Illinois Road Workers Face High Rates of Injury

Chicago, IL (Law Firm Newswire) January 16, 2015 – Road workers are at high risk for on-the-job injuries in Illinois and elsewhere in the United States. In the United States, 20,000 road workers are injured annually in work zones, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

“Road workers are at an increased risk of on-the-job injuries,” said Robert Briskman, a work injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg in Chicago. “Injured workers deserve compensation.”

There were more than 100 on-the-job fatalities among road workers from 2009 to 2013. Injuries and fatalities to road workers comprise more than 1.5 percent of total work-related injuries in the United States.

Road construction work zones are often the site of accidents that cause injuries to workers. In Illinois, there were 4,863 traffic collisions in work zones in 2013, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. These accidents caused 1,525 injuries and 24 deaths.

Work zone accidents may be caused by negligent drivers, including drivers who are impaired, fatigued or failing to follow the speed limit or obey other traffic laws in work zones. Illinois law provides for enhanced penalties for speeding in a work zone, including a possible prison sentence when an accident results. Work zone accidents may also be caused by inadequate warning signs or another failure to follow proper safety procedures on the employer’s part.

Road workers who have suffered on-the-job injuries may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. In some cases, a personal injury lawsuit is another possible option to obtain compensation. Injured workers should consult with an attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced with both workers’ compensation law and personal injury law.