Window Washer Accidents in Illinois: Workers’ Comp and Injury Claims 

A window washer accident usually starts with a piece of equipment: a swing stage that tips, a rope that frays, or a roof anchor that was never inspected. Workers’ compensation covers your medical bills and lost wages no matter who caused the fall, and in many cases a separate claim against the building owner or equipment maker is also available. 

Helping Illinois Employees Recover Benefits for Window-Cleaning Injuries

Window washers serve clients across Illinois. These employees face unique challenges because of their job duties, and these concerns can cause serious injuries. If you are in this line of work and get hurt on the job, you can pursue window washing accident workers’ compensation. This insurance can cover some of your financial losses during recovery.

At IL Work Injury Lawyer, we know what it takes to secure the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve. From our Chicago office, we have worked with window washers across Illinois, helping them earn fair compensation for work-related injuries.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Window Washing Accidents in Illinois?

Window washing can be a hazardous business for multiple reasons. 

Here are some of the most common causes of accidents that lead to window washing injuries:

• Falls from ladders, scaffolding, or suspended platforms on tall buildings
• Slips, trips, and falls on wet surfaces or due to high winds
• Equipment failure, including ropes, harnesses, safety belts, and anchors
• Electrocution from contact with electrical wires
• Falling objects striking workers or pedestrians, especially on the head
• Chemical exposure from window cleaning solutions

A high-rise window washing accident rarely comes down to just “a fall”, it usually traces back to one specific piece of equipment. A suspended scaffold accident can happen when a cable or pulley gives out, and a building maintenance unit failure can drop the platform without warning. Below is a closer look at the equipment side of a window cleaner fall, including how scaffolding and ladder falls compare to other equipment failures:

What Are Common Injuries Sustained in Window Cleaning Accidents?

Window cleaning accidents can cause a wide range of injuries. Even mild accidents could put you out of work for an extended period while you recover. 

Here are common injuries covered by workers’ comp that are associated with the window cleaning process:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from falls
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Back and neck injuries
• Severe lacerations
• Burns from electrical contact or chemicals
• Muscle sprains and strains
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What Benefits Are Available to Injured Workers in Illinois?

The Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) lists the compensatory coverage you could be eligible for as an injured window washer. If the injury arose out of and in the course of your employment, you have a right to apply for payments through your employer’s insurance company. 

Let’s explore the primary benefits you can obtain from a window washing accident:

• Medical expense coverage – Coverage for hospital care, surgery, rehabilitation, and medication
• Temporary total disability (TTD) – Covers income losses while you are out of work
• Temporary partial disability (TPD) – Covers the difference in wages due to diminished working capabilities
• Permanent partial disability (PPD) – Ongoing payments for the difference in income after your injury
• Permanent total disability (PTD) – Ongoing payments to replace missing wages from a permanent disability
• Vocational rehabilitation and maintenance benefits – Costs associated with training for a new role
• Death workers’ comp benefits for surviving dependents – Family members can apply for upfront and ongoing payments

How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim After a Window Cleaning Accident in Illinois

Follow the right steps to give your claim the best chance of success. Here is what you should do after a window cleaning accident:

• Report the injury to your employer within 45 days of your diagnosis
• Seek immediate medical attention and ensure the injury is documented as work-related
• Document the incident with photos, accident reports, and witness statements
• File an Application for Adjustment of Claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) to protect your rights
• Keep thorough records of medical expenses, lost wages, and out-of-pocket costs
• Work with our expert attorneys to ensure all benefits are calculated fairly, including Average Weekly Wage (AWW) adjustments for seasonal or high-risk work
• Request the anchorage certification and inspection records from the building owner or property manager
• Photograph the anchors, tiebacks, and suspended equipment before anything is removed or repaired
• Obtain the OSHA investigation file and identify the building owner and management entity

How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Illinois?

Under state law 820 ILCS 305/6, you must notify your employer of the injury within 45 days. 

Additionally, this law requires you to file your claim within three years of the injury or two years of the last benefit payment, whichever is later. 

Keep in mind that this 45-day and three-year window applies only to your workers’ compensation claim. If a third party, such as a negligent building owner or equipment manufacturer, contributed to your fall, a separate and shorter deadline applies to that claim instead; see “Can You Claim Beyond Workers’ Comp?” below. 

Can You Claim Beyond Workers’ Comp? Equipment and Third-Party Liability 

Workers’ compensation is usually the only claim you can bring against your employer directly. But if someone other than your employer caused or contributed to your fall, a separate third-party claim may exist  and it is often worth considerably more, because workers’ comp does not pay for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of normal life.

Third parties who may be liable in a window washer accident include:

• The equipment manufacturer, if a harness, anchor, or davit arm was defectively designed or built
• The building owner, if a roof anchor, tieback, or façade access system was not properly installed or maintained
• The property management company responsible for inspecting and certifying safety equipment
• The maintenance contractor hired to service the building’s window-cleaning equipment
• The rope access or anchor supplier, if a descent control device or fall arrest system failed

One important note: if you recover money from a third party, your workers’ comp insurer may have a lien against that recovery, meaning some of it goes toward reimbursing the benefits already paid to you.

