Construction Worker Injured In Fall At Joliet’s CenterPoint
Unsafe Premises - October 9, 2022
Construction Worker Seriously Injured In Fall At CenterPoint Intermodal Center In Joliet
JOLIET, ILLINOIS (October 9, 2022) – A construction worker was seriously injured after falling 45 feet at CenterPoint Intermodal Center construction site in Joliet.
Will County officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday. A construction worker was working on a roof at a new warehouse by the Walmart Fulfillment Center when they fell off.
The construction was airlifted to the Good Samaritan Hospital in critical condition. Officials are saying that the worker was putting roof decking on the new warehouse when he fell.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Joliet Construction Accidents
Falls remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for construction workers. According to OSHA, “In 2020, there were 351 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,008 construction fatalities (BLS data). These deaths are preventable.” The vast majority of these accidents involve workers that fall off of roofs or scaffolds. There are a number of steps that construction companies can take in order to prevent fall accidents.
- Workers should have personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) when they are working at 6 feet or above from ground level.
- Workers should be trained to identify workplace hazards.
- Scaffold should be periodically inspected.
When a worker is injured in Illinois, they will typically have recourse through a worker’s compensation claim. Worker’s compensation is based on a no-fault insurance scheme. There is no need for an injured worker to demonstrate liability for any accident if they are injured on the job. Depending on the facts of any case, an injured employee may have legal recourse through a third party liability claim.
A third party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer was responsible for an accident. For example, a general contractor could be liable for keeping a construction site in an unsafe condition. The company responsible for making a scaffold could also potentially be held at fault if a worker falls and is injured. Construction workers tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Organ damage
Many victims of construction accidents often don’t realize the full extent of their injuries for several weeks or months after an accident. It is important that medical records are properly preserved after any accident. A construction accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Will County Construction Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to construction worker injured at the CenterPoint Intermodal Center construction site in Joliet. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other accidents like this.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Joliet construction accident? Our team of worker’s rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.