Schedule Your Free Consultation With Our Chicago Work Injury Lawyer Today
At Salvato, O’Toole & Froylan, our Chicago work injury attorneys are passionate, experienced advocates for people who were harmed on the job. With the knowledge and skills to take on workers’ comp cases and third-party liability claims, our team is ready to help you secure available financial benefits. If you or your loved one was hurt on the job in Chicago or elsewhere in Cook County, we can help. Contact us today for a free consultation with an Illinois work injury lawyer.
What to Do After a Workplace Accident in Chicago
A work injury can be stressful and confusing. It is normal to have a lot of questions about your rights and your options after a serious accident. A proactive approach is a must. You need to protect your health, your safety, your job, and your ability to get the maximum financial benefits. Here are four important things that you should do after being hurt at work in Chicago:
1. Seek Medical Care: Medical needs always take the top priority after a work accident. Immediately following a workplace accident, you should seek professional medical attention. It is your right to see a doctor in Illinois if you are hurt while on the job. You should inform your healthcare provider that your injury is work-related.
2. Report it to Your Employer: The Illinois Workers’ Compensation laws require injured workers to notify their employer of their job-related injury/illness promptly. Tell your supervisor, the human resources department, or another part of management as soon as possible. Do not let any person discourage you from reporting your accident.
3. File for Workers’ Comp: Notifying your employer that you were hurt at work is not the equivalent of filing for workers’ compensation benefits. You should start the workers’ compensation claims process by completing and submitting the appropriate paperwork.
4. Speak to a Lawyer: Problems can arise within the work injury claims process for a wide range of different reasons. You may have questions about a workers’ comp claim, your benefits may have been denied, or you may be considering suing a third party other than your employer. Regardless, an experienced Chicago workers’ comp lawyer can help.
The Most Common Causes of Work-Related Injuries
Workplace accidents can happen for a wide range of different reasons. Following a job-related safety incident in Chicago, injured workers must bee able to get access to all of the resources that they need to protect themselves and their families. Here are some of the common causes of job-related injuries in Chicago, Illinois:
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: These accidents occur when employees slip on wet floors, trip over objects left in walkways, or fall from heights. While falls from height are especially dangerous, slip and falls and trip and falls can also cause serious injuries. Notably, fall accidents can happen in any workplace in Chicago.
- Overexertion: Lifting, pulling, or carrying heavy items can strain muscles and joints. Back injuries are a common ailment from overexertion. These are common in jobs requiring physical labor, such as construction or warehouse work. Using proper lifting techniques and equipment can help reduce these risks.
- Repetitive Motion Injuries: Repeating the same movements over and over—like typing or assembling parts—can strain muscles and tendons. It can lead to conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis. Repetitive motion (repetitive strain) injuries can be covered by workers’ compensation insurance in Illinois.
- Machine Accidents: Working with heavy machinery can pose risks, especially if clothing, hair, or limbs get caught in equipment. Proper training, safety guards on machines, and attention to detail are crucial for the prevention of serious accidents.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions: Employees who drive for work purposes—from truck drivers to delivery personnel to people who make occasional trips—are at risk of being involved in traffic accidents. Work-associated traffic accidents are among the leading causes of serious job-related injuries in Illinois.
- Exposure to Harmful Substances: Certain workplaces use chemicals or materials that can be toxic. Inhalation or skin contact can lead to health problems. Using appropriate safety equipment like gloves, masks, and ventilation systems can protect workers from these risks.
What to Know About Workers’ Compensation Claims in Chicago
If you were hurt or made ill on the job in Chicago, your primary option for getting compensation is a workers’ compensation claim. All injured workers in Chicago must have a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the Illinois workers’ comp laws. Here is a guide to key things that you should know about workers’ compensation in Illinois:
- Virtually All Employers are Covered By Workers’ Comp: In Illinois, almost every employer is required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Even companies with a single employee need to obtain and maintain workers’ comp. Part-time workers and seasonal workers are covered. Workers’ comp coverage is mandatory to ensure that employees who get injured or fall ill because of their jobs have access to benefits.
- Workers’ Compensation Claims are No-Fault: You do not need to prove employer negligencetoo qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Illinois operates under a no-fault workers’ compensation system, meaning employees can receive benefits regardless of who was at fault for their injury or illness.
- Medical and Financial Benefits are Available: Under Illinois workers’ compensation, injured employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits. To start, you can seek coverage for all medical care that is reasonable, necessary, and related to the accident. Beyond that, you can also seek wage replacement benefits—which are generally paid at a rate of two-thirds of your average weekly wage for time that you were forced to miss to recover. If an employee cannot return to work temporarily or permanently, additional benefits may be available.
- You Have the Right to Appeal a Denial of Benefits: Unfortunately, some injured workers in Chicago struggle to get access to their full and fair workers’ compensation. Your claim may be delayed or even denied for a wide range of different reasons. You have the right to appeal a workers’ comp denial. The process involves filing a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. You may also need to escalate the appeal to additional levels of review if your claim is denied a second time. If you received a denial letter, please contact a Chicago workers’ comp appeals attorney right away for a free, no-obligation consultation.
An Overview of Third-Party Liability Claims (Work Injuries)
In Chicago, you cannot sue your employer for a personal injury if you were injured while on the job. A workers’ comp claim is generally your sole remedy against your employer. With that being said, an injured worker can sue any non-employer third party whose negligence contributed to their accident. Third-party liability claims come into play in work injury cases when an entity other than your employer is responsible for the injury.
For example, imagine that you are injured at work in Chicago due to faulty equipment manufactured by another company. You have the right to file a third-party liability claim against that manufacturer on the grounds of product liability. Along the same lines, if you are driving for work purposes and a distracted driver causes an accident, you can pursue a claim against the driver on the grounds of negligence. Negligent third parties (non-employers) can be held accountable.
Notably, third-party liability claims are fault-based cases. Unlike with workers’ comp, you need to prove that the third party’s negligence—improper actions or inactions—actually contributed to your accident. A benefit of a third-party liability claim is that you can seek additional financial compensation. For instance, you can seek compensation for the full value of your pain and suffering damages. Another key advantage is that you can file a third-party liability claim and a workers’ comp claim. You do not have to choose one or the other. You should always file for workers’ comp.
How A Work Injury Lawyer in Chicago Can Help Navigate the Claims Process
Work injury claims are complicated. At Salvato, O’Toole & Froylan, we represent people who were hurt on the job. With a commitment to personalized advocacy, our team understands how important it is for you to get the full and proper compensation you deserve. When you contact us at our Chicago office, you will have a chance to consult with an Illinois work injury lawyer who can:
- Listen to your story and answer questions about your work injury claim
- Investigate your workplace accident in Chicago—gathering relevant evidence
- Handle the legal paperwork, including for your workers’ comp claim
- Take all necessary action to help you secure the maximum available financial support
Contact Our Chicago Work Injury Attorney Today
At Salvato, O’Toole & Froylan, our Chicago work injury lawyers are skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced advocates for justice. With the legal training needed to handle both workers’ compensation claims and third-party liability cases, we put injured workers first. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review. With an office in Chicago, we fight for the rights of injured workers in Cook County and throughout Northern Illinois.
