construction site

Injured While Passing By A Construction Site? You Are Not Alone.

People joke there are only two seasons in the Chicago area — winter and construction. It’s one of those jokes that is funny because it’s true. What is not funny are the number of injuries suffered by Chicagoans who are passing by construction sites. Whether you were walking, driving, or riding a bike by a construction site, and suffered a serious injury, Stein & Shulman LLC can help you seek compensation. 

Many people assume that the only people injured at construction sites are those on the job. Barriers, netting, warning signs, and temporary walkways lull us into a false sense of security. We assume the construction workers and the companies that employ them are looking out for our safety because we see all of these safety measures in place. The reality is construction sites are dangerous places, and even if nobody is trying to intentionally injure passerbys, accidents still happen. 

(Note: Stein & Shulman also represents construction workers who are injured on the job.)

There are many things that can go wrong at a construction site, and result in injuries to people passing by: 

  • Pedestrians, cyclists, or drivers are often injured by tools or debris that are left on the sidewalks and roads near the construction site. 
  • Missing, inaccurate, or inadequate signage fails to warn of dangers. 
  • Traffic accidents are often caused by poorly marked detours or workers who fail to properly direct traffic.
  • Exposed wiring results in shock or electrocution.
  • Falling debris strikes people passing by because the work zone was not blocked off, or the debris fell unexpectedly. 
  • Malfunctioning or poorly operated machinery hits a passerby or injures them in some other way. 
  • Work can cause the ground in and around the construction site to become unstable and collapse.  

Most of these accident-causing situations would be considered negligence, and you could file a premises liability lawsuit. Depending on the facts of the situation, it may also be possible to prove the accident was caused by reckless behavior, or in the worst cases, an intentional disregard for safety or a wish to do harm. If you have been injured, the Stein & Shulman team will do a thorough investigation and gather evidence that shows who or what caused your injury so we can make the case that you deserve compensation. 

The amount of money we are able to recover on your behalf depends on the extent of your injuries, and your actions during and after the accident. 

Illinois personal injury laws are designed to give victims the amount of money it takes to put them in the position they would have been in if the accident had never occured. So, if your injury requires major surgery and a long recovery period, you would, in theory, be awarded more money than someone who suffers a few scrapes and bruises and is back to normal the next week. 

However, the amount of money you are eligible for may be reduced if your actions before or after the accident contributed to your injury. If you ignored warning signs or were so busy taking a construction site selfie you didn’t see the debris you tripped on, the amount of compensation you are eligible for may be reduced. If you didn’t seek medical treatment, or ignored your doctors’ orders, and made your injuries worse, you may also see your compensation reduced. 

Stein & Shulman’s experienced team of attorneys works hard to maximize the amount of money our Chicago area clients are eligible for. We have recovered millions of dollars for injury victims in the Chicago area, including those who were harmed while walking, driving, or biking by a construction site. If you have suffered such an injury, we are here to help. Please contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.