Construction accident in Illinois kills one and injures another

Our readers may have seen the reports about a recent construction accident in a nearby Illinois community west of the Arlington Heights area that left one construction worker dead and another construction worker injured. One worker was killed and the second worker was critically injured when a steel beam fell on them at the construction site. A crane was being used to unload steel beams at the site at the time of the construction accident. The beam was approximately 30 feet in the air when the crane failed and the beam dropped.

A 55-year-old construction worker was killed in the accident and a 27-year-old worker was injured. The worker who was killed was first taken to the hospital and then pronounced dead. The 27-year-old worker was also taken to the hospital and was listed in critical condition. He had to be extracted from underneath the steel beam. Construction workers were working on a nine-story apartment building at the time of the accident. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has opened an investigation into the accident.

It is important for workers who are injured in construction accidents, and their families, to be familiar with the different protections available to them following a construction accident or fatal construction accident. Workers compensation benefits are available to assist workers and their families with medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits, in some circumstances. Personal injury claims can also provide protection in some circumstances if the worker was injured by a third party.

Following a fatal construction accident, or any construction accident, it is essential for injured workers and their families to know what to do. A construction accident can rob families of loved ones and livelihoods which is why they should be familiar with workers’ compensation and other resources available to them.