Several state laws may apply if you are filing a personal injury lawsuit for legal damages like medical bills, emotional distress, and loss of normal life:

• 740 ILCS 130/ (Premises Liability Act) – Property owners must demonstrate reasonable care to prevent hazards on the premises that could cause severe injuries
• 735 ILCS 5/2-21 (Product Liability Act) – Manufacturers can be held liable for design defects or production mistakes that result in injured workers
• 740 ILCS 100/ (Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act) – Fault can be allocated among multiple responsible parties, making it easier for victims to pursue maximum compensation even if they are partially at fault
• 735 ILCS 5/13-202 (Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury) – You have two years from the date of your injury or the date of discovery to pursue legal action against a third party

Building Owner Liability and Roof Anchor Failures 

Building owners carry real, specific duties when it comes to the roof anchorage systems used for window washing and other façade access work. Anchors are supposed to be installed to standard, certified by a qualified inspector, and periodically re-tested, not just bolted to the roof once and forgotten.

When a fall happens because an anchor was never certified, was installed incorrectly, or wasn’t inspected on schedule, that is a building owner duty that was not met. The building owner and the property management company become liable third parties in that scenario, entirely separate from the window cleaning company that employed the worker.

This matters because anchorage certification and inspection records are discoverable in a claim  and in our experience, they frequently don’t exist at all. A missing inspection file is often the clearest evidence in a high-rise fall case.

There’s also a contractor-versus-employee wrinkle worth knowing about. Window cleaning relies heavily on subcontractors and day labor, and your specific work arrangement can change which claims are available to you and who you’re able to pursue them against.

Two standards tend to come up in these cases: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.28, the federal walking-working surfaces and fall protection rule, and the ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 window cleaning safety standard, which sets the industry benchmark for anchor installation and certification.

If your fall happened on a building you weren’t employed to maintain, it’s worth talking to a Chicago construction accident attorney about whether the owner met these obligations. Our team also reviews PPE and fall protection requirements as part of building that case.

How IL Work Injury Lawyer Can Help

Our law firm is committed to helping window washers secure the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. Insurance companies often dispute the validity of work injuries to avoid large payouts, but IL Work Injury Lawyer can help you build a strong case. 

Our legal services include:

• Investigating safety equipment and OSHA personal protective equipment compliance for working on exterior surfaces
• Working with fall protection experts to determine the cause of a high-rise accident
• Representing clients in settlement negotiations with insurers and during IWCC proceedings

Legal experience is essential when you need a lawyer to help you navigate a window washing industry claim. Our team has handled many workplace accidents, including those involving window washers.

Here is an example of a settlement we have won for a window washing worker:

David, a 42-year-old window washer in downtown Chicago, was working on the exterior of a Loop high-rise when his safety harness suddenly failed. He plummeted several stories, suffering severe fractures to both legs that required multiple surgeries and months of rehabilitation. 

The case value was impacted by evidence showing the harness had not been properly inspected or maintained by the building’s contracted maintenance company, along with testimony from safety experts on industry standards. The $5,000,000 settlement provided for David’s medical care, lost wages, and long-term mobility needs.

Prior results, including this $5,000,000 settlement, do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case depends on its own facts. 

FAQs

How are lost wages calculated?

Lost income is calculated based on your average weekly wage (AWW). This amount is determined by adding all your total earnings from the 52 weeks leading up to your last pay period before the window cleaning accident. This total value is then divided by 52.

This ensures complex payment structures are accounted for when calculating AWW, such as base pay, overtime, hazard pay, and seasonal work adjustments. 

What if the high-rise accident was caused by window cleaning equipment or outside factors?

If someone else’s negligence other than your employer is responsible for your workplace accident, you could seek damages in a third-party liability claim. For example, your injury may be the fault of a defective equipment manufacturer, an unsafe building owner, or a negligent general contractor. 

Several state laws may apply if you are filing a personal injury lawsuit for legal damages like medical bills, emotional distress, and loss of normal life:

• 740 ILCS 130/ (Premises Liability Act) – Property owners must demonstrate reasonable care to prevent hazards on the premises that could cause severe injuries 
• 735 ILCS 5/2-21 (Product Liability Act) – Manufacturers can be held liable for design defects or production mistakes that result in injured workers
• 740 ILCS 100/ (Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act) – Fault can be allocated among multiple responsible parties, making it easier for victims to pursue maximum compensation even if they are partially at fault
• 735 ILCS 5/13-202 (Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury) – You have two years from the date of your injury or the date of discovery to pursue legal action against a third party

Book a Free Consultation

IL Work Injury Lawyer can guide you through the claims process after a window washing accident. We know what it takes to build a strong case and increase your chances of securing additional compensation. Our firm serves clients across the state who have suffered from spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and other catastrophic injuries.

As a window washer injury lawyer in Chicago, we handle both workers’ compensation claims and third-party cases, so you don’t have to work out which type of claim applies on your own, we’ll sort that out for you.

Our Chicago work injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we win. Window washers can also take advantage of a free consultation with an experienced lawyer before committing to any legal action.

Contact our office today to schedule your free case evaluation. 

Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld

Content legally reviewed by Jonathan Rosenfeld The information on this page has been legally reviewed by Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld, founder and managing partner of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC. With extensive experience representing injured workers across Illinois, Mr. Rosenfeld is dedicated to helping workplace accident victims pursue the maximum compensation available under the law. His extensive legal knowledge and commitment to client advocacy ensure that the information provided is accurate, reliable, and aligned with current legal standards.

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