WORK INJURY CLAIMS
Connecting you with legal representation and legal advice for your work injury
If you have suffered an injury arising from an accident at work, you may be entitled to compensation. Seek the work injury settlement you deserve for pain and suffering, loss of earnings, medical bills, and other financial loss.
Illinois Work Accident Helpline will help you maximize your workers’ compensation claim by uniting you with the right legal team. Our network consists of top-performing work injury lawyers throughout Illinois. By learning about your case, our dedicated team will connect you with an attorney who will provide skilled guidance throughout your claim process.
The statute of limitations is three years on a worker’s compensation claim. If you do not file a claim with the workman’s compensation commission within three years from the date of the injury, you lose your right to file a claim.
If you have suffered an injury arising from an accident at work, you may be entitled to compensation. Seek the work injury settlement you deserve for pain and suffering, loss of earnings, medical bills, and other financial loss.
Illinois Work Accident Helpline will help you maximize your workers’ compensation claim by uniting you with the right legal team. Our network consists of top-performing work injury lawyers throughout Illinois. By learning about your case, our dedicated team will connect you with an attorney who will provide skilled guidance throughout your claim process.
The statute of limitations is three years on a worker’s compensation claim. If you do not file a claim with the workman’s compensation commission within three years from the date of the injury, you lose your right to file a claim.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR SUFFERED AN INJURY AT WORK:
- Report the accident to a supervisor, the human resource department, or other authorized personnel as soon as possible. An employee has 45 days to inform their employer of the injury.
- Document your injury and accident site. Take photographs and secure your evidence immediately. This may be your only chance to obtain proof of injury. Write down the date, place, and time of injury for documentation.
- Get medical treatment immediately after the injury has occurred. Not only is it essential to your health and safety, but it’s the first step in building your claim. Tell your doctor or medical provider that you were injured in a work accident. Grab a business card from all medical providers and keep all discharge summaries for future reference.
- Get notes from all doctors if they recommend time off. Keep a copy for yourself and give another copy to your employer, their insurance representative, and your attorney to receive your Temporary Total Disability payments for your time off work.
- Seek legal representation before giving any recorded statements to insurance company representatives.
- An employer can request that you have an independent medical exam.
- Make sure medical providers send all bills to your employer or their worker’s compensation insurance carrier. Keep a copy of any invoice sent to you and make sure your attorney is aware of it.
COMMON TYPES OF WORK INJURIES
SPINAL INJURIES
Bulging discs and herniations
REPETITIVE MOTION INJURY
Carpal tunnel results from repetitive activities like typing, causing numbness and weakness. Tendonitis can occur in hips, elbows, wrists, knees, or ankles.
BACK MUSCLE SPRAINS
Lifting or pushing heavy objects, or resulting from a slip and fall
SHOULDER INJURIES
Ligament tears and dislocated shoulders caused by abnormal twisting or bending of the shoulder
KNEE INJURIES AND TORN LIGAMENTS
Torn ligaments, including ACL and MCL tears in the knees, can occur from squatting and lifting.
STRESS FRACTURES
Overused, fatigued muscles are unable to absorb stress and transfer it to a bone, causing tiny cracks.
BROKEN BONES
Usually caused by slip and falls or being struck by moving objects
HEAD INJURIES
Concussions and other blows to the head can cause traumatic brain injury
SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Falls from any elevation, vehicle accidents, and being struck by cranes or heavy equipment can result in paralysis.
ELECTRICAL SHOCK
Construction workers, telephone pole and electrical workers may contact live wires.
EXPOSURE TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES
Chemicals, asbestos, or mold can result in respiratory problems, skin irritations, and organ damage.
TEMPORARY PARTIAL DISABILITY (TPD)
An injury in which the employee can return to work, after recovery from injury
TEMPORARY TOTAL DISABILITY (TTD)
An injury that has rendered the employee completely unable to perform any job functions temporarily
SUBSEQUENT INJURIES AFTER RETURNING TO WORK
Unfortunately, some people suffer subsequent injuries after returning to their jobs. However, it can be challenging to distinguish between a new and separate injury to the same body part, an aggravation of a pre-existing injury, or an exacerbation of the original injury.
If this happens, the incident should be thoroughly discussed with your lawyer and your doctor. We recommend talking about this scenario with your attorney before you attempt to return to work.
WAREHOUSE ACCIDENTS
Warehouse workers face many potential hazards. Many warehouse accidents could be prevented by complying with OSHA safety standards for warehousing. If you have been seriously injured in an Illinois warehouse accident, you can find the right attorney for your case using Illinois Accident Helpline.
Being struck by equipment
Forklift injuries
Conveyor injuries
Crushing injuries from falling, improperly stacked materials
Hazardous materials injuries, such as chemical burns
Charging station injuries, including fire and explosion
WAREHOUSE ACCIDENTS
Warehouse workers face many potential hazards. Many warehouse accidents could be prevented by complying with OSHA safety standards for warehousing. If you have been seriously injured in an Illinois warehouse accident, you can find the right attorney for your case using Illinois Accident Helpline.
