Construction is one of the most dangerous careers in America, with one in ten construction workers injured each year while working on the roads, infrastructure, and buildings across the country. This often involves the use of dangerous and heavy equipment and hazardous situations such as the inspection of sewers and pipes.

Pipeline work is dangerous work, whether it be water, oil, gas, propane, or other hazardous liquid. Over 50% of the nation’s pipelines were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, with some built even earlier. These pipes are aging and need frequent maintenance and inspection, as do newly constructed sewers, pipes, and septic tanks. Inspection equipment used in sewers and pipes can be large, bulky, and dangerous, putting employees and bystanders at-risk for serious, and sometimes deadly accidents.

If you have been injured in a sewer and pipe inspection equipment accident, contact Mike Agruss Law for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, Mike Agruss Law is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

It is imperative that operators of heavy equipment are fully trained in its safe usage and only use equipment that is routinely maintained and free from defects in design and/or manufacture. This includes inspection equipment used for sewers and pipes such as combination sewer cleaners, truck- and trailer jets, rodders, easement machines, and bucket machines. It is also important that workers understand the risks of sewer and pipe inspection including trench collapse, pipe rupture, and the release of hazardous gasses, all of which can cause injuries and fatalities.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH ACT), employers have an obligation to maintain a safe working environment and follow the regulations of OSHA. If the employer, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or another employee fails to follow the appropriate standards of care and their actions or inactions cause an accident, they could be liable for the injuries and damages their negligence caused.

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides benefits, including medical and rehabilitation expenses, partial wages, and disability benefits to an injured worker regardless of who was at-fault for the accident. Workers compensation does typically prohibit an employee from suing their employer for the accident, however, there may be other options including filing a claim against a negligent third-party, such as a subcontractor, vendor, defective equipment designer and/or manufacturer, or general contractor who is not the employee’s direct employer.

Construction accidents are often complex, involving multiple parties and defendants. This is why it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to determine your rights under Illinois law.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to negligence on the job site or a defective product, the lawyers at Mike Agruss Law can review your claim and determine if there were unsafe working conditions, potential OSHA violations, and other hazards that may have existed at the time of your accident. They will also determine who may be liable for your injuries and damages and what compensation you may be entitled to.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 1,000 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 135 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at [email protected] or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.