A workplace injury can have devastating financial consequences for employees and their families. Medical care is expensive, and any time spent at home or in the hospital is time you cannot earn money to provide for your family.
Helpfully, most Woodstock workers are covered by their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. So long as an employer has at least one part-time employee, they should buy insurance. If you were hurt on the job, regardless of fault, you should qualify for benefits. Nevertheless, many workers see their claims denied for no valid reason.
At Tuite Law, we have assisted injured workers in Illinois for decades. Contact us today to discuss whether you qualify for benefits after a workplace injury.
On-the-Job Injuries
To qualify for benefits, a worker must be injured on the job. This does not necessarily mean injured at the workplace. Some workers travel to conferences or to meet with clients, and they might be injured while traveling. Other employees run required errands for their boss as part of their job, and they too might qualify for benefits. The key is whether you suffered an injury in the scope of your employment.
Our firm has helped workers with many types of injuries and illnesses. Some are caused by explosions or falls, while others are the result of slowly accumulating wear and tear on the body. For example, we have helped workers who have suffered:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Fractures
- Burns
- Poisoning
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Bursitis
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Breathing disorders, such as silicosis or asbestosis
An injury cannot be pre-existing, but you can qualify for benefits if you aggravate a pre-existing injury. For example, you might have sprained your lower back while playing basketball three years ago. If a workplace accident causes you to re-injure your back, then you might qualify for workers’ compensation.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Illinois workers might receive any of the following:
- Benefits for reasonable and necessary medical care
- Temporary total disability benefits
- Permanent partial disability benefits
- Permanent total disability benefits
- Vocational retraining
- Death benefit and funeral expenses (when a worker dies)
The benefits will depend on the injury. Someone who needs to recover in the hospital can receive temporary total disability benefits while they recuperate. Other injuries might prevent a worker from returning to their old job but not prevent them from finding lower-paying replacement work.
To review what benefits you might be in line for, please speak with a Woodstock workers’ compensation lawyer at Tuite Law today. We also can help if your initial claim was denied. There is a standard appeal process in place, but workers must act swiftly to protect their rights.
Notify Your Employer Promptly
Illinois law requires that workers notify their employer of their injury as soon as possible. This rule makes good sense. Your employer should quickly fix any problem so that they can protect your coworkers. Please avoid delays.
A worker can jeopardize their benefits if they fail to inform their boss, foreman, or other supervisors within 45 days of the injury. Your employer might dispute your benefits if you wait too long.
Speak with a Woodstock Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Tuite Law is proud to offer free, no-risk consultations to injured workers to discuss their case. Please contact our law firm today to learn more about your rights.
