Shoulder Spreader Accidents

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 shoulder spreaders.

Shoulder spreaders, also known as road wideners, are used for shouldering and side paving applications, including road widening, shouldering, patching, trench backfilling, bike lane construction, and curb backfilling. Shoulder spreaders are more efficient than the traditional methods of moving materials with a bucket loader, hand shoveling, and smoothing with a motor grader, however, they are not without risk.

If you have been injured in a shoulder spreader accident, contact 844 See Mike 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, 844 See Mike 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.

Shoulder spreaders are large, bulky, and have multiple blind spots, requiring multiple workers to “spot” the machine while it is in use. This means employees will be walking around the machinery, which can put them at risk for being crushed. Not only should the employee operating the shoulder spreader be thoroughly trained in its safe usage, but so should the employees tasked with working in a secondary capacity.

In addition, employees should not ride the shoulder spreader unless it has space for passengers, the spreader should be routinely maintained, and never should a shoulder spreader be used that is in any way defective in design and/or manufacture. By not following these standards, accidents, many of which can be serious and deadly, could occur.

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 844 See Mike 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 michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.