While many of the stories discussed on this blog relate to car accidents that happen on local roadways, Chicago residents might be interested to learn that serious vehicle accidents happen with some frequency on public and private property as well. For individuals who operate vehicles and other motorized equipment as part of their jobs, those accidents can create dangerous situations for themselves and those that they work with.
A pedestrian-vehicle accident at a worksite caused serious construction workplace injuries to one McHenry County worker. The 59-year-old worker was struck by a Bobcat construction vehicle that was being used to grade the floor of a building. The accident caused the worker to sustain injuries to his stomach, head and chest and he died at the scene from those injuries.
Multiple organizations are investigating the tragic death of this construction worker, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, McHenry County Conservation police as well as the county sheriff’s office. Through the course of their evaluations they may determine if the Bobcat operator acted improperly, if the workers were insufficiently trained or if the deceased worker was not advised of the risks of working in that particular location.
This worker’s death is truly heartbreaking and will likely impact the lives of those who loved him. That impact will certainly be emotional but it may also be financial. In general, the families of victims who die due to a construction accident may have legal rights against the deceased’s employer and others for his death. Those rights may include the ability to seek legal damages against the responsible parties to compensate those family members burdened by the victim’s death.
