Roof and Floor Collapse

Chicago Lawyers for Roof and Floor Collapse Injuries

Roof and floor collapse don’t typically happen without any warning, but the signs can easily be missed. On a construction project, it’s crucial for the contractor and others in charge to be alert to this possibility. If you were injured or a loved one was killed as a result of roof and floor collapse, it is important to call the experienced Chicago construction accident attorneys of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca. Our firm has more than 60 years of experience representing clients who have been injured that we can put to work for you in a personal injury lawsuit, workers’ compensation claim, or SSDI claim.

Construction Accidents Caused by Roof and Floor Collapse

There are many OSHA and workplace safety standards put in place to protect construction workers. Unfortunately, the construction industry continues to involve some of the most dangerous kinds of work; construction sites often have a high number of injuries and deaths. One of the kinds of accidents that OSHA calls the “fatal four” involve falling objects, which are often a part of roof and floor collapse. Most roof collapse injuries are preventable, and sometimes the injuries sustained are the result of poor safety protocols.

Factors of roof collapse include substandard materials, rust-weakened support beams, and overloading of the roof or the floor of a second or third story building. For instance, during a construction project, a second or third story, or even the roof may hold heavy equipment, and if the elevated surface is damaged or has deteriorated and subject to heavy equipment, that can be dangerous not only for those on the elevated surface but also for those below.

If you were injured on the job, you are not able to file a lawsuit against your employer. The exclusive remedy for employees against their employers is recovery of workers’ compensation benefits. However, if the roof collapse was the result of a third party’s negligence or misconduct, and not your employer, our Chicago attorneys may be able to file a third party lawsuit to obtain greater compensation than can be recovered in a workers’ compensation claim.

In order to establish your right to recover, our lawyers will likely need to establish negligence by one or more parties to the accident. We will need to show it’s more likely than not that the defendant owed you a duty of reasonable care, but failed to adhere to that duty, thereby causing your injuries, which resulted in actual damages. After the accident, a number of steps must be taken, and so it’s critical to retain a lawyer to protect your interests as soon as possible. If we’re retained, we’ll need to conduct a thorough investigation, obtain your medical records related to the roof collapse, interview eyewitnesses, and evaluate the defendants’ safety records.

Damages that may be recovered in a roof and floor collapse lawsuit where fault can be proven include economic and noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of income, medical expenses, and lost earning capacity.

Wrongful Death at a Chicago Construction Site

In Illinois, a wrongful death happens when someone dies due to another’s wrongful act, default or neglect. When a loved one dies in a roof or floor collapse, you may be able to recover wrongful death damages. Wrongful death lawsuits may be brought by the personal representative of a decedent’s estate. Damages that may be awarded if we can establish liability include loss of financial support, loss of consortium, loss of education for children of the decedent, and mental suffering and grief of survivors.

Consult a Chicago Lawyer About Your Roof Collapse Injuries

If you were injured in a crash or a loved one died as a result of a roof and floor collapse, you need skillful legal representation. Call the trustworthy roof collapse attorneys of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca to handle your personal injury lawsuit, workers’ compensation claim or SSDI. Call us at 312-724-5846 or fill out our online form.