Forklift involved in fatal construction accident
On behalf of Jeffrey Frederick of Frederick & Hagle posted in Construction Workers’ Accidents on Friday, September 25, 2015.
Whether in Illinois or elsewhere across the United States, construction sites are notoriously dangerous work environments that require an enormous amount of safety features in order to keep workers as safe as possible. Whether safety precautions simply fail or were negligently enacted in the first place, workers continue to be injured in shocking and terrifying accidents. One young construction worker in another state recently lost his life in a terrible construction accident.
Constructions sites that are close to roadways or even on the roadways themselves can pose an especially high risk to workers. A construction project on a local bridge likely put construction workers in dangerous or unsettling situations while they worked to carry out the reconstruction project even though all but one westbound lane were closed down over the summer. However, the constraint in traffic did not prevent what was ultimately a deadly accident.
Officials did not disclose specific details concerning the accident, but at least one other person was injured in the incident. The fatal victim did not die at the scene of the accident; however, he only survived for an hour, ultimately succumbing to what were described as blunt force injuries that were the result of something involved with forklift. A pedestrian was also apparently involved, but it is not clear how.
While the construction company has issued an apology and condolences to those involved, it is likely not enough for those affected by this tragic construction accident. Workers’ compensation benefits are one of the most powerful tools for injured Illinois workers and their families to use to move forward after a serious injury or death. While injured workers may receive benefits to compensate for lost wages, medical bills and rehabilitation until they are able to return to work, families of those who have been killed are eligible for a temporary death benefits package that can help with their transition.
Source: wdio.com, “Worker Killed at Bridge Construction Site was 18“, Sept. 22, 2015
