Details of injuries still unclear after construction accident
On behalf of Jeffrey Frederick of Frederick & Hagle posted in Construction Workers’ Accidents on Thursday, October 29, 2015.
Without the proper safety precautions, construction sites can pose a serious threat to Illinois workers. A recent out-of-state construction accident sent at least nine people to the hospital, although it is likely that the total number of injured workers is higher. The exact cause behind the catastrophic accident is still unclear.
Construction was ongoing on part of a highway overpass when tragedy struck. The on-ramp collapsed, seriously and critically injuring nine people who had to be transported to the hospital for treatment. At least one additional worker waited until the following day to seek medical care. Currently, seven men are still hospitalized for their injuries, although the specifics of their conditions have not been disclosed.
Company officials have yet to respond to inquiries concerning the accident. State agencies have initiated an investigation into the collapse, but an expert on the matter predicted that it could be another six months before any real answers are discovered. However, it is currently believed that wooden support beams collapsed during a lowering process, which in turn caused many of the injuries.
Workers in Illinois should not have to worry about unreasonably dangerous situations occurring in the workplace. Still, many employers continue to ignore sound safety practices. Whether it is a construction accident, industrial incident or other unsafe situation, a workplace accident can result in devastating and catastrophic injuries that carry a life-long impact on the victim. Workers’ compensation is typically one of the most effective options for addressing the damages related to an injury until returning to work is possible.
Source: pe.com, “CORONA: Seven still in hospital after 91 bridge collapse“, Patrick O’Neill, Oct. 14, 2015
