At Kennedy Watkins Injury Attorneys, we understand the physical pain, the financial strain, and the worry about the future that follow a serious workplace accident. Our Cicero construction accident lawyers are here to listen, answer your questions, and stand beside you while we work to hold the responsible parties accountable.
We are Jack Kennedy and Daniel Watkins, two Chicago personal injury lawyers who put two sets of eyes on every case. We represent injured workers and families across Cicero, Berwyn, Oak Park, and communities throughout Illinois, and we will travel to meet you wherever you are recovering.
You deserve a legal team that treats your case and your family with real care. The right decision now can shape everything that comes next.
Call us at (312) 448-8181 for a free, confidential consultation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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How Can Our Cicero Construction Accident Lawyers Help You?
Our Cicero construction accident lawyers help by investigating what went wrong, identifying every party who may share responsibility, and building a claim designed to recover the full compensation you are owed. From the first phone call, we take the pressure off your shoulders so you can focus on healing.
Construction cases are rarely simple. A single job site may involve a property owner, a general contractor, several subcontractors, equipment makers, and more than one insurance company. We sort through those relationships, collect the evidence, and work with a network of qualified professionals who can explain how the injury happened and what it will cost you over time.
We also know that after an injury, phone calls and paperwork are the last things you want to handle. That is why we deal directly with the insurance adjusters, request your medical records, and manage the deadlines, keeping you updated in plain language at every step.
Our roots are here in the Chicago area, so we understand the busy job sites, warehouses, and roadwork projects that keep Cicero and the surrounding suburbs moving.
Because we handle every case on a contingency fee basis, there are no up-front costs and no hourly bills. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you, and your first consultation is always free.
Common Causes of Construction Accidents in Cicero
Most serious construction injuries in Cicero trace back to a small number of preventable hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration groups the leading dangers into four categories often called the Focus Four, and we see these same patterns in cases across Cook County.
The most common causes of construction site injuries include:
Falls from roofs, scaffolding, ladders, and unprotected edges or floor openings.
Being hit by falling tools, materials, or moving equipment such as forklifts and cranes.
Caught-in or caught-between incidents, including trench collapses and unguarded machinery.
Electrocution and burns from contact with power lines, live wires, or faulty equipment.
Defective tools, safety gear, or heavy machinery that fails during normal use.
Any one of these events can cause life-changing harm, from spinal cord damage to severe burns. If a hazard like this hurt you on a job site near Cicero Avenue or anywhere in the area, our team is ready to look closely at what happened and who allowed it to happen.
Construction Injuries We Handle for Cicero Clients
Our team handles the full range of serious injuries that construction sites can cause, from a single fracture to a catastrophic, life-altering condition. We bring the same preparation and dedication to every client, whatever the diagnosis.
The cases we take often involve traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and paralysis, along with severe burns from fires and explosions. We also represent workers who have suffered amputations, crushed limbs, multiple fractures, and lasting internal injuries.
When a loved one does not survive a job site tragedy, we handle wrongful death claims with compassion and resolve. In those cases, our focus is on justice and on securing the support a grieving family needs to move forward.
No two recoveries look the same, and the value of a claim depends on how deeply an injury affects your daily life and your ability to work. We take the time to understand your goals, your family’s needs, and the road ahead before we put a number on your losses.
Who Is Responsible for a Construction Site Injury?
Responsibility for a construction site injury often reaches well beyond your direct employer. Depending on the facts, a property owner, general contractor, subcontractor, engineer, or equipment maker may share the blame, and each one may carry a separate insurance policy.
This distinction matters because of how injured workers recover compensation in Illinois. Many workers can file a claim through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, which pays certain benefits no matter who was at fault. Construction is treated as an extra-hazardous occupation, so most employers in this field are required to carry that coverage.
For example, a scaffolding company that supplied faulty equipment, a subcontractor that ignored a safety rule, or a driver who hit you while you worked near traffic could each bear part of the responsibility. Identifying every liable party can make a real difference in the compensation available to you.
Workers’ compensation, though, does not pay for everything. When someone other than your employer caused your injury, you may also have a separate third-party claim for losses that workers’ compensation does not cover, such as full lost earnings and pain and emotional suffering. We look at every angle so that no source of recovery is left behind.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Construction Injury?
After a construction injury, you may be able to recover money for both your financial losses and the personal toll the injury has taken. Illinois law allows injured people to pursue economic and non-economic damages when another party’s negligence caused the harm.
Compensation in a construction accident claim may include:
- Medical expenses, from emergency care to future surgeries and rehabilitation.
- Lost income and reduced earning ability if you cannot return to the same work.
- Pain, physical suffering, and emotional distress.
