Yearly Archives: 2018

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), overuse injuries are the most-common reason why employees miss time from work. The NSC’s data indicate that 35 percent of all disabling injuries result from overuse, far surpassing all other causes of workplace injuries. If you are concerned about an overuse injury, what do you need to know about seeking medical care? Equally important, what do you need to know about filing for workers’ compensation? 6 Key Facts for Employees with Overuse Injuries in Illinois 1. Overuse Injuries Qualify for Workers’ Compensation First and foremost, overuse injuries qualify for workers’ compensation in Illinois. If you have suffered an overuse injury and you are otherwise eligible for benefits, you can – and should – file a claim with your employer. This includes injuries from overexertion (such as lifting or lowering a heavy object) as well as from repetitive stress (such as typing on a keyboard or working on an assembly line). 2. You Should Notify Your Employer as Soon as Possible Under Illinois law, you must notify your employer of your injury within 45 days in order to protect your workers’ compensation eligibility. With an overuse injury, it is not always clear when this 45-day period starts to run. As a result, to protect your rights, you should notify your employer as soon as possible. 3. Pain is Usually the First Symptom of an Overuse Injury How can you be sure that you have an overuse injury? Pain is usually the first symptom, and […]

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Whether you commute to an office building in downtown Chicago or you spend the majority of your workday behind the wheel, you are at risk for being injured in an accident every time you hit the road. While this is a risk we don’t often think about, millions of Americans are injured in auto accidents every year, and a significant percentage of these accidents occur while people are on their way to work or on the clock. If you were injured in a work-related auto accident, are you eligible to file for workers’ compensation? If not, what other options do you have available? What are My Rights If… …I Drive for a Living? If you drive for a living and you were injured in an accident while you were on the clock, there is a good chance that you will be entitled to workers’ compensation. As long as you are legally classified as an “employee,” you were not drunk (and you did not cause the accident intentionally), and you follow the necessary steps to protect your rights, you should have a claim for benefits. …I Drive for Work on a Daily Basis? If you are a sales representative, construction worker, utility worker, service provider or any other type of employee who drives from location to location in the course of your employment, accidents during your work-related travel will likely be covered by workers’ compensation. Driving is a fundamental and necessary aspect of your job, so you should be entitled to […]

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If you live or work in Chicago and have been injured on the job, one of your first steps should be to find out if you are eligible for workers’ compensation. In Illinois, workers’ compensation provides no-fault benefits to workers who are unable to work due to job-related injuries, and employers have an obligation to review and process their employees’ benefit claims in good faith. What You Need to Know if You Have Been Injured on the Job Unfortunately, even if you are clearly entitled to workers’ compensation, securing medical and disability benefits can still be a challenge. You need to make sure you understand your rights, and it will be equally important to familiarize yourself with the mistakes that could jeopardize your claim for benefits. Here are 10 facts to keep in mind when filing for workers’ compensation in Illinois: In Illinois, most workers are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. In order to be eligible, you must be legally classified as an “employee,” which usually means that you receive a regular paycheck and a W-2. Even if your employer pays you as an independent contractor, you could still be entitled to benefits. If your employer has misclassified your employment, this should not affect your claim for benefits. As a “no-fault” system, workers’ compensation pays for job-related injuries regardless of who was to blame or what factors were involved in the accident. There are only limited exceptions, such as if you were intoxicated or engaging in horseplay when you […]

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In order to file for workers’ compensation in Illinois, you need to meet a few eligibility requirements. You must qualify as an “employee” (as opposed to an independent contractor), you must meet the reporting and filing deadlines, and you must have been injured within the scope of your employment. However, the type of injury you have sustained is not a factor in determining your right to collect workers’ compensation benefits. In other words, as long as you meet the basic eligibility requirements, you are entitled to collect benefits regardless of the nature of your injury. 10 of the Most Common Work-Related Injuries Whether you work in an office or on a construction site, you face a variety of injury risks on a daily basis. If you have suffered any type of job-related injury in Chicago, you should speak with an attorney about your rights. In addition to filing for workers’ compensation, you may be able to file a personal injury claim as well, and you will need legal representation for both types of claims in order to maximize your financial recovery. As we mentioned above, all job-related injuries are potentially eligible for financial compensation. Some of the most common types of job-related injuries include: Bone fractures resulting from falls, vehicle collisions, blunt force trauma, and other accidents Burns from fires, explosions, and toxic chemical exposure Ear injuries (such as tinnitus) resulting from long-term exposure to noise or sudden loud sounds Facial injuries, including injuries to the eyes, nose, teeth and […]

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If you live in the Chicago area and you have been injured on the job, there is a good chance that you are eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits. Under Illinois law, most employers have an obligation to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover employees’ injuries; and, since workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system, you can claim benefits regardless of the cause of your injury (with only a few limited exceptions). However, collecting workers’ compensation benefits is not necessarily a straightforward process. Employers and insurance companies will often dispute employees’ claims for compensation, and reductions in benefits and outright denials are both common. Without a clear understanding of your legal rights, you are at a disadvantage, and you are not likely to receive the full benefits you deserve. So, while you need to act quickly, it is also important that you make informed decisions. Here is a brief introduction to some of the key facts you need to know: 5 Key Facts about Illinois Workers’ Compensation 1. You are Eligible for Benefits from Day One of Your Employment If your employer is subject to Illinois’ workers’ compensation requirement, you are covered for work-related injuries from day one of your employment. Your employer cannot deny your claim because you are a “new” employee or because you have only been employed for a limited period of time. Likewise, as along as you report your accident and file your claim in time, you remain eligible for benefits even after your employment ends. 2. […]

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