CONSTRUCTION INJURY CASE SETTLED BY KROLL FOR $1.1 MILLION
The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll has settled a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of Donald M. Dolph, 51, for $1.1 Million. The settlement also includes waiver of a workers' compensation lien, which was in excess of $500,000. Judge Haddad in the Circuit Court of Cook County entered the settlement order on December 8, 2008.
The lawsuit arises out of the February 7, 2004 incident wherein Mr. Dolph, a union ironworker, was operating a scissors lift at a warehouse project in Romeoville, IL. It was Mr. Dolph’s first day on the job site. The scissors lift, which was extended to 40 ft., fell over as it entered a 22x22x1.5 ft. excavation that was covered with snow. Mr. Dolph did not see the snow-covered excavation and fractured his left ankle and right heel bone. As a result of the severe injuries, Mr. Dolph contended that he was unable to continue working as an ironworker. The settling defendants were Kajima Construction Services, Inc. and A.A. Conte & Son, Inc.
The lawsuit alleged that the defendants should have warned Mr. Dolph of the excavation by placing barricades, marking or backfilling the excavation. If the excavation had been barricaded, this career-ending accident would not have occurred.
It is imperative that construction sites be maintained to ensure safety for all of the workers. When there are a number of trades working on a site, it may be unclear what hazards have been created; therefore, the general contractor and the creator of the hazard have to take measures to make the site safe for all of the workers.
If you have been injured due to negligence on a construction site, we understand that these are life-altering injuries and that you need an experienced attorney working on your behalf.
