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If you get hurt at work, it’s best to report the incident to your employer as soon as possible. Once you’ve notified your employer, you may want to consider seeking legal representation for the rest of the steps.
Getting a workers’ compensation attorney can mean the difference between receiving compensation and being denied it, so it’s best to play it safe and work with legal representation. When you’re hurt at work, don’t waste time or take chances—contact a Des Plaines work injury lawyer to get the claims process started.
Most Common Workplace Injuries
When you get hurt at work, it can be difficult to tell if your case will be eligible for compensation. Oftentimes, injuries that you may not think would be eligible for workers’ compensation actually are, and in order to get a better idea of whether yours will be, it can be helpful to learn about common workplace injuries and compare your own situation.
Some of the most common workplace injuries include:
- Struck against an object: Injuries that involve an object such as a window, door, wall, etc.
- Repetitive motion: Injuries caused by making the same movement over and over again.
- Workplace assaults: When one or more workers is assaulted at the workplace.
- Struck by an object: When a worker is hit by an object that is falling or has been dropped.
- Slips and falls: Slips and falls on uneven, slippery, or wet floors or on uncleared sidewalks during winter time.
- Caught in/compressed by: Injuries typically involving heavy machinery or factory work.
- Fall to a lower level: Falling off a ladder or roof or falling down stairs.
- Traffic incidents: Injuries sustained while in or using a company vehicle.
- Overexertion: Perhaps the most common workplace injuries, these involve pushing, pulling, holding, carrying, lifting, or throwing.
What You Need to Know About Workers’ Compensation Cases
Filing a claim with a workers’ compensation lawyer can be a complex process. You’ll need to be aware of things like the statute of limitations for your particular situation, as well as what paperwork to have on hand and what kind of compensation to fight for.
Possible types of compensation include medical bill reimbursement, lost wages, and permanent injury. If you’re unsure of any of these case details, working with a work injury attorney can be very helpful.
The Process of Filing a Claim
Filing a workers’ compensation claim doesn’t have to be complicated or frustrating. With legal help, it can be much simpler than it would be if you try to do it alone.
First, you will need to report the incident to your employer. This should be done as soon as possible—ideally, within seven days of occurrence. Next, if you seek medical care, be sure to let medical staff know that your injury happened at work. In some cases, employers require injured people to visit specific facilities or specialists.
Next, an insurance carrier will open a benefits claim after receiving reports from the employer or the doctors treating you.
The claim will be reviewed, and if found compensable, the insurance carrier will contact the injured person and the employer to discuss the amount of benefits to be paid or the rate of pay while the person recovers.
If the claim is rejected, though, the injured party will have the option to appeal that decision.
