Occupational Health and Safety: What To Do When You Are Injured At Work

During your employment at any job, your occupational health and safety could be at risk as you may be exposed to back injuries/sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), heavy tool accidents, repetitive stress disorders, slips & falls, cuts, lacerations and fractures. If you have been injured during job you are permitted to get worker compensation benefits, but first it is important to follow these steps:

Get medical care immediately:

- What could seem like a minor injury might end up being a more serious medical problem
- You may choose to visit up to two doctors and any subsequent referrals
- Make sure to provide to your employer, in writing, the contact information of the doctor and hospital that you choose
- You do not have to accept treatment from the health care provider your employer recommends.

Tell the doctor exactly how you got hurt:

- If the doctor recommends work restrictions, make certain you get them documented in writing

Keep your own records

– Record what happened in the accident and indicate if there were any specific physical conditions, such as a wet floor, which may have contributed to your accident

Notify your employer as soon as you can that you have been injured

– If you neglect to notify your place of work within 45 days, you may lose eligibility for workers’ compensation
- Describe all circumstances as accurately as possible, because your employer is likely to challenge your workers’ compensation claim
- Your employer has the right to require that you be evaluated by a particular clinic or doctor of their choosing

Request that your employer reimburse any medical costs and lost wages:

– You are eligible for up to 2/3 your average regular-time wages for the period of time you were unable to work
- Make sure you keep copies for yourself of all documentation, bills, paperwork, doctors’ notes, or anything else related to the injury and its treatment

Additionally, to ensure you have the best chance of receiving workers compensation, contact a lawyer specializing in workers’ compensation, especially if:
1. Your employer does not promptly address your claim
2. Your employer denies your claim
3. You need to pursue permanent disability payments
4. You need to pursue compensation for the workplace death of a spouse or parent

If you or your family suffers from work related injury, your employer-provided insurance company should be providing compensation during your period of recovery. Receiving all worker compensation benefits including lost wages, medical expenses and vocational rehabilitation costs can be rather standardized, but the amount of compensation is dependent upon your average weekly wage and the degree of your incapacitation.

At The Law Office of Bradley Dworkin, our Chicago, Illinois workers’ compensation attorneys have experience in handling all types of work injury related cases. Our attorneys are always ready to fight for you to resolve your case quickly and effectively. Contact us today if your occupational health and safety has been compromised, and we will put our considerable work injury expertise in your corner!

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Bradley S. Dworkin shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon.

What If a Non-Work-Related Injury Keeps Me From Work?

Considering that the majority of an individual's time is (hopefully) spent outside the workplace, it is very common for an employee to sustain an injury while that are not at work that prevents them from attending work – sometimes for a series of days, weeks or even months. What are an employee's options when they sustain an injury that is not classified as work injury?

In most cases, if an injury is not covered by workers' compensation it may qualify for short-term or long-term disability benefits if you or your employer have that type of insurance.

Disability vs. Workers' Compensation Benefits

You are only eligible for workers' compensation benefits if you were injured on the job or can prove that your injury was work-related. For this reason, there is disability insurance – short term and long term – which can help you receive part of your income when you are unable to work due to an injury or illness.

Disability insurance is often not carried by your employer on your behalf, but it may be offered as part of your benefits package. This means that you are able to opt into and pay an additional amount out of your paycheck for short term and/or long term disability. Additionally, some employers will pay your coverage for one type of disability insurance but not the other.

Before you file a disability claim, it makes sense to see a medical professional to be sure that your injury is truly non work related. Often times, an employee may be suffering from a work-related injury or condition without paying much attention to it until there is a catalyst like sustaining a serious injury. It is always possible that an injury at home could have been caused or contributed to by an underlying medical condition caused by performing one's job function on a daily basis.

Another possible situation that may arise is when an employee is injured at work but they work through it, thinking it is not that bad. However, there may be long-term effects of ignoring or working through a work injury which can be painful. As a result, you should always report any incident at work that could be classified as an accident or work injury – even if it seems minor. That way, if you do develop symptoms or complications after the accident, there is a work injury report on file that can make it easier to receive workers compensation benefits down the line.

If you have been injured at work, or if you are curious whether an injury outside the workplace might be related to a job-related medical condition, you should contact a medical professional right away. Additionally, you may want to speak with a qualified Illinois workers' compensation attorney to find out about the process of filing a workers' compensation claim.

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Dworkin & Maciariello shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon.