Construction Worker Injured by Delivery Truck in Peoria County: Third-Party Liability & Workers’ Compensation

A construction worker was injured in a Peoria County construction zone after a delivery van crossed into a closed lane and struck an excavator on Maxwell Road. Although the injuries were not described as life-threatening, the incident raises serious legal issues for construction workers in Peoria County, Bloomington, and across central Illinois, particularly when a work-related injury is caused by someone outside the worker’s employer. 

According to authorities, the impact threw the worker from the equipment, resulting in a hand injury and a head laceration that required hospital treatment. The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office cited the delivery van driver for improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and injuring a worker in a construction zone. Investigators reported the driver overcorrected before entering the closed lane, leading to the crash.

In situations such as this, Illinois law may allow an injured worker to pursue workers’ compensation benefits and, in some cases, a third-party personal injury claim. If you’ve suffered injuries in a work-related accident due to another’s negligence, contact our workers’ comp lawyers at Strong Law Offices to discuss your options and next steps. Call 309-393-2928 for a free consultation.

Workers’ Compensation Applies Even When a Third Party Is at Fault

Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, most employees injured in the course of their job are entitled to benefits regardless of who caused the accident. This includes injuries caused by drivers, vendors, or other non-employees who enter a construction zone.

Workers’ compensation benefits may include payment for medical treatment, partial wage replacement while the worker is unable to work, and compensation for permanent impairment if the injury results in lasting limitations. Fault does not need to be proven to receive these benefits, and the worker does not need to show that the employer acted negligently.

In a construction zone crash like this one, workers’ compensation typically serves as the first source of financial support for the injured worker.

When a Delivery Driver May Create Third-Party Liability

While workers’ compensation limits lawsuits against an employer, it does not prevent claims against third parties whose negligence caused or contributed to the injury.

In this case, the cited delivery van driver was not employed by the construction company. If that driver’s actions caused the collision, the injured worker may have grounds to pursue a third-party personal injury claim against the driver and, potentially, the driver’s employer.

Third-party claims may allow recovery for damages that workers’ compensation does not cover, including pain and suffering, full wage loss, and reduced future earning capacity. These claims are handled separately from the workers’ compensation case and follow different legal standards.

How Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims Interact

Illinois law allows injured workers to pursue both workers’ compensation benefits and a third-party injury claim at the same time. However, the two claims are legally connected.

If a worker receives a settlement or verdict in a third-party case, the workers’ compensation insurer may have a right to reimbursement for benefits already paid. This is known as a workers’ compensation lien. How that lien is calculated, reduced, or resolved can affect the worker’s final recovery.

Because of this overlap, coordination between claims is critical. Mistakes can delay benefits or reduce the overall compensation available to the injured worker.

Construction Zone Accidents in Central Illinois

Construction zones across Bloomington-Normal, Peoria County, and surrounding areas frequently involve a mix of heavy equipment and high-speed traffic. Delivery vehicles, commercial vans, and passenger cars passing through these zones pose a known risk to workers on site.

Illinois law imposes heightened responsibilities on drivers traveling through work zones. Citations for lane violations or failure to slow down can play an important role in determining liability when a worker is injured.

When a motorist’s conduct puts a construction worker at risk, the legal consequences may extend beyond traffic citations and into civil liability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive workers’ compensation if a delivery driver caused my injury?

Yes. Workers’ compensation benefits apply even when a third party, such as a delivery driver, caused the accident. Fault does not affect eligibility.

Can I file a lawsuit against the driver and still receive workers’ comp?

Yes. Illinois law allows injured workers to receive workers’ compensation benefits while pursuing a third-party personal injury claim against a negligent driver. You may, however, be subject to paying back any recovered compensation for medical expenses to the workers’ comp provider.

What compensation is available through a third-party claim?

A third-party claim may allow recovery for pain and suffering, full wage loss, and future earning limitations, damages not available under workers’ compensation alone.

Understanding Your Rights After a Third-Party Work Zone Injury

The Peoria County construction zone crash underscores a reality many workers in Bloomington and central Illinois face: job site injuries are not always caused by employers or coworkers. When a delivery driver or other third party enters a work zone and causes harm, Illinois law may allow injured workers to rely on workers’ compensation while also exploring a separate personal injury claim.

Understanding how these claims work together, and how issues like third-party liability and workers’ compensation liens affect recovery, matters. These cases often involve multiple insurers, overlapping legal rules, and high financial stakes for injured workers and their families.

Strong Law Offices represents construction workers across Peoria County and the Bloomington-Normal area, helping them pursue fair compensation when job site injuries involve outside negligence. To discuss your rights under Illinois law, call 309-393-2928 to speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer who understands how these cases are handled. We offer free initial consultations.