Worker’s Death in Gurnee Highlights Danger of Run-Over Accidents

Common Equipment Involved in Run-Over Accidents

Illinois job sites, from construction zones to industrial plants, depend on machinery to stay productive. When safety lapses occur, however, the same equipment meant to improve efficiency can cause life-changing harm.

Forklifts, bulldozers, backhoes, skid steers, and dump trucks are among the most common machines involved in run-over accidents. These vehicles are large, heavy, and often have limited visibility. When they move through shared workspaces without alarms, barriers, or proper lighting, the risk to nearby workers increases.

How Run-Over-by-Equipment Injuries Happen

Run-over accidents are rarely freak occurrences. Most are the result of preventable conditions, whether that’s lack of communication on a busy site, poor equipment maintenance, or inadequate safety protocols. 

Common factors contributing to these types of workplace accidents include:

Operator Error and Visibility Issues

Many workplace run-over incidents occur because the equipment operator didn’t see the person they struck. Blind spots on large machinery are a major problem, especially if backup alarms or mirrors aren’t working.

Pedestrian-Vehicle Interaction Zones

Areas where workers and machines move together, like warehouses or open construction areas, are especially dangerous. Without designated walkways, barriers, or warning signals, workers on foot are vulnerable to sudden movements or blind turns.

Falls from Equipment

Some accidents involve a worker falling off a moving vehicle and getting run over. If steps, rails, or ladders aren’t in good shape, or if workers aren't properly trained, the risk increases.

Serious Injuries Caused by Run-Over Accidents

Getting run over by workplace equipment doesn’t just cause minor scrapes. It can leave a worker permanently disabled or worse. The weight and force of machines like forklifts or dump trucks can crush bones, damage internal organs, or sever limbs in seconds.

Common injuries include:

• Crushed limbs or extremities
• Spinal cord damage or paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Multiple fractures or broken bones
• Death

These injuries often require emergency surgery, long-term rehabilitation, and may result in permanent disability or death. In the Gurnee case, the injured worker was hospitalized at Advocate Condell Medical Center, but died days later from blunt force trauma.

Your Rights Under Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law

Illinois workers' compensation is a no-fault system. Therefore, you don’t have to prove your employer did anything wrong. As long as the injury happened while you were working, you may be entitled to benefits.

These benefits typically cover medical bills, lost wages, and disability. In fatal cases, surviving family members may receive death benefits.

What Employers Are Required to Do

Employers can’t eliminate every risk. However, they are legally obligated to minimize dangers on the job site. To this end, they must provide safety training, maintain equipment, and set up the work environment in a way that protects both operators and pedestrians.

Failing to meet those obligations doesn’t just lead to accidents. It can also trigger regulatory investigations or serve as evidence in legal claims.

OSHA Safety Standards and Employer Responsibility

Employers must follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations designed to prevent these accidents. Steps that employers may take toward this end include training workers, maintaining equipment, using alarms or signals, and creating designated zones for vehicle and foot traffic. When companies ignore these responsibilities, workers are put at unnecessary risk.

When Someone Else Is Responsible: Third-Party Claims

Workers’ comp isn’t your only legal option. If a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or outside vendor contributed to your injury, you may have a third-party claim.

Third-party lawsuits allow injured workers to seek additional damages, including pain and suffering and future loss of income. For example, if a defective backup alarm failed to alert the driver before striking someone, the manufacturer could be held liable.

Fatal Run-Over Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims

When a worker dies due to a run-over incident, surviving family members may be entitled to death benefits through workers’ comp. These benefits typically cover burial and funeral expenses, as well as weekly payments to dependents, based on a percentage of the deceased worker’s wages.

However, if someone other than the employer contributed to the accident, such as a contractor or equipment manufacturer, the family may have grounds for a separate wrongful death lawsuit. These cases can provide compensation beyond what workers’ comp allows, including damages for loss of companionship, emotional suffering, and future financial support.

What to Expect After Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Illinois

Once a claim is submitted, the employer’s insurance provider will investigate. They may request medical records, schedule an independent medical exam (IME), and collect witness statements. These early stages can impact how your claim is evaluated and whether benefits are approved.

If your claim is accepted, benefits typically include payment for medical care and lost wages. If it’s denied, you can appeal the decision through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). Many cases settle before a formal hearing takes place.

For families who lose a loved one in a workplace accident, the workers’ compensation process can feel overwhelming. Survivors are often entitled to death benefits. However, these claims can also face pushback from insurers. The benefits if a worker dies on the job may include coverage for funeral costs and a percentage of the worker’s average weekly wage, typically paid to a surviving spouse and children. Navigating this process while grieving is incredibly difficult. Legal support can help ensure the family receives full compensation and explore whether a separate wrongful death claim is also appropriate.

Evidence That Can Support Your Claim

Surveillance footage, witness statements, and maintenance logs can all play a role in proving how the accident occurred. An experienced attorney can move quickly to secure this evidence before it’s altered or lost.

Other valuable forms of documentation include safety inspection reports, incident reports filed with your employer, photographs of the accident scene, and communications between contractors or site supervisors. Cell phone videos captured by coworkers can also serve as crucial evidence. These records not only help establish what went wrong, but also identify whether workplace policies were violated or ignored.

Why Timing and Documentation Matter

You must report your injury to your employer within 45 days under Illinois law. Delays can give the insurance company room to challenge or deny your claim. Even with a timely report, documenting every step of your medical treatment and recovery is critical.

Keeping a daily log of symptoms, medical appointments, and work limitations can strengthen your case. Make sure to keep copies of all paperwork related to your care, including prescriptions, therapy referrals, diagnostic test results, and discharge summaries. The more organized and consistent your records are, the harder it becomes for insurers to downplay or dispute your injuries.

Denied Workers’ Comp Claims: Common Reasons

Workers’ comp insurance providers don’t make money by approving claims. In many serious injury cases, especially those involving long-term disability, they will look for any reason to deny coverage or cut benefits short. For instance, they may deny your claim by arguing:

• You didn’t report the injury soon enough
• Your injury didn’t happen at work
• You violated safety rules or were under the influence
• There’s a dispute over how severe your injury is

These disputes are especially common in serious injury cases involving long-term disability or permanent loss of function.

Depending on the outcome of the toxicology tests, the family of the decedent in the Gurnee incident may face issues dealing with the insurance company for benefits. Allegations of intoxication, whether accurate or not, can be used by insurers to reduce or deny death benefit payouts. In these cases, legal intervention is often necessary to challenge the denial and present supporting evidence, such as eyewitness accounts or medical records that contradict the insurer’s claims.

Protecting Your Future After a Workplace Accident

Run-over-by-equipment injuries aren’t just accidents. They’re often the result of poor training, outdated machinery, or a rushed work environment. If you’ve been hurt, don’t assume the system will take care of you automatically.Illinois workers have rights, and those rights include medical care, lost wage benefits, and, in some cases, additional compensation through a third-party lawsuit. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help you understand your options, avoid costly mistakes, and hold the right parties accountable. To discuss your case, contact our team at Strong Law Offices in Bloomington. Call 309-393-2928 to schedule a free initial consultation.