When a Local 1 Ironworker showed up at Fermilab’s massive construction project to build its new proton generating facility in Batavia in May of 2023, it was not just another day of work for the journeyman. It turned out to be what is likely the last day that he will be able to pursue his chosen trade.
Despite a mechanical lift being a very feasible means of safely doing the job, and the existence of safety requirements necessitating the use thereof, such a lift was never provided for the ironworkers to safely do their elevated work. Rather, they were required to climb formwork 26 feet in the air to do their job. As a result, this careful, experienced worker was caused to fall off the formwork to the concrete ground below, suffering massive injuries.
GWC Injury Lawyers was contacted by the family of the injured worker, and its litigation team immediately took action to preserve the conditions of the job site and ensure that no further work would be done until an inspection could be conducted by counsel and their expert. More than five weeks later, the inspection was finally conducted in conjunction with legal representatives from the Department of Energy, Fermilab, the general contractor, and other associated entities.
“Shutting down a job site to ensure preservation of critical evidence is a vital first step in maximizing our potential to find and prove the truth regarding the cause of an injurious event. And in this case, it is essential to proving that feasible alternative methods and/or equipment existed that would have totally eliminated the event in the first place,” said Louis C. Cairo, owner and managing partner of GWC.
GWC litigation partners Louis Anthony Cairo, Michael D. Fisher, and Louis C. Cairo attended the inspection (image shown here). In the background is a mechanical lift being operated by the general contractor’s construction representative to bring interested parties in close proximity to the location from which the ironworker fell. “A lift of this type is exactly the type of equipment that could and should have been used to facilitate this work task,” stated attorney Michael D. Fisher. “If it had, our client would not still be hospitalized from this tragic fall.”
Getting Justice Injured Construction Workers
Construction accidents are at the heart of some of the most challenging personal injury cases. They demand comprehensive knowledge both of the relevant laws and regulations and of the industry and its operations in order to determine whether a party’s failure to meet its duties and obligations may have contributed to your injuries. This is where the experienced construction accident attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers LLC can make all the difference.
GWC is fully versed in the federal rules enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as all state and local building safety codes. Contractors in Illinois have a legal duty to provide workers with a safe working environment, a responsibility that is even greater in the already hazardous construction industry. If you retain our services, our construction accident attorneys can promptly initiate an investigation to pinpoint the negligent working conditions that may have led to your injuries.
Most importantly, GWC knows how to identify and pursue every party that may be at fault. This is essential for any personal injury claim as failure to do so within the time allotted by law can forever bar a plaintiff from obtaining full and fair compensation.
And getting plaintiffs fully and fairly compensated is our specialty. With over $2.5 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, GWC is one of the premier Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois. We have an especially strong track record with construction accident cases and deep relationships with all major building trade unions, so much so that GWC has often been called “the construction accident law firm.” Our construction accident attorneys have the experience, the determination, the resources, and the reputation necessary to get you and your family the justice you deserve.
To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a construction accident attorney, contact GWC today. You may call our office at (312) 999-9999 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
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