Workplace Injuries

Workplace Injuries

When your body suffers an injury it can feel like your whole life is put on hold. All of your energy goes towards helping your body heal and get back to normal. Sometimes this takes a few days but other injuries can takes months or even years to recover from. Because we spend so much of our everyday lives at work, injuries can have a huge effect on our daily work routines. When we suffer an injury at work, it can be even harder to return the daily work life to normal. Often this is because our workplace injuries are a direct result of the work we do everyday; back sprains, knee injuries, or muscle spasms from repetitive movements are among the most common. In Illinois, the system in place to protect employees is known as Workers’ Compensation. Here are a few items to bear in mind if you seek to recover under the Workers’ Compensation Act:

What kind of benefits does workers’ compensation offer?

The answer to this question will often depend on the severity of your injuries. In general, all “reasonable and necessary” medical expenses will be covered completely. A percentage of your gross average weekly income (temporary total disability) will be paid to you over time. The specific percentage is set forth in the Act. When it is deemed appropriate by a physician, some mental and vocational rehabilitation benefits will also be paid.

What should I do when I am injured on the job?

The first step towards receiving benefits is to report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. Your employer will submit the appropriate form to The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and you will receive a copy. Do not sign a statement or a document from your employer or their insurance company until you have reviewed your case with an experienced attorney.

When will I receive the benefits of workers’ compensation?

If you have been awarded temporary total disability, your employers’ insurance company is required by law to begin paying you within fourteen days from the time you notified your employer that you were injured on the job.

Am I covered by the Workers’ Compensation Act?

The Act covers the majority of employees who are hired in Illinois or whose employment is centralized in the State of Illinois. Under Illinois law, coverage by the Act begins the moment an employee is hired. The Act provides that accidents that “arise out of and in the course of employment” are within the parameters of its protection. Basically, this applies broadly to injuries that are in whole or in part a result of the employees’ work.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, Lake & McHenry County Personal Injury

No employee should suffer through the hazards of an unsafe work environment. Every employee is entitled to protection while working in Illinois. If you have been injured as a result of your job, contact our firm today and let the experienced and knowledgeable team at the Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C. fight for the compensation that you are entitled to.

 

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