Illinois Workers Compensation Claim For A Traumatic Back Injury

According to recent legal statistics, nearly 3 million Americans are injured on the job or become sick due to a work-related illness every year. Work place injuries can occur from an unexpected accident or by performing recurring work related tasks. One of the most common injuries an employee suffers at work place is related to back injury. Back injuries can occur due to lifting of heavy weights, static posture for prolonged hours, recurring performance of motions which place strain on the back such as bending or twisting and any action which directly impacts the back area of the body. Workers compensation claims for back injuries are the most frequent cases handled by Illinois workers compensation lawyers.

Back injuries can be one of the most traumatic injuries an employee can experience and some of the most common types of back injuries include:

  • Ruptured disks
  • Spinal fractures
  • Back sprain
  • Fractured vertebrae
  • Muscle strain

Many of these back injuries take a long time to cure and some injuries can leave the worker permanently injured. This situation can cause severe financial and physical distress to employees and their family. Illinois workman’s compensation law helps protect the rights of workers suffering from back injuries or any other type of injury they have sustained on the job. The workers' compensation system will give a numerical value to the level of the back injury, which is in direct proportion to how devastating the injury is to the worker. The type of benefits available to employees is different in each state, and the most common include:

  • Compensation for all necessary medical treatment
  • Travel expenses to and from doctor’s appointments
  • Death benefits paid to surviving family members
  • Cost for maintaining the worker through vocational rehabilitation
  • Lost wages during temporary or permanent disability

When an employee becomes injured or contracts a work-related illness, they must report the injury to their employer at the earliest and also seek immediate medical attention. Failure to do so may result in the employee being deprived of worker compensation benefits. Each state have their own rules regarding how to file a workers' compensation claim and details can be obtained by contacting the Workers' Compensation Office in your state. The basic action an employee should consider involves attaining the relevant workers compensation related forms from the employer or their insurer and filing out details such as cause and extent of the injury, potential witnesses of the accident and detailed listing of doctor's diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Once a claim has been filed, it will be sent to the employer's insurance company for review. If due to unfortunate circumstances the claim is denied, the employee can take the following recourse:

  • Obtain aid from the human resources department to try and resolve the concern
  • File an appeal with the Board of Illinois Workers' Compensation
  • Apply so that your case be heard by an Administrative Law Judge

In order to file an effective workers compensation claim, you should consider retaining services of an experienced Chicago workers compensation attorney. They would be aware of all legal aspects involved in filing for back injury settlements. An experienced attorney will be able to overcome all points raised by your employer or their insurer to deny your claim. Attorneys at The Law Offices of Bradley S. Dworkin the workers’ compensation lawyers are dedicated to helping their clients receive the maximum possible compensation for their pain and suffering. Please visit http://www.illinoisworkinjuryattorney.com/ or call at 1-888-853-4878 to schedule a free consultation.

Drug Testing to Help Reduce Chicago Workers’ Compensation Claims?

Two of Chicago's most powerful alderman have proposed that all city employees be subjected to random drug and alcohol testing in an effort to “reduce the number of accidents and workers’ compensation claims filed by the city,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The paper reports, "Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th) and Pat O’Connor (40th), Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s City Council floor leader and chairman of the Committee on Audit and Workforce Development, say random testing would minimize “errors in judgment” by city employees on duty."

The recommendation comes on the heels of an incident that occurred last month involving a city employee driving into a sidewalk filled with pedestrians while allegedly under the influence or alcohol.

Additionally, the city is facing a $1.2 billion per year deficit, and reducing workers compensation claims may be an effective way to save necessary funds. Research from the National Institute of Drug Abuse shows that workers who abuse drugs and alcohol are five times more likely to file workers' compensation claims.

There are many employees who do have legitimate reasons to file workers' compensation benefits. Our Chicago workers compensation attorney advises workers that they may be entitled to the following benefits if they are injured at work:

1) Temporary Total Disability: Weekly payments which amount to approximately 67% of your salary.

2) Two Medical Opinions: You are entitled to see two doctors of your choice at the expense of your employer. Additionally, if these doctors refer you to other specialists, your employer must also cover those additional expenses.

3) Permanent Disability: This is a settlement for your workers compensation claim.

These three items are just a brief over view and in addition to the basic rights you have under the Workers' Compensation Act, the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission rules and thousands of cases that