If you’ve been injured on the job, understanding your legal rights is a critical first step toward getting the compensation you need and deserve. The Arlington Heights workers’ compensation lawyers at The Kryder Law Group have been protecting the rights of Illinois workers for years. Our personal injury attorneys will act as your advocate, explain your rights in everyday terms, and handle your claim from beginning to end.
Workplace Injuries in Arlington Heights, Illinois
It’s true accidents do happen, and not every workplace injury is preventable. That said, accidents on the job can be the result of unsafe work conditions, malfunctioning equipment, and other safety oversights. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 110,000 reported workplace injuries in 2018 alone.
Regardless of whether your injury was the result of negligence or an unavoidable accident, the state of Illinois protects your right to fair and full compensation for any injuries suffered on the job. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act was designed to protect the rights of injured workers across the state. Still, getting the compensation you deserve can be more challenging than it seems.
While the types of injuries workers suffer vary from case to case, some are seen more often than others. Injuries typically seen in workers’ compensation claims include carpal tunnel syndrome, back and neck injuries, burns, broken bones, severed limbs, and illnesses resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals. In truly tragic cases, injuries can prove fatal. In these cases, the families of the victims have the legal right to seek compensation for their losses.
Common Causes of Workplace Injuries:
- Overexertion
- Slip and falls
- Falling objects
- Car and truck accidents
- Machinery and equipment-related accidents
If you’ve been injured at work, an Arlington Heights workers’ compensation attorney at The Kryder Law Group understands the stress and hardship you and your family are facing. Our team will review your case and fight to secure you the compensation your family deserves.
Actions Injured Workers Should Take Immediately
Depending on the severity of your injuries and the medical procedures required for recovery, you can be facing days, weeks, months, or years of medical care. For many, this amounts to the loss of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, you have rights, and the steps you take in the immediate aftermath of a workplace injury can dramatically improve your chances of full compensation.
Steps to Take after a Workplace Injury:
- Let your employer know immediately. State law requires victims to report the injury to their employer within 45 days of the incident, in most instances. Your report should include how you were injured, which body parts were affected, and what medical intervention was required or will be required to recover.
- See a doctor as soon as possible and document each visit (including prescribed treatments and costs accrued).
- Keep the lines of communication between you and your employer open to ensure you are able to track your claim’s progress and ensure your employer is accurately tracking missed days of work.
- Hire an Arlington Heights workers’ comp lawyer to handle all communication, review any proposed settlements before you agree to them, and advocate on your behalf for fair compensation.
A workers’ compensation lawyer can be brought in at any point during the claims process. For minor injuries, a lawyer can review proposed settlements. For more severe injuries, it can be wise to employ a lawyer to handle all communication with your employer, ensure paperwork is filed in a timely fashion, review all proposed settlements, and negotiate on your behalf. If you’re unsure how to proceed, call The Kryder Law Group and speak with a member of our team for free.
Workers’ Rights and the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act is a fault-free system designed to protect Illinois workers by compensating them for both medical bills and lost wages during the period in which they are unable to work as a result of a workplace injury. Unlike personal injury lawsuits, workers’ compensation claims are not based on negligence. This means you are entitled to compensation regardless of whether your employer is at fault or not. The compensation you receive depends on the specific details of your case but can include lost wages, coverage of medical bills, and more. Essential workers are also covered if they contract COVID-19 at work.
Benefits You Can Claim through the Workers’ Compensation Act:
- Medical expenses for any treatment required to recover from physical injuries or illnesses
- Temporary total or partial disability (TTD and TPD) benefits that replace lost wages for those unable to work in any capacity or those working on light duty for partial pay while recovering
- Permanent total or partial disability (PTD and PPD) benefits that replace lost wages and cover medical costs for those who suffer a permanent disability but are still able to work on light duty for partial pay. Also, those who suffer a disability so severe they are not able to return to work even after medical treatment
- Benefits that cover the funeral and burial expenses of workers who are fatally injured on the job
Illinois employers are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance and offer benefits to every employee. The amount offered and the time frame in which the compensation is awarded can vary dramatically from case to case. A workers’ compensation attorney in Arlington Heights can help ensure you’re offered a fair settlement and prevent unnecessary delays.
Work with an Arlington Heights Attorney on Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
With your workplace being where you spend over half of your waking hours each day, the likelihood of being injured at work is high, and the cost of medical bills can quickly overwhelm you without a steady income. The financial and emotional stress this can put on a family is unfair and not one you should have to shoulder alone.
The Kryder Law Group has been working to protect victims’ rights for decades. Our team will review your case, contact your employer, review all proposed settlements, advocate to prevent delays or denial of claims, and negotiate on your behalf to ensure the compensation you are offered fully covers your expenses.
The first call is free of charge and, from there, our team will work with you on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you pay nothing until your case is successfully resolved. Call today for a no-obligation consultation with an Arlington Heights workers’ compensation lawyer to get started. We will answer any questions, review the specifics of your case, and advise you on how to proceed moving forward.
(312) 223-1700