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Getting hurt on the job can happen in an instant, but you’ll generally have 45 days to report the incident to your employer. Once you’ve done so, you may find yourself needing legal help, and that’s where we come in.
In fact, hiring a work injury lawyer can be the difference between getting compensated or not, so it’s best not to take any chances. Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer in Orland Park as soon as you can to get the claims process started.
Most Common Types of Workplace Injuries to Know About
Injuries on the job happen in seconds, but can change your entire life, so it’s important to act quickly if something happens to you.
If you’re unsure if your injury will be considered eligible for compensation, you can get a better idea by learning about some of the most common workplace injuries and comparing your situation to those. Many people think that their specific injury won’t qualify for benefits, when in reality, it will.
Some of the most common workplace injuries include:
- Caught in/compressed by: Injuries that typically take place in factories or involve heavy machinery.
- Fall to a lower level: Falls down stairs, off roofs, or off ladders.
- Overexertion: One of the most common types of workplace injuries, these involve lifting, carrying, holding, pushing, and pulling.
- Traffic incidents: Accidents involving the use of company vehicles.
- Repetitive motion: Injuries occurring due to repeating the same motion over and over again.
- Slips and falls: Injuries caused by slipping on wet, slippery, or uneven flooring, or on uncleared walkways during winter.
- Workplace assaults: When one or more workers is assaulted at work.
- Struck by an object: Injuries caused by falling objected or objects dropped by someone else.
- Struck against an object: Injuries involving doors, windows, walls, etc.
What You Should Know About Workers’ Compensation Cases
Even if you do hire legal representation to help with your claim, you should be aware of various aspects of your case for your own sake. For instance, learn about the statute of limitations for your particular injury, as well as what paperwork you will need to retain for your claim.
You should also have a good idea of what kind of compensation you’re after—permanent injury, medical bill reimbursement, lost wages, etc. If you’re not sure about any of this, a work injury attorney will be able to help.
The Claims Filing Process
Hiring a workers’ compensation attorney can help you make sense of the entire claims process.
The first step you’ll need to take is notifying your employer of your injury/the incident that caused it. You’ll need to do this within seven days of it happening. If you need medical attention, let the staff know, as your employer may require you to visit certain facilities approved by the company.
After receiving reports from the doctors and employers, the insurance carrier will open a benefits claim. If they find the claim to be eligible for compensation, a conversation will take place between the carrier, the employer, and the injured person, in which a rate of pay will be agreed upon to pay the injured person while they’re out of work.
If the claim is rejected, however, the injured person will still have the opportunity to appeal that decision.
