Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Being injured on the job leaves you in a particularly difficult situation in which you may be looking at both lost wages and mounting medical expenses. This is why Illinois employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance that is intended to help balance the employees’ rights, the employer’s responsibilities, and the business’s overall financial viability. If you have been injured at work, an experienced Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer can help. 

The Statistics

Recent statistics related to injuries on the job (as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC) include the following:

• 888,220 employees suffered nonfatal injuries in work accidents that led to time off the job.
• 27 percent of these injury-causing incidents were slip and fall accidents.
• Approximately 2.4 million employees suffered such serious injuries on the job that they needed emergency treatment.

Employees are often injured on the job, and if you’re one of them, protecting your rights and rightful compensation is paramount. 

The Matter of Negligence Isn’t Considered

Unlike personal injury claims, the matter of negligence does not play a role in workers’ compensation claims. This is how balance between all the following is achieved:

• Your right to coverage as an employee
• Your employer’s responsibility for your safety
• Your employer’s right to protect the business from time-consuming and costly negligence-based lawsuits

If you are injured while at work or in the course of doing your job, the matter of who caused the accident does not enter the workers’ compensation equation. 

The Losses for Which You Can Seek Compensation

In your workers’ compensation claim, you can seek compensation for the following primary losses:

• Your related and necessary medical expenses, including ongoing costs
• Your lost wages (at a specific percentage of your current pay)

Obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled will play a critical role in your ability to recover as completely as possible from the injuries you sustained on the job. 

Protecting Your Claim

Your workers’ compensation claim will be unique to you and the circumstances involved, but there are several basic tips that can help protect all such claims, including:

• Don’t delay seeking medical attention (injuries can be more serious than they first appear, and they can be slow to materialize at all)
• Follow your doctor’s advice and instructions carefully
• Don’t wait to reach out for the professional legal counsel of a dedicated workers’ compensation lawyer
• Allow your lawyer to communicate with the insurance company on your behalf and to skillfully negotiate a fair claim settlement with them
• Put the brakes on social media posts until your case has been finalized

Seek the Legal Guidance of an Experienced Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

The veteran Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers at Saks, Robinson & Rittenberg, Ltd., have reserves of impressive experience guiding challenging claims like yours toward advantageous outcomes, and we are here for you too. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.