Workers across Illinois are often put in harm’s way without realizing just how dangerous the situation can be. This is particularly true for those who work in the construction industry, as large machinery, extreme heights and hot materials can cause significant injuries and even death. When a family loses a loved one to a fatal workplace accident, the aftermath can be heartbreaking. Yet, the pain is limited to emotional. A loved one’s passing can also leave a family with significant financial challenges.
This may be the case for one Chicago-area family after a man was killed on a construction site near the South Loop. According to reports, the 38-year-old worker was testing equipment using pressurized air when the piece of machinery exploded in his face. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Though the exact circumstances underlying this accident are unclear at this time, those families who find themselves in similar situations should be sure to assess whether their loved one was properly trained and protected by their employer. In many of these instances, negligence on the part of the employer is to blame, meaning that, had certain actions been taken, the deceased may have survived.
If negligence can be shown to have caused a deceased loved one’s death, then a wrongful death lawsuit may succeed. A winning claim may bring a family much needed compensation to help cover medical and funeral costs, as well as lost wages. In other words, a successful lawsuit may provide the financial stability a surviving family needs to focus on their grieving and the process of adapting to their new reality. It is also worth noting that winning a lawsuit serves, in a way, as punishment against those who were negligent, perhaps thereby forcing them to take more preventative measures in the future.
Source: Equipment World, “Worker killed in equipment explosion on Chicago jobsite,” Wayne Grayson, Nov. 12, 2015
