IDOT Worker Died In Kendall Industrial Accident

Wrongful Death - March 27, 2024

Illinois Department of Transportation Employee Died After Being Pinned Between Pieces of Equipment At Facility In Kendall County

IDOT Worker Died In Kendall Industrial Accident

KENDALL, ILLINOIS (March 27, 2024) – An IDOT worker tragically died after being crushed between two large pieces of equipment at the Route 47 facility in Kendall.

Kendall County officials are saying that the incident took place around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. An IDOT worker became pinned between two large pieces of equipment.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, the IDOT worker later died due to the severity of his injuries.

A full investigation into the Kendall industrial accident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Illinois Industrial Accidents

Thousands of workers are killed or seriously injured every year in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, “The number of preventable work deaths increased 5% in 2022, totaling 4,695. In addition to preventable fatal work injuries, 791 homicides and suicides occurred in the workplace in 2022. These intentional injuries are not included in the preventable-injury estimates.” There are a number of steps that companies should take in order to prevent workplace accidents.

  • Risk Assessment: Managers should identify workplace hazards and make sure that there are regular inspections and risk assessments.
  • Training: All workers should be trained on how to safely perform their tasks.
  • Communication: Workers should always maintain an open line of communication with one another.
  • Compliance: Companies should ensure that they are complying with all relevant OSHA regulations.

When a worker is injured or killed on the job, they or their family will typically have recourse through the worker’s compensation system. Worker’s compensation in Illinois is not based on fault or negligence. In other words, an injured worker or their family will not have to demonstrate anyone acted improperly in order to be taken care of through worker’s compensation. The family of a deceased worker may also have recourse through a third-party liability claim.

There are numerous sources of potential third-party liability in any industrial accident. This could include a general contractor if they failed to maintain a worksite in a reasonably safe condition. The company that manufactured a piece of equipment could also be held at fault. Companies have a legal obligation to create products that are reasonably safe and free from defects. A piece of equipment may have lacked guards or an emergency shut-off button. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any workplace accident.

  • Photos of the accident site should be taken.
  • Medical records should be collected.
  • An investigation by OSHA should be initiated.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.

The vast majority of workplace accidents are preventable and involve safety violations. This could include instances where workers are not properly trained on how to handle heavy pieces of equipment. Sadly, though, companies will often do everything that they can to deny responsibility if a worker is killed on the job. This is why it is so important to seek legal counsel early on after any workplace fatality.

Investigating Kendall County Industrial accidents 

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the worker who died in this accident. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Do you need more information about a Kendall County industrial accident? Our team of worker’s rights advocates is 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 any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.