Union vs. Non-Union Construction Worker Injuries

Experienced Chicago Construction Accident Attorney

It’s important to understand your rights as a worker if you were injured on the job. Construction sites can be extremely hazardous, especially if the worksite is located on the roadside, at great heights, or around heavy machinery and building equipment. If you suffer a serious injury while at work, we can help you obtain the full and complete compensation you deserve.

Why Choose Us?

At Morici, Longo & Associates, our construction accident attorneys have dedicated their careers to helping the injured throughout the Chicago area and the Midwest Since 1998, our firm has fought for the rights of those injured in personal injury cases and those seeking workers’ compensation benefits. We are a nine lawyer firm , we possess theresources to provide each client with the personalized legal care and attention they deserve. We have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients, and we want to help you too.

Construction accidents can be extremely damaging and may result in several different types of injuries, including:

• Broken bones
• Muscle injuries
• Head injuries
• Burns
• Electrocution
• Lacerations
• Puncture wounds

Workers might trip or slip on debris, be injured by faulty or dangerous construction equipment or tools, be struck by a falling objects, fall fromgreat heights, or suffer any number of injuries caused by hazardous working conditions.

How Could Union Work Affect Your Situation

Statistically speaking, union work is considered safer and far less likely to result in a serious injury. Non-union workers face a greater risk because their construction sites tend to be more dangerous than union sites. A study by New York Occupational Safety and Health found that almost all of the construction sites monitored my OSHA for severe safety violations were not unionized. These sites contained two or more willful or repeated violations of safety regulations despite the fact that these regulations are put in place to protect construction workers and bystanders alike.

Because of this negligence, non-union workers may face a greater risk of becoming injured at work. In fact, it’s also more likely that workers injured on these sites will have a more difficult time obtaining workers’ compensation benefits than a union worker.

Union vs. Non-Union Workers’ Compensation Benefits

According to a study published in Industrial and Labor Relations Review, union workers have a far greater chance of obtaining workers’ comp benefits after an accident. The main reason is that union workers have easier access to relevant information about workers’ compensation benefits and can figure out how to file the appropriate forms without too much hassle.

Union supervisors are also much less likely to discourage their workers from filing claims, unlike non-union supervisors. In addition, union workers are much less likely to fear negative repercussions for reporting an injury. Simply put, non-union workers may keep quiet about their injury because they fear they’ll lose work.

Injured? We Can Help!

Dealing with a workplace injury can be extremely difficult, whether you’re a union or non-union worker. Construction work is particularly hazardous, which means the injuries may be more severe, damaging, or even life-threatening. If you were injured while working construction, our firm can work with you to seek maximum compensation for any damages you suffered as a result of your injury.

Contact Morici, Longo & Associates to schedule a free consultation with our Chicago personal injury attorneys.