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 such as reclaimers and recyclers.

Reclaimers, sometimes known as a recycler or road recycler, are specialized pieces of road making equipment. Reclaimers can be used to grind asphalt pavement, or if they are a combination unit, they can grind and stabilize the soil as they blend cement, foaming asphalt, and/or lime with water and the existing pavement to create a new road surface more efficiently and with less disruption to the municipality and traffic. While an essential piece of equipment in the paving industry, reclaimers and recyclers are not without risk.

If you have been injured in a reclaimer and recycler 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.

Like other pieces of heavy machinery, reclaimers and recyclers are large, bulky, and at-risk for rollovers, crushing accidents, and crashes. Operators of such equipment should be thoroughly trained in the safe usage of each machine they are working with and a regular, routine maintenance schedule should be followed to ensure that the reclaimer and recycler is safe. Finally, only a reclaimer and recycler that is free from defects both in design and/or manufacture should be used to avoid serious or deadly accidents and injuries.

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 attorney 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 injury 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.