Workers’ Compensation Attorney Near Me

In Illinois, employees who sustain injuries while on the job are often eligible to collect workers’ compensation benefits, which help injured employees cover medical expenses and lost wages while they recuperate. Unfortunately, filing a workers’ compensation claim can be difficult and many legitimate claims are denied every year due to administrative errors or a failure to submit sufficient medical evidence. To ensure that your own claim is not unfairly denied, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney near me who can ensure that your claim is filed properly and on time. 

Employer Duties

Almost all Illinois employers are required to either self-insure or purchase a workers’ compensation policy from a third-party insurer. Additionally, employers are legally required to:

• Post a notice in the workplace that explains each employee’s rights;
• Retain records of all work-related injuries;
• Report all on-the-job accidents that result in more than three days off from work; and
• Report any work-related death within two days of its occurrence. 

Employers are also strictly prohibited from charging employees for workers’ compensation insurance premiums, or from discriminating against an employee for filing a claim for benefits. 

It is important to keep in mind that even though employers are required to notify the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission of any injuries that occur at the workplace, an injured employee will not actually be able to begin receiving benefits until he or she actually file a claim. 

Covered Injuries

Workers’ compensation benefits are only available to those who suffer job-related injuries. This includes injuries caused by repetitive use of a body part, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as broken bones and pulled muscles caused by serious falls. In many cases, injured employees can even receive compensation for aggravations of pre-existing conditions if they occur on the job. 

Potential Benefits

Employees in Illinois who are injured on the job are not required to prove that an employer was negligent or careless in order to collect benefits. This is because the state’s workers’ compensation program in Illinois is based on a no-fault system. As long as an employee can prove that an injury was sustained at work and that he or she was not involved in illegal activity at the time of the accident, he or she will most likely be eligible for benefits, which could include:

• Temporary disability compensation, which takes the form of payments to cover wage loss;
• Permanent disability compensation, which is paid to employees who suffer permanent impairments or the loss of the use of a body part;
• Reimbursement for reasonable and necessary medical care; and
• Coverage for vocational rehabilitation, including education or training. 

However, before injured employees can begin receiving workers’ compensation benefits, they must promptly notify their employer within 45 days of the accident.

Contact an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney Near Me

For help filing a workers’ compensation claim after your own workplace injury, please contact the dedicated workers’ compensation legal team at Rittenberg, Saks & Robinson, Ltd. today.