I Was Injured While I Was Working Off Site. Can I Seek Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is the insurance coverage that most employers are required to carry to cover any expenses their injured employees face after workplace accidents. When an employee is injured at work because of his or her employer’s negligence, the employee could be entitled to seek monetary compensation through a workers’ compensation claim. But when an employee’s injury is not caused by his or her employer’s negligence, he or she might not be able to recover compensation this way. This issue often comes up when employees are injured while working off site.

If you are injured at work, it is important that you seek medical care as soon as possible. Once you have received treatment and are in a stable condition, discuss the possibility of pursuing a workers’ compensation claim with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. You need to notify your employer of your accident and your injury within 45 days of their occurrence as per the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.

Working Off Site

Working off site means the employee is working at a location other than his or her company’s property. In some jobs, this never happens. In other jobs, such as household repair and landscaping positions, most or even all of an individual’s work is performed off site.

Whether your injury qualifies you for a workers’ compensation claim depends on the context of the accident from which the injury resulted.

• Did the accident occur while you were doing work?
• Did the accident occur during your work hours?

If the accident occurred while you were working, you could be entitled to receive workers’ compensation even if the accident occurred off site. But what if the accident occurred because of another party’s negligence? For example, what if you fell from a broken step on a client’s property and broke your leg? In this case, you might be entitled to file a premises liability claim against the property owner. This could potentially lead to a larger settlement than a workers’ compensation claim. Whether it is better to pursue a workers’ compensation claim or a premises liability claim is an issue to discuss with your attorney. He or she can guide you toward the best type of claim for your injury.

If your injury occurs off site while you are not working, you are most likely unable to seek a workers’ compensation claim. For example, if you stay at a work site after your shift and suffer an injury, you are not entitled to workers’ compensation coverage.

Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Lake, McHenry & Cook County

Contact The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C. today at (847) 395-2200 to learn more about your rights as an injured worker and how to proceed with your workers’ compensation claim. Bob Edens is an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can guide you through this process and help you get the monetary compensation you need for your medical and other injury-related expenses. Your recovery and compensation is important to us. Call our firm today to discuss your options.