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Getting hurt at work can happen in an instant, but afterward, you generally have 45 days to report the incident. However, the sooner you do so, the better. Once your employer is aware of the injury, you may want to consider hiring legal help to file a claim.
Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer can be the difference between eligibility for benefits, so it’s best not to take any chances. If you’ve been hurt on the job, contact a workers’ compensation attorney in Calumet City as soon as you can to get the process of your claim started.
Learn About the Most Common Workplace Injuries
If you get hurt at work, it can change your life in an instant, which is why it’s so important to act quickly after the fact. If you’re not sure about whether your specific case will be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, one thing you can do to get a better idea is to learn about some of the most common workplace injuries and compare your situation.
Some injuries may seem like they won’t qualify for benefits when in reality, they do.
Some of the most common workplace injuries include:
- Struck against an object: Injuries involving doors, windows, walls, etc.
- Traffic incidents: Accidents and injuries that occur while using company vehicles.
- Overexertion: Generally regarded as one of the most common injuries, these involve pulling, carrying, pushing, lifting, throwing, or holding.
- Repetitive motion: Injuries occurring due to repeating the same motion over and over again.
- Slips and falls: Injuries caused by slippery, wet, or uneven flooring, or slips on icy or snowy uncleared walkways.
- Caught in/compressed by: Incidents usually occurring in factories, involving heavy machinery.
- Fall to a lower level: Falling off a ladder, off a roof, or down stairs.
- Workplace assaults: When a worker or workers are assaulted while at the workplace.
- Struck by an object: Injuries caused by falling objects or objects dropped by someone else.
What to Know About Work Injury Claims
Even if you do hire legal help to help navigate you through the process of filing a claim, you should still learn about the basics of your claim so that you can better understand what is going on. For example, you’ll want to know about the statute of limitations for your injury, plus what sort of paperwork you need to keep on hand.
Finally, you should know what sort of benefits you are interested in fighting for—types of compensation include permanent injury, lost wages, medical bill reimbursement, and more. If you’re unsure about any aspect of the claims process, contact a work injury attorney today—we’re ready to help.
The Process for Filing a Claim
Filing a workers’ compensation claim doesn’t have to be complicated. Having legal representation can simplify the process greatly, in fact.
First, you will need to notify your employer of the incident. This should be done within seven days of its occurrence. When you seek medical care, be sure to inform staff that your injury is work-related, as your employer may require you to see certain doctors or visit specific facilities.
After this, an insurance carrier will open a benefits claim after receiving reports from your employer and the doctor. If they find the claim to be compensable, the insurance provider will discuss with the injured party and the employer to come to an agreeable rate of pay for the injured person while they are out of work. If the claim is rejected, however, the injured person will have the opportunity to appeal.
