Our Blog

Maintenance Worker Died in Sewer Flash Flood

Gustavo Briceno and another employee of Kenny Construction were working in the northwest side of the North Rockwall Street sewer. Flash floods hit around 8:30 p.m., and their maintenance job was interrupted by a surge of water. Bricenos coworker was strapped into his safety harness and was pulled to recovery. Luckily, he survived without harm. Briceno, himself, unfortunately, had removed his safety harness to reach a confined space within the sewer. He was swept away by the rush of water....

Workers Compensation In History

The idea of workers compensation dates back further than you might expect.  The topic was first documented in the Code of Ur-Nammu, which is the oldest known law code that exists today, estimated from the year 2050 B.C.  It was written in Sumerian on tablets, and originates from Mesopotamia. Although earlier laws did exist before this, the Code of Ur-Nammu is recognized as the earliest extant legal text. From tablet Number 3191, it has been translated that monetary compensation was...

GWC Remembers 9/11/2001

While you're getting ready for another busy day today, remember to take a brief moment out and reflect on what is important. We never know when something unexpected may happen, such as the world-changing tragedy that struck America on September 11, 2001. Here at GWC, we will be sure to remember those that were directly effected by their twist of fate that morning. The number of fatalities due to the World Trade Center bombing will probably never be known, but...

Vehicle Hit Head-On by Wrong-Way Driver, 2 Dead

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Saturday, around 1:45 a.m., three young women were in a blue Ford, on their way home from a cheerful celebration. They were taking the Eisenhower Expressway, and were soon hit head-on by someone who was driving in the wrong direction. Two of the three women did not make it out alive. The driver of the wrong-way van was a 20 year old man of Chicago, who was on his way back from a late-night barbecue. When his vehicle was seen...

Building Blocks for a Solid Construction Negligence Practice

Since the demise of the Illinois Structural Work Act in 1995, Illinois courts have not always been receptive to injured workers’ arguments in construction negligence cases. GWC has been instrumental in changing this course and successfully arguing for expanded contractor liability. GWC regularly targets defendants who are legally responsible for construction negligence, including general contractors, construction managers, architects, subcontractors, fabricators, material delivery companies and many other types of entities that are responsible for causing injuries to construction workers. For more...

Silica Dust To Be Reduced

GWC is pleased to share the news that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed a new, long-awaited rule that would significantly reduce workers exposure to silica dust. Crystalline silica, or silica dust, is created during work with stone, concrete, brick or mortar. It also commonly results from glass manufacturing and sand blasting. When these tiny particles enter a workers lungs, they can cause lung cancer and silicosis, a progressive and incurable respiratory disease. Over two million workers...

Fuel Leak Causes Recall Of Over 450,000 Fords

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Ford recently announced that it will recall over 450,000 of its 2013 cars due to a car design defect which poses a fire risk. The recall impacts the 2013 model Ford Explorer, Flex, Interceptor, Fusion, Taurus and some Lincolns, among other vehicles. The car maker said that it is not aware of any serious injuries or deaths due to the fuel leak issue, but that it has received over 600 complaints about the fuel leak from customers since last...

Construction Accident Attorneys at GWC Settle Case for $2 Million

On March 21, 2005, a Local 80 journeyman had just finished nailing off roof sheeting on a new home at a Toll Brothers’ Hawthorn Woods project. As he began to step down from the roof ridge, one of his feet slid out from under him and then the other. He continued to slide down the roof. His body struck a properly constructed and secured toe board that had been nailed into the roof sheeting and to the roof trusses by...

FDA Warns of Pradaxa Risks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a new safety communication about the safety of Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate mesylate). Pradaxa is a potentially dangerous pharmaceutical which is sparking a wave of product liability litigation. Praxada is a blood-thinning medication (anticoagulant) often prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation. As with all pharmaceuticals, Praxada can result in serious side effects. The most common side effect associated with Pradaxa is severe bleeding which...