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Warehouse workers at Amazon face similar hazards to workers in any other warehouse. However, according to one study, Amazon workers get injured more than twice as many times as workers in other warehouse jobs. In 2021, there were more than 34,000 serious injuries to employees while on the job at Amazon facilities. Among all warehouse workers in the United States, Amazon employees make up roughly one-third of these workers, but nearly half of all injuries (49%)  happened at Amazon facilities.
Like any personal injury lawsuit, you’ll first need to prove that another person or business entity is responsible for your injuries and was negligent. Where a case becomes more complicated for a self-employed person is in the calculation of lost wages. If you work for someone else, either as an hourly or salaried employee, it is rather straightforward to calculate how many hours or days of work you lost due to your injuries and provide a letter stating what regular compensation and bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation you missed out on. You can also include any sick, vacation, or bonus days you had to use during your hospitalization and recovery. If you are self-employed, the process becomes more complicated.
If you’ve been injured on the job, you’ll need to file a claim first with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. In Illinois, you’re allowed to select your own doctor to treat workers’ comp injuries. This is so that you have a better chance of securing a physician who has your recovery and best interests in mind, rather than one who has a vested interest in the insurance company’s profits.  You will, however, need to secure a doctor who accepts workers’ comp insurance, so make sure you let them know upfront that you were injured on the job, and it will be the company’s insurance policy paying. The doctor will need to know this information ahead of time because the insurer will certainly require the doctor to obtain authorization before performing certain treatments or tests.
If you were injured in a trucking accident in Chicago, Berwyn, Oak Lawn, Cicero, or a nearby community, call the injury attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law for a free consultation.

Call: 773-838-8100

Are Chicago construction sites more dangerous for women than men?

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Wide angle view at construction site with unfinished residential buildings against blue sky

It was not too long ago that Chicago employers held on tightly to traditional notions of gender roles in the workplace. Certain jobs were for men only, while fewer jobs were open to women only, and that was that. Such barriers continue to break down today, and more and more women are succeeding in jobs that used to be held out of their reach, and the same is true of men. A perfect example of this is the construction workforce, which experienced an influx of 81.3 percent more female workers from 1985 to 2007.

Since 2007, however, the number of women working in construction has steadily declined. Part of the reason women have left the industry, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is because it is very dangerous. Although employers are legally obligated to provide all employees with working conditions that are free of hazards, construction sites are full of safety and health risks that specifically endanger women.

One very significant problem is the fact that much of the protective gear that is used on construction sites is designed for men. The gear often does not fit women, and as a result it fails to protect them from injuries.

According to the National Association of Women in Construction, women also face hazards related to workplace culture, training and ergonomics. NAWIC has now partnered with OSHA in order to focus on mitigating these very serious safety risks.

Employers of construction workers in Illinois should be aware that they are required by law to provide safe working conditions and training for all of their employees. Even if only one employee is female, female-specific safety concerns must be addressed. Preventable safety risks should not be a barrier to employment.

Those who are injured in construction accidents, whether they are male or female, should contact a construction accident attorney. Workers’ compensation benefits should be available to injured workers and in some cases employers or other parties should be held liable.

Source: Risk and Insurance, “Partnership targets women at risk in construction,” Oct. 21, 2013
Source: OSHA.gov, “Women in Construction,” 2013

About the Author

Kurt D. Lloyd is a plaintiff’s trial lawyer who focuses on medical malpractice and other catastrophic injury cases. He lives in Chicago and represents injured clients throughout Illinois. He is also the founder of Lloyd Law Group, Ltd.

Chicago accident lawyer Kurt D. Lloyd