Thomas Darcy Killed in Evanston Construction Accident at Northwestern University

Wrongful Death - May 1, 2026

Thomas Darcy, 57, Died After Falling From Building During Construction Project at Northwestern University on Campus Drive

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS (May 1, 2026) – A 57-year-old construction worker identified as Thomas Darcy has tragically died after falling off the roof of a building at Northwestern University in Evanston.

Evanston police officials are saying that the incident took place around 3:26 p.m. on Thursday. The construction worker was on the roof of a building that used to be part of the James L. Allen Center.

For undetermined reasons, Thomas Darcy fell four stories from the roof of the building and was seriously injured in the process. Paramedics were called to the scene of the building to help the victim.

Despite life-saving measures, Thomas Darcy was pronounced dead at the scene. A full investigation into the accident by OSHA remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Evanston Construction Accidents

Construction companies have a legal obligation to maintain work sites in a reasonably safe condition. According to 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1), “each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” Construction companies should take several measures to protect workers from falls at construction sites.

• Identify: Construction companies should work to identify all potential fall hazards, especially when workers are performing their job duties at heights of 6 feet or more.
• Fall Protection: Construction companies should provide all workers with fall protection who must perform their duties on roofs or elevated platforms.
• Guardrails: Construction companies can also install guardrails to help create a physical barrier between workers and dangerous edges.
• Supervision: Construction companies should ensure that construction sites are always being overseen by a competent person.

When a worker is injured in Illinois, they or their surviving family members will typically have recourse through the worker’s compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance scheme designed to provide assistance when they have been injured on the job. The family of a deceased worker may also have recourse through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident.

Third-Party Liability for Evanston Construction Accidents

Falls remain one of the leading causes of injury and death for workers in the construction industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “In 2023, about 1 in 5 (20.8 percent) workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry and 38.5 percent of these deaths were due to falls, slips, and trips. The construction industry accounted for 47.8 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in 2023.” There could be several sources of third-party liability for any construction accident.

• A general contractor could be liable if they failed to provide the victim with fall protection.
• A property owner could be liable if they had actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition and failed to remedy the situation.
• A scaffolding company could be liable for a fall if a scaffold or other safety systems were defective in some way.
• An engineering firm may face liability for an accident if there were structural access issues that contributed to a fall.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any construction accident. OSHA can take many months to complete their own report about what went wrong. In the meantime, construction companies will almost never be transparent. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have legal rights. The family of any person killed in a construction accident is able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating Evanston Construction Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Thomas Darcy. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar tragedies can be averted. Many questions remain unanswered. Was the victim provided fall protection? What safety measures were taken to prevent falls at this location?

Do you need more information about an Evanston construction accident? Our team of Chicago construction accident attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Our team can get to the bottom of what caused any accident and ensure that all relevant evidence is properly preserved. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.