parts manufacturer. Our lawyers in Waukegan could investigate your crane accident and determine if there are at-fault parties who may owe you personal injury compensation. If so, we could help you with a civil lawsuit.
Workers’ comp should cover medical expenses, a portion of your lost wages (usually around two-thirds of your pre-injury income), and pay death benefits to the families of fatally injured workers.
If you have grounds for a personal injury claim, our Waukegan crane injury attorneys could help you pursue lost income and earnings not covered by workers’ comp and monetary damages for your physical pain and mental and emotional suffering.
According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), to preserve your right to seek benefits, you should notify your employer about your work injury within 45 days of when it happened. You have three years to file a lawsuit if your employer’s workers’ comp insurer refuses to fairly settle your claim.
Under 734 Illinois Compiled Statutes § 5/13-202, you have two years to file most personal injury lawsuits. If you have such a case, our Waukegan crane injury lawyers could help you take action before the statute of limitations expires.
Schlack & Bassmaji has recovered over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients. We are committed to providing compassionate representation combined with aggressive legal advocacy that gets results.
Contact us today for a free consultation and connect with our Waukegan crane injury lawyers. We serve clients in English and Spanish.
