While your medical care comes first, the steps you take right after the incident can strongly affect your ability to recover in Illinois.
- Report the injury immediately to the supervisor or site manager and request that it be documented.
- Preserve evidence: photos of the hazard, the area where you fell/struck/injured yourself, and any safety signage, barriers, or missing guarding.
- Write down a timeline while it’s fresh—weather conditions, site activity, who was working near you, and what you were told to do.
- Get contact info for witnesses (even if it’s someone from another trade or a delivery crew).
- Be careful with statements to contractors, insurers, or anyone asking “what happened.” In Illinois, an early account can be used later to dispute causation or minimize damages.
If you’re unsure what to preserve or how to respond to questions, an attorney can guide you so your actions don’t accidentally weaken your claim.