Being struck by equipment
Forklift injuries
Conveyor injuries
Crushing injuries from falling, improperly stacked materials
Hazardous materials injuries, such as chemical burns
Charging station injuries, including fire and explosion
Employers are obligated to pay your medical bills according to the Illinois medical fee statute, a law setting rates of compensation for medical services. You can choose two doctors, and as long as you stay in line with your doctor’s referrals, the employer is obligated to pay your bills.
Employers must compensate you if you have a permanent injury as defined by the Worker’s Compensation Laws.
PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY
Permanent payment for injuries for life that result in the inability to return to any employment. The rate is two thirds (2/3) of your gross weekly pay.
PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY
Payment for permanent injuries not resulting in a total loss in the ability of employment. The compensation is for complete or partial loss of use of the particular body part. To calculate a potential recovery, you multiply the number of weeks of disability missed by 60 percent of your gross weekly wage.
DISFIGUREMENT
This is a separate recovery for scarring and burn type of injury with a maximum recovery of 162 weeks. Recovery depends on the nature and extent of scarring or disfigurement.
The Illinois Worker’s Compensation Law separates body parts and assigns a ceiling for total number of weeks the part of the body is worth.
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKS PAID BY BODY PART
| PART OF BODY | NUMBER OF WEEKS PAID |
|---|---|
| Hand | 205 |
| Thumb | 76 |
| Index Finger | 43 |
| Middle Finger | 38 |
| Ring Finger | 27 |
| Pinky Finger | 22 |
| Arm | 253 |
| Arm amputated above the elbow | 270 |
| Arm amputated at the shoulder joint | 323 |
| Foot | 167 |
| Big Toe | 38 |
| Any non-big toe | 13 |
| Leg | 215 |
| Leg amputated above the knee | 242 |
| Leg amputated at the hip joint | 296 |
| Loss of sight in one eye | 162 |
| Loss of one eye | 173 |
| Hearing loss in one ear due to occupational disease | 100 |
| Hearing loss in one ear due to accident or trauma | 54 |
| Loss of hearing in both ears | 215 |
| Kidney, spleen, or lung removal | 10 |
| Loss of one testicle | 54 |
| Loss of both testicles | 162 |
| Skull Fracture | 6 (minimum) |
| Fracture of facial bone | 2 (minimum) |
| Fracture of vertebra | 6 (minimum) |
| Fracture of spine of transverse process | 3 (minimum) |
SURVEILLANCE IN WORKS COMPENSATION CASES
Photo and video surveillance are not used in every work injury case. However, some employers and insurance companies resort to hiring a private investigator to prevent workers’ compensation fraud.
These investigators collect evidence of the employee outside of work. The objective of their investigation is to catch you doing something that goes against your doctor’s orders. In other words, they want to prove you have exaggerated the severity of your injuries.
How to Handle Insurance Company Surveillance
- Always follow your doctor’s orders. Obey their activity restrictions.
- Be thoughtful and aware of your surroundings. The investigator may follow you or stake out your house at all hours of the day.
- Do not talk to a suspected investigator. Do not confront them or interact with them in any way.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND WORK INJURIES
Private investigators can also track your movements through social media. The use of social media accounts can often negatively impact your Workers Compensation case. Any information posted on social media is not private. Anything you post publicly can be used against you. The insurance company will investigate your public social media pages and the public pages of friends and family.
You cannot delete anything that has already been posted or your accounts. This could be destruction of evidence.
Turn all of your privacy settings on to the highest level possible.
Do not actively use social media while being represented by an attorney.
Do not communicate with your lawyer using a device provided by your employer.
Do not use a work email to inquire about legal services.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND WORK INJURIES
Private investigators can also track your movements through social media. The use of social media accounts can often negatively impact your Workers Compensation case. Any information posted on social media is not private. Anything you post publicly can be used against you. The insurance company will investigate your public social media pages and the public pages of friends and family.
You cannot delete anything that has already been posted or your accounts. This could be destruction of evidence.
Turn all of your privacy settings on to the highest level possible.
Do not actively use social media while being represented by an attorney.
Do not communicate with your lawyer using a device provided by your employer.
Do not use a work email to inquire about legal services.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
If your work injury has resulted in permanent disability, you may be eligible for the Vocational Rehabilitation employment program. These services help you prepare for, obtain, and maintain a job. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a U.S. Department of Education funded program that serves all disability groups, including those with work injuries.
In Illinois, specialized VR services are available for people who are:
FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR CLAIM IS WORTH
Navigating the law to claim compensation can be confusing. Our professionals will guide you through the claims process and connect you with an attorney who can professionally analyze your case. It doesn’t cost you anything to know where you stand.
FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR CLAIM IS WORTH
Navigating the law to claim compensation can be confusing. Our professionals will guide you through the claims process and connect you with an attorney who can professionally analyze your case. It doesn’t cost you anything to know where you stand.