The men and women who keep our roadways working safely and efficiently perform an essential duty. Unfortunately, these workers are also at risk for a wide variety of job-related injuries. If you or a loved one were hurt in an accident while working on a road or highway, you may be able to take legal action and recover monetary damages. Depending on the type of worker and the circumstances of the accident, an injured road worker may be covered by workers' compensation. However, it may also be possible to recover compensation through a personal injury claim.

Third-Party Liability for Injured Road Construction Workers

In Illinois, workers' compensation insurance is required for businesses with one or more employees. If an injured worker is an employee who was hurt on the job, he or she may be able to recover compensation for medical bills and part of their lost income through workers' compensation.

However, if a worker is a contractor, he or she may not have workers' compensation coverage. Fortunately, there is another option. If a third party causes a highway worker's injuries, that party may be liable for damages. Common examples of third-party liability include defective road repair equipment, unsafe driving by other motorists, and improper maintenance or construction of the work site. The liable party may be a driver, the manufacturer or designer of defective equipment, a government entity, or any other party whose negligence caused the accident.

The ability to see is one ability that most people take for granted. Seeing allows us to drive, read, interact easily with computer screens and smartphones, and generally go about our everyday lives. An accident resulting in a loss of vision can leave victims feeling helpless and isolated from the world. Injuries resulting in vision loss or blindness are some of the most devastating injuries a person can experience, and the devastation is compounded when the injury is caused by another party's negligent actions.

Filing a personal injury claim may be a viable option for individuals in this situation. 

Accidents Resulting in Eye Injuries or Vision Loss

Sadly, many accidents resulting in vision loss are entirely preventable. Incidents resulting in eye injuries or vision loss can occur from a wide range of circumstances, including:

Springfield, Illinois and the surrounding areas are a unique combination of farmland and cities. Because of this, it is common to see farm animals roaming around the area, sometimes near roads. Unfortunately, these animals can cause severe car accidents if they are not contained properly. If you or a loved one were in a car crash caused by a farm animal, you may be able to take legal action and recover financial compensation for your damages.

Accidents Caused by Cows and Other Livestock

Illinois is ranked fourth in the country for auto collisions involving animals. When they are not contained by a fence or structure, animals like cows, horses, or pigs can wander into the road and cause an accident. Drivers may strike the animal head-on or swerve to avoid missing the animal, only to collide with another vehicle or object. Accidents caused by farm animals often leave vehicle occupants with physical injuries, vehicle damage, and substantial financial losses. In some cases, accidents caused by livestock are fatal.

Who is Legally Responsible if a Farm Animal Causes a Collision?

Generally, the property owner or livestock keeper may be liable for damages resulting from a car accident caused by one of their animals. Farmers and livestock owners are expected to keep their animals contained. The Illinois Domestic Animals Running at Large Act holds property owners and keepers of animals liable for damages resulting from their animals running "at large" or running around freely.

Catastrophic injuries are injuries that lead to significant, long-lasting impairment. When we think about catastrophic injuries, pileup car accidents or explosive industrial accidents may come to mind. However, slip and fall accidents can also cause catastrophic injuries.

Each year, thousands of people suffer from serious injuries due to slips and falls on unsafe premises. Often, these incidents occur in places like grocery stores, office buildings, or restaurants where property owners have neglected to keep the premises free of dangerous conditions. If you or a loved one were severely injured in a slip and fall accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your damages.

When Falling Down Leads to Life-Changing Injuries

Slip and fall accidents can cause catastrophic injuries including spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries. These types of injuries typically require long-term medical treatment and physical therapy, resulting in expensive medical bills. The injured person may experience life-changing symptoms that dramatically reduce his or her quality of life, including:

Working in an office is typically seen as less dangerous than professions requiring physical labor. However, this does not mean that serious injuries cannot occur in an office environment. The most common workers' compensation claims involving office employees involve injuries caused by repetitive motions or repetitive strain on a specific body part.

Office workers are just as entitled to compensation through workers' compensation as employees in other lines of work. Unfortunately, however, office workers often have a difficult time getting their claim approved. Because office environments are usually seen as less dangerous, there is a tendency to think that workers should not be able to obtain compensation for injuries sustained in the workplace. This is simply not true.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Caused by Typing

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common workers' compensation claims among office employees. This disorder is caused by repetitive activities, such as typing at a computer for an extended period. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, and stiffness in the hands, wrists, and arms.