- Disfigurement or lasting disability, including the cost of long-term care.
- Loss of consortium, which covers the strain an injury places on close family relationships.
Serious injuries often carry costs that continue for years, which is why we look beyond today’s bills to the care you will need down the road. Putting an accurate value on these losses takes careful documentation and, often, testimony from qualified professionals. We build that record early so an insurance company cannot quietly minimize what your recovery is truly worth.
Illinois Laws That Affect Your Construction Accident Claim
A few Illinois laws shape how much time you have and how much you can recover in a construction accident claim. Knowing them early helps protect your rights before deadlines pass or evidence disappears.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Illinois?
In most cases, you have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. That window is shorter, generally one year, when your claim involves a unit of local government. Deadlines are strict, and missing one can end an otherwise strong claim, so it is wise to talk with a lawyer well before the clock runs out.
Can You Still Recover if You Were Partly at Fault?
Yes, in many situations you can. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, which means you can recover damages as long as you are found to be no more than 50 percent at fault. Your award is then reduced by your share of responsibility, so guarding against an unfair fault finding is an important part of our work.
How Does Workers’ Compensation Fit In?
Workers’ compensation and a personal injury claim can sometimes move forward at the same time. Benefits paid under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act are separate from a third-party lawsuit against a negligent contractor or product maker. We coordinate both so the two claims support each other rather than clash.
Why Injured Workers Across Cicero Trust Kennedy Watkins
Choosing the right firm after a serious injury is one of the most important decisions you will make, so here is what sets our team apart. We are not a large firm that hands your case to a rotating cast of associates.
Clients often tell us they felt heard. We stay attentive to what you are going through, explain each step so the process stays clear, and make sure you can always reach us. That level of communication matters most when you are hurt and unsure what comes next.
Jack and Daniel work together on every case, which means you get two experienced attorneys preparing your claim for settlement or trial without paying a dollar more. Our record reflects that commitment:
- A $34 million verdict in a wrongful death case arising from an apartment fire.
- An $8.5 million verdict for a family whose 18-year-old son was shot by a police officer.
- A $7,365,000 verdict for a family whose father was killed in a truck accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Past case results do not predict the outcome of any future case, and one or more of our attorneys served as lead counsel or co-counsel on these matters. Even so, they show how thoroughly we prepare.
We know the Cook County court system and the insurance companies that operate in this market, and we answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call (312) 448-8181 to speak with a Cicero construction accident lawyer who is ready to fight for you.
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Talk to a Cicero Construction Accident Lawyer Today
After a construction injury, you will have many questions, and you should not have to face them alone. At Kennedy Watkins Injury Attorneys, our Cicero construction accident lawyers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to listen, explain your options, and pursue the compensation you and your family need to move forward.
If you lost someone you love on a job site, we understand this is not about money. It is about justice and securing the resources your family needs to rebuild.
Call us today at (312) 448-8181 or reach out through our website for a free, confidential consultation. There is no fee unless we win, and we will travel across Illinois to meet you wherever you are.
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FAQ
FAQs Answered by Our Cicero Construction Accident Attorneys
What should I do if the insurance company already offered me a settlement?
You do not have to accept an early offer, and it is wise to have it reviewed first. Insurance companies often present a quick, low number before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept an offer, you usually cannot go back for more, even if new medical problems appear later. We can look at the offer, compare it to the true value of your claim, and handle the negotiation for you.
What if more than one company was responsible for my construction accident?
Many construction cases involve several at-fault parties, and that can actually widen your path to recovery. We identify each contractor, subcontractor, or manufacturer that contributed to the hazard and pursue every insurance policy that applies. Sorting out these overlapping responsibilities is a core part of what we do.
How soon after a construction accident should I contact a lawyer?
The sooner the better, because key evidence can disappear quickly. Job sites change, equipment gets repaired or replaced, and witnesses move on. Reaching out early lets us preserve evidence, document the scene, and protect your claim from the start. There is no cost to reach out, and an early conversation can protect options you might not know you have.
How long does a construction accident case usually take?
Every case is different, and the timeline depends on the severity of the injury and how the insurance companies respond. Some claims resolve in a matter of months, while cases that head toward trial can take longer. We keep the process moving and keep you informed at each step.
Will my construction accident claim have to go to trial?
Most cases settle without a trial, but we prepare every case as if it could go before a jury. When an insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, that readiness gives us real leverage. If trial becomes the right path, we are prepared to stand up for you in the courtroom.
Do you handle cases outside the city of Cicero?
Yes. We represent injured people across Cicero, Berwyn, Oak Park, Maywood, and communities throughout Illinois. If you cannot come to us, we will travel to meet you at the hospital, your home, or wherever you are recovering.