Construction Accident Lawyer Deerfield, IL

Were you seriously hurt on a construction site through no fault of your own?

Plaintiff-focused attorneys standing up for injured construction workers across Deerfield, IL.

Construction is among the most dangerous work there is, and a single fall, collapse, or equipment failure can cause life-changing injuries. Many injured workers assume workers’ compensation is their only option, but that is often not the case. A construction accident lawyer in Deerfield, IL, at Jacobson Injury Firm looks beyond workers’ comp to identify every source of recovery, establishes negligence where it exists, and pursues the full compensation an injured worker deserves. Attorney Adam Jacobson, licensed in Illinois, prepares each claim as though it will be decided by a jury. Contact us for a free consultation to learn what your case may be worth.

Construction Accident Lawyer Deerfield, IL

Deerfield and the surrounding North Shore see steady construction and development, from commercial projects to residential builds, which means active job sites throughout the area. When a worker is injured, the path to compensation is different from an ordinary injury claim, because it can run through both the workers’ compensation system and a separate civil claim. Understanding both, and how they interact, is the key to a full recovery. Matters that proceed to civil litigation are heard in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Lake County.

Workers’ Comp vs. a Third-Party Claim: The Crucial Difference

This distinction is often worth far more than injured workers realize. Most construction workers are covered by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, which pays medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, but generally does not allow recovery for pain and suffering and usually bars suing your own employer.

A third-party claim is different. When someone other than your employer caused the injury, a subcontractor, a general contractor, a property owner, or the maker of defective equipment, you may bring a separate civil claim against that party for the full range of damages, including pain and suffering, that workers’ comp does not cover. When the injury involved defective machinery, that can also support a Deerfield product liability claim. Identifying these third-party claims is one of the most valuable things a construction accident attorney does, and it is easy to miss without a careful investigation into liability.

Common Construction Site Accidents

Construction injuries follow recognizable patterns, and the cause often points to who is responsible:

• Falls from height. Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and open floors are the leading cause of construction deaths.
• Struck-by incidents. Falling tools, materials, or equipment, and moving vehicles on site.
• Electrocutions. Contact with live wires, power lines, and unsafe electrical systems.
• Caught-in or -between. Trench collapses and workers caught in machinery or between objects.
• Equipment and machinery failures. Defective or poorly maintained cranes, lifts, and power tools, which can support a claim against a maker or owner.

Why Choose Jacobson Injury Firm as Your Construction Accident Lawyer in Deerfield, IL?

Preparation Insurers Respect

Construction claims reward thorough investigation, because the interplay between workers’ comp and third-party claims is where real value is found or lost. Adam Jacobson approaches each case with a litigation-driven mindset and readies every matter as though it will reach a courtroom. He earned his law degree from Florida International University College of Law and is admitted to practice in Illinois, Florida, New York, and Connecticut. His Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with a minor in Immunology proves especially useful when medical records and injury causation become central.

Direct Attorney Access and Real Recoveries

Unlike high-volume firms that pass clients between paralegals, Adam personally handles every case from the first phone call to final resolution. He has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and knows the Lake County courts where these cases are decided.

No Fee Unless We Win

Construction accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so there is no retainer and no hourly billing, and a fee is owed only if we recover for you. For the full range of serious injury claims we handle, see our Deerfield personal injury lawyer overview.

Understanding Damages Under Illinois Law

What you can recover depends on whether your claim runs through workers’ comp, a third-party civil claim, or both. Workers’ comp covers medical care and partial lost wages. A third-party claim can add the full range of damages, including complete lost earnings, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Construction injuries frequently include head trauma such as a Deerfield traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, and, in the worst cases, a Deerfield wrongful death.

In a third-party claim, a defendant may argue the worker shared responsibility. Under Illinois’s modified comparative negligence rule in 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, a recovery can be reduced by the injured person’s share of fault, and a person found 51% or more at fault recovers nothing. Clear evidence of the hazard and the responsible party’s role protects the claim.

Important Aspects of a Construction Accident Case

A few factors tend to shape how these claims unfold. Reporting the injury promptly protects your workers’ comp rights, while a parallel investigation identifies any third-party claims. Preserving evidence, including photos of the site, the equipment, and any safety violations, is critical because job sites change quickly. Safety standards from OSHA often establish what should have been done, and a violation can be powerful evidence of negligence in a third-party claim.

The Construction Accident Case Timeline

Every claim runs on its own schedule, but most follow the same path. We protect your workers’ comp benefits, investigate the accident, preserve the evidence, and identify every liable party, including potential third parties beyond your employer. We follow your medical treatment so the claim reflects the full scope of your injuries. We then pursue the third-party claim, submit a demand, and negotiate toward a fair settlement. If the defense refuses a reasonable amount, we file suit and move into discovery, and the case resolves through settlement or, when necessary, a jury trial.

Important Illinois Legal Resources

Illinois law sets the framework for these claims. Workers’ compensation is governed by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 controls how shared blame affects a third-party recovery, and the statute of limitations under 735 ILCS 5/13-202 sets the deadline for civil claims. Federal safety standards come from OSHA.

Construction Accident Lawyer FAQs

Can I sue if I already have workers’ comp?

Often, yes, but not usually against your own employer. Workers’ comp generally bars suing your employer, but it does not prevent a separate third-party claim against someone else who caused your injury, such as a subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer. That third-party claim can recover damages workers’ comp does not, including pain and suffering.

What is a third-party claim in a construction accident?

It is a civil claim against a party other than your employer whose negligence contributed to your injury. Because workers’ comp limits what you can recover, identifying a third party is often where the real value of a construction case lies.

Does an OSHA violation help my case?

It can. A documented OSHA safety violation is strong evidence that a party failed to meet the required standard of care, which supports a negligence claim against a responsible third party. It does not automatically win a case, but it is often an important piece of the evidence.

How long do I have to file a construction accident claim in Illinois?

Workers’ comp has its own reporting deadlines that require prompt action, and a civil third-party claim must generally be filed within the statute of limitations under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Because both clocks matter, it is best to speak with an attorney soon after the injury.

What does it cost to hire a construction accident lawyer?

Nothing upfront. Jacobson Injury Firm handles construction accident cases on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and the initial consultation is free.

Our Deerfield Office

Jacobson Injury Firm serves injured clients throughout Deerfield and Lake County from our office at 570 Lake Cook Road, Suite 300, Deerfield, IL 60015. Our team is available 24 hours a day, and you can reach us at (773) 888-7192 to arrange a free consultation.

Contact Jacobson Injury Firm to Schedule a Consultation

If you were injured on a construction site in Deerfield, you may have more options than workers’ comp alone. A Deerfield construction accident lawyer at our firm can review what happened, protect your benefits, identify every third-party claim, and pursue the full compensation the law allows. Consultations are free, and we work on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover for you. Contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to speak directly with Adam Jacobson.