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Construction work is hard, physical, and unforgiving. When something goes wrong on a job site, injuries are often serious, and the financial impact can be immediate. Suddenly, you are trying to figure out a legal system you have never had to deal with before.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. has been helping injured construction accident victims in Chicago since 2002, recovering over $100 million for clients who needed someone to fight for them. Our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers bring 75 years of combined experience to every case.
Our founding partner’s insurance background gives us a strong advantage when negotiating on your behalf. If you need a construction accident lawyer in Chicago who treats you like a person and not a case number, choose Charlie.
Signs You Might Need a Workers’ Comp Lawyer
Some people assume that workers’ compensation is straightforward and that they can handle it on their own. While some claims proceed smoothly, many involve complications.
Here are signs that having legal representation could make a real difference in your construction accident case.
Your Claim Was Denied
Insurance companies deny legitimate claims more often than they should. A denial is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of a fight that you want one of our Chicago personal injury lawyers to handle.
Your Employer Is Pressuring You to Return to Work Too Soon
If you are being pushed back onto the job before your doctor has cleared you, your rights are being compromised. You should not have to choose between your health and your paycheck.
Your Benefits Were Reduced or Cut Off
Insurers sometimes reduce or terminate benefits before a worker has fully recovered. If this has happened to you, it requires immediate attention. A Chicago construction accident attorney can push back against the insurer to get you the benefits you’re owed.
Your Injuries Are Severe or Permanent
Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and other catastrophic workplace injuries require a level of legal preparation that goes well beyond a basic workers’ comp filing.
The more serious your injury, the more important it is to have someone make sure the full value of your claim is properly calculated and pursued.
You Are Not Sure Whether You Have a Third-Party Claim
If someone other than your employer may have contributed to your injuries, a Chicago construction accident lawyer can identify them and pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
Most people do not know how to ask this question on their own, and the answer can significantly increase the compensation available to you.
Your Employer Does Not Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Illinois workers’ compensation law requires employers to carry coverage, but not every employer complies.
If your employer is uninsured, you still have options, and our injury attorneys can help you pursue them.
A Loved One Was Killed in a Construction Accident
If your family has lost someone in a workplace accident, a wrongful death claim may be available.
We handle these cases with the care and seriousness they deserve, and our wrongful death lawyers in Chicago will help your family find a path forward.
Why Choose Charlie?
There are many law firms in Chicago.
Here is what makes Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., different:
- We have been doing this since 2002. We have over two decades of experience handling construction accident cases, workers’ compensation claims, and personal injury lawsuits across Illinois. Our team brings 75 years of combined experience to every case we take.
- We have recovered over $100 million for our clients. That reflects years of hard work fighting for everyday construction accident victims who needed someone in their corner.
- We know how insurance companies think. Our founding partner spent years on the insurance side before switching to representing injured workers. That background gives us a perspective that most personal injury attorneys simply do not have, and it makes us better negotiators on your behalf.
- We treat every client like a person. You will not get lost in a large firm where you are just another file. We are a boutique, client-focused, and genuinely responsive firm. You can communicate with us through our app or website and expect to hear back when you have questions.
- We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. No upfront costs, no out-of-pocket expenses. We only get paid when you do.
What Causes Most Construction Accidents in Chicago?
Job site accidents rarely happen out of nowhere. Most trace back to safety violations, inadequate training, or someone cutting corners on fall protection and other required protocols. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations exist for exactly this reason, and when employers ignore them, workers get hurt.
Common causes of construction site accidents include:
- Falls from height
- Scaffolding failure
- Crane accidents
- Electrocution
- Caught-in or caught-between accidents
- Trench and excavation collapses
- Vehicle accidents
- Building collapses
- Fires and explosions
- Repetitive stress injuries
Any one of these situations can result in workplace injuries serious enough to keep you off work for months or permanently alter your ability to earn a living.
Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Claims: What Is the Difference?
This is one of the most important things to understand after a construction site accident, and it is something many injured workers do not know until they speak with a personal injury attorney.
Workers’ Compensation
In Illinois, most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which is designed to cover your medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages while you recover from workplace injuries.
You do not have to prove that your employer was at fault to receive these benefits. The trade-off is that workers’ comp limits what you can collect. Pain and suffering, for example, are not covered.
Third-Party Claims
If someone other than your employer contributed to your accident, you may be able to file a separate personal injury lawsuit against that party. This is called a third-party claim, and it can allow you to recover compensation for things workers’ comp does not cover, including pain and suffering, full lost wages, and long-term damages.
Other parties that may be held liable include:
- A subcontractor
- A property owner who failed to maintain a safe work environment
- An equipment rental company that provided defective equipment
- A crane operator or crane company
Workers’ comp and a third-party personal injury lawsuit are not mutually exclusive. You can pursue both at the same time, and doing so often results in significantly more compensation than workers’ comp alone would provide.
In cases involving a fatality, surviving family members may also have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Contact a Chicago Construction Accident Law Firm for a Free Consultation
When an insurance company tries to lowball your claim or deny what you are owed, it isn’t fair, and you need a lawyer to fight on your behalf. We build the case, push back hard, and keep fighting until we get a result that actually reflects what you have been through.
If you were hurt on a construction site in Chicago, you deserve an attorney who takes your situation as seriously as you do. We would be honored to be that team for you. Choose Charlie.
Call us today for a free consultation. No cost, no pressure, just a real conversation about where you stand and what we can do together.
