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Roofing Injuries

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Working on residential or commercial roofs is dangerous and frequently causes severe and sometimes fatal injuries. A hard fall resulting from improper work practices or failing to provide appropriate safety devices like a scaffold, manlift or fall protection may cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills and keep you out of work for weeks or months. Who’s liable for your injuries in these situations, and how do you get the resources you need to heal and pay your bills?          

Levin, Riback & Adelman has the answers you’re looking for. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers can investigate the accident to determine whether someone’s carelessness, failing to provide safety equipment or defective equipment caused your injury. If so, we can take steps to help you recover fair compensation. We’ll handle all the legal and investigative work so you can focus on healing. We can also use our experience with workers’ compensation claims to help you claim these benefits if you qualify. Call now or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation.

Why You Need a Chicago Roofing Injury Lawyer

Seeking legal help is essential if you suffered injuries in a Chicago roofing accident. The legal process can be overwhelming, especially when you’re potentially dealing with both a workers’ compensation claim and a potential personal injury lawsuit against the contractor that caused your injury. You must make sure you understand your rights and give yourself the best chance of recovering fair compensation.                                                      

An experienced roofing injury lawyer in Chicago can help you sort through these issues, determine who may be responsible, and fight on your behalf for full compensation. Whether your injury resulted from faulty equipment, poor safety practices, or someone’s negligence, a lawyer can explain your legal options and guide you every step of the way. Your attorney can also investigate whether you qualify for workers’ comp benefits, which can provide badly needed financial support while you heal.

Why Choose Us for Your Roofing Injury Case?

Your choice of attorney after a roofing injury can significantly affect your case’s outcome and your potential compensation. Levin, Riback & Adelman has protected the rights of injured Illinois residents since 1956, giving us nearly 70 years of experience to call on. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients, including a settlement worth almost $2 million for a sheet metal worker who fell off a school roof during its construction (I don’t know this case. Do you know which one it was?). We will make the legal process as painless as possible for you and promptly answer any questions or concerns you have. If whoever caused your injury doesn’t offer a fair deal or your employer refuses to pay your rightful workers’ comp benefits, we’re not afraid to take your case before a judge.

Common Causes of Roofing Injuries

Some common causes of roofing injuries and accidents include:

  • Falls from ladders, scaffolding, or rooftops
  • Slipping on loose shingles, wet surfaces, or debris
  • Collapsing roof structures or skylights
  • Electrocution from overhead power lines or faulty wiring
  • Falling tools, materials, or equipment
  • Improper use or failure to provide appropriate safety gear
  • Inadequate training or lack of supervision
  • Unsafe work practices or poor job site coordination

Who’s Liable for Roofing Injuries in Chicago and Cook County?

Multiple parties could be liable for your injuries while doing roofing work, such as:

  • Property owners – Whoever owns the property you were working on could be liable if they knew about dangerous roof conditions (rotted wood, weak structural supports, etc.) and failed to fix them or warn you beforehand.
  • General contractors – Contractors who oversee roofing projects and coordinate job site safety could be liable if they ignored hazards or pressured you to work in unsafe conditions to meet deadlines.
  • Subcontractors – When you have many subcontractors across multiple trades working on a roofing project, one worker’s careless mistake—like dropping tools from above or removing safety rails—can cause severe injuries.
  • Roofing companies or employers – The Illinois workers’ compensation system generally bars personal injury cases against employers. However, an employer might be liable in a personal injury case if they try to deny worker’s compensation benefits. Our firm has successfully handled many personal injury cases directly against an employer that tries to deny worker’s compensation benefits.
  • Property managers or maintenance firms – These individuals or businesses could be liable if they ignored requests to repair roof access points, failed to secure loose materials, or didn’t follow safety inspection procedures.
  • Architects or engineers – In some cases, flawed building plans or poor structural design can contribute to roofing accidents, especially if the plans don’t account for worker safety during construction or repairs.

Compensation in Personal Injury Claims for Roofing Injuries

Every roofing injury claim is different because your injuries, lost income, and other losses aren’t the same as those of another injured roofer. While the amount varies from case to case, what doesn’t change is the losses for which you can demand compensation. Those include:

  • Your current and future medical expenses
  • Your lost income and reduced future earnings
  • Your pain and suffering
  • Your emotional distress
  • Your diminished quality of life
  • Your damaged personal property (if applicable)

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Roofing Injuries

Most employees in Illinois, including most part-time and seasonal employees, qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, independent contractors are one notable category of workers who don’t qualify. If you’re an independent contractor and not an employee, you might not be eligible for workers’ comp benefits. That said, don’t assume you don’t qualify simply because your employer classifies you as a contractor, as your job duties and other factors determine whether you’re eligible for workers’ comp. The contractor may be liable for damages in a personal injury case. 

For eligible employees, workers’ comp provides no-fault benefits to support you after an on-the-job injury. Your benefits could include:

  • Medical benefits – Your employer must cover the full cost of your medical treatments if they approve your workers’ comp claims. These benefits cover the cost of doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and more. You don’t owe any deductibles or co-pays.
  • Temporary total disability (TTD) – TTD pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage if your injuries prevent you from working entirely. You receive weekly benefit checks until you can return to your job or further treatments won’t meaningfully improve your condition. While the state places limits on these benefits, the maximum amount changes every year to account for inflation.
  • Temporary partial disability (TPD) – You might be able to return to restricted work with your injuries and earn less than before. In these situations, TPD benefits pay two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury earnings and what you now make.
  • Permanent partial disability (PPD) – If your injuries result in a permanent impairment of some part of your body, you may be entitled to PPD benefits. The benefit amount depends on the affected body part and the severity of your injury.
  • Permanent total disability (PTD) – Should your roofing injuries prevent you from working ever again, PTD benefits pay two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wage for life.
  • Vocational rehabilitation – If your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job, workers’ comp may cover the cost of retraining or job placement service to help you find new work.
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Contact Our Chicago Roofing Injury Attorneys

No matter what caused your injuries or who’s to blame, Levin, Riback & Adelman can protect your rights and help you recover fair compensation. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.