On Wednesday night, November 11, part of a building at North Broadway and East Galena Boulevard in downtown Aurora collapsed, injuring three people and crushing a pickup truck under the debris. Reports say the injuries were minor, but the scene was a sobering reminder of how quickly a routine night in Aurora can turn dangerous.
According to ABC7 Chicago, the building's upper floors were vacant, and a barber shop operates on the ground floor. City officials said they do not yet know why the roof and part of the structure failed. Scaffolding had been installed months earlier for planned facade repairs, and the property already had an open code case with the city.
No one should assume who is at fault until investigators finish their work. But events like this raise questions many Aurora families ask after any construction or building-related accident: who is responsible, and what are my rights if I am hurt? At MDR LAW LLC, we are experienced personal injury attorneys who know how to use Illinois law to approach this type of negligence.
Why Construction and Building Accidents Happen
Construction sites and aging or under-repair buildings carry real hazards for workers, tenants, customers, and people walking or driving nearby.
Common causes include:
- Structural failures, such as roof, wall, or facade collapses caused by deferred maintenance or poor design
- Falls from scaffolding, ladders, or roofs, and falling bricks, tools, or debris
- Inadequate or improperly installed scaffolding, shoring, and protective canopies
- Skipped safety inspections or ignored code violations
- Poor training and supervision, or missing safety equipment
- Heavy equipment accidents and unsafe site conditions
A single accident often involves several parties, which is why these cases are rarely simple. Potentially responsible parties can include property owners, landlords, general contractors, subcontractors, scaffolding companies, engineers or architects, equipment manufacturers, and property managers. Each owed a duty of care to those who could foreseeably be harmed, and each may have a different insurer and a different story about who was in charge.
Proving Negligence Under Illinois Law
Most construction accident claims rest on negligence, which means someone failed to act with reasonable care and that failure hurt you.
To succeed, an injured person generally must show four things:
- Duty: The defendant owed you a legal duty of care, such as keeping a property reasonably safe or following safety codes on a job site.
- Breach: The defendant failed to meet that duty, for example by ignoring a known structural problem or cutting corners on scaffolding.
- Causation: That breach directly caused the accident and your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered real losses, such as medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering.
Property owners and occupiers in Illinois have specific duties under the state's Premises Liability Act, which requires reasonable care toward people lawfully on the property. Building codes, city property standards, and OSHA safety rules do not automatically prove negligence, but violations can be strong evidence that a party failed to act reasonably.
Illinois also follows a modified comparative fault rule. If a jury finds you partly responsible, your compensation is reduced by your share of fault. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover damages. Insurance companies know this rule well and often try to shift blame onto the injured person, which is one reason it helps to have a lawyer on your side early.
In many cases, the cause of a collapse is not obvious. Proving it can require structural engineers, building inspectors, surveillance video, permit and inspection histories, and contracts showing who controlled the site. Evidence like this can disappear quickly once cleanup and repairs begin.
Injuries and Damages Victims May Recover
Even accidents first described as minor can lead to lasting problems. Back, neck, and head injuries may not show their full effects for days or weeks.
Construction and collapse accidents commonly cause:
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries and herniated discs
- Lacerations, burns, and puncture wounds
- Internal injuries
- Psychological trauma, including anxiety and PTSD
In a successful personal injury claim, Illinois law allows victims to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. These can include current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation and physical therapy, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, property damage (such as a vehicle crushed by falling debris), pain and suffering, disability or disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. When a loved one is killed, certain family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.
Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a result. What a good attorney can do is document the full scope of your losses so you do not settle for less than your claim is worth.
What to Do After a Construction Accident in Aurora
The steps you take in the first days can protect both your health and your claim:
- Get medical care right away. Even if you feel fine, some injuries show up later. Follow your doctor's instructions and keep every record.
- Report the accident. If you were working, tell your employer promptly. Illinois law sets a short window for giving notice of a work injury, so do not wait.
- Document the scene. If you can, take photos and video of the damage, hazards, scaffolding, and your injuries, and collect names and contact details for witnesses.
- Preserve evidence. Keep damaged clothing, equipment, and vehicles, and save texts, emails, and receipts.
- Be careful with insurers. Adjusters may call quickly and ask for recorded statements. You are not required to give one without advice, and early settlement offers are often low.
- Avoid posting about it online. Social media posts can be used to dispute your injuries.
- Talk to a personal injury lawyer promptly.
Time limits matter. In most Illinois personal injury cases, the deadline to file a lawsuit is two years from the date of the injury, and workers' compensation claims have their own deadlines. Claims involving a government body can carry much shorter notice and filing requirements. Waiting can cost you the right to recover at all, so speak with an attorney as soon as you can to confirm the deadlines that apply to your situation.
How Our Illinois Personal Injury Firm Can Help
A construction or building accident can leave you facing medical bills, missed paychecks, and a stack of questions, all while you are trying to heal. You should not have to take on the property owners, contractors, and insurance companies by yourself.
When you hire our firm, we can:
- Investigate the accident, preserve evidence, and work with engineers and other experts to find out what went wrong
- Identify every party who may be legally responsible, including owners, contractors, and subcontractors
- Handle communications with insurance companies so you can focus on recovery
- Calculate the full value of your claim, including future care and lost earning capacity
- Coordinate a workers' compensation claim and a third-party lawsuit when both apply
- Negotiate for fair compensation and, if the other side will not offer it, take your case to court
We work with injured people and families across Aurora, Kane County, and throughout the state. Our team handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning no attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a construction accident or building collapse in Aurora, call MDR LAW LLC at (312) 500-7944 or contact us online today for a free case review.