Types of Workplace Injuries
Injuries that happen at work are incredibly common and happen under myriad circumstances. When you get hurt, though, it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether your injuries are eligible for a workers’ compensation claim.
One way to help determine if your injury is eligible, though, is by learning about some of the more common workplace injuries and comparing them to your incident. From there, you’ll have a better idea of what to do for your own case.
Often, injuries may seem like they won’t be eligible for compensation when, in reality, they are. These are some of the most frequently occurring workplace injuries:
- Caught in/compressed by: These injuries happen in more industrial settings and involve heavy machinery, typically.
- Workplace assaults: When one or more employees is assaulted at the workplace.
- Struck by object: Injuries involving being hit by a door, window, wall, or other object.
- Repetitive motion: Injuries caused by muscle strain from repetitive use, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
- Overexertion: Injuries caused by pushing, pulling, lifting, throwing, holding, or carrying
- Slip and fall: Injuries caused from wet or slippery floors, uneven flooring, or uncleared sidewalks during winter (from snow and ice).
- Fall to a lower level: Falling off of a ladder, off of a roof, down a flight of stairs, etc.
- Traffic accidents: Accidents occurring while using company vehicles.
What You Need to Know about Workers’ Compensation Cases
If you’re ready to file a workers compensation claim, getting help from a skilled attorney can make a big difference.
However, there are some things you’ll want to know about—for instance, the statute of limitations for filing a claim, what sort of paperwork you’ll need to have ready (medical reports and incident reports, for instance), and what sort of compensation you want to fight for (lost wages, permanent injury, medical bill reimbursement, etc).
If you need help understanding these things or want to know what to expect from the claims process, a workers compensation attorney in Matteson can help.
What to Expect When You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Filing a workers compensation claim can be complicated, and that’s why it’s important to seek help from an experienced work injury lawyer.
The first step in the claims process is notifying your employer. It is best to do this when the incident happens, although typically you have up to seven days to do so. If you need to seek medical care, you’ll need to notify the medical providers that your injury is work-related, in case your employer requires injured parties to be treated at specific locations or by specific doctors.
Next, after receiving reports from the doctor or employer, the insurance provider will open a claim for benefits. If the claim is compensable, the insurance company will be in contact with the employer and the injured party to determine the rate of pay the injured person will receive while they are out of work.
If for some reason the claim is denied, the injured person will have the opportunity to appeal that ruling.
Legal Assistance in Your Area, Matteson, Illinois
Vasilatos Injury Law serves Matteson, the Chicago Metropolitan area, and all of Illinois, and we’re dedicated to providing the skilled legal assistance you need. Our concentrations are workers’ compensation, personal injury, and social security disability, and we strive to be easily accessible.
We offer phone, home, and hospital consultations, and we’re easy to get to via public transportation, but if you can’t get to us, we’ll come to you.
When you need help with a work injury claim in the 60452 area, Vasilatos Injury Law is prepared to step in. We’re committed to providing you the legal assistance and guidance you need.