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Once your employer has been made aware of it, you may find yourself needing legal representation. In fact, hiring a workers’ compensation attorney in Lockport, IL can be the difference between getting the benefits you deserve versus not getting them.
If you’ve been hurt on the job, don’t take any chances—contact a work injury attorney as soon as you can to get the ball rolling with your case.
Find Out More About Common Workplace Injuries
Getting hurt at work happens in an instant, but can alter your entire life. For that reason, it’s to your benefit to get the process started as soon as you can for compensation.
If you aren’t sure whether your injury will qualify for benefits, learning more about the most common workplace injuries can be a good place to start, so that you can compare your situation. If your injury seems like it won’t be eligible for benefits, you may be in for a surprise.
Some of the most frequently occurring workplace injuries include:
- Caught in/compressed by: Injuries sustained involving heavy machinery or in factories.
- Fall to a lower level: Falling off a roof, off a ladder, or down stairs.
- Overexertion: Commonly thought of as one of the most common injury types, these involve pushing, carrying, holding, pulling, lifting, and throwing.
- Repetitive motion: Injuries sustained by repeating the same motion over and over again.
- Slips and falls: Injuries caused by slipping on a wet, slippery, or uneven flooring, or on icy, uncleared sidewalks during walkways.
- Workplace assaults: When someone is assaulted while at work.
- Struck by an object: Injuries from falling or dropped objects.
- Struck against an object: Injuries involving walls, windows, doors, etc.
- Traffic incidents: Accidents involving workplace vehicles.
What to Know About Workers’ Compensation Claims
Though having help from a workers’ compensation attorney can be of great benefit, you should still learn a bit about the claims process to ensure you are informed. For instance, find out about what the statute of limitations is for your particular injury, and find out what paperwork you’ll need to have on hand.
You should also learn about the type of compensation you should seek—medical bill reimbursement, lost wages, permanent injury, or otherwise. If you need help navigating any part of this process, a work injury lawyer can help.
The Process of Filing a Claim
When you have legal representation, the process of filing a work injury claim is much simpler.
The first thing you will need to do is report the incident to your employer. This should be done within seven days of its occurrence, and if you need medical care, be sure to tell medical staff that your injury is work-related as your employer may require you to visit specific facilities or certain doctors.
Next, the insurance carrier will open a benefits claim and review reports sent by the employer and doctors. If they find the claim to be eligible for compensation, the insurance company will discuss a rate of pay with the injured party and the employer that will be paid while the injured person is out of work. If the claim is denied, that’s not the end of it—the injured person will have the chance to appeal that decision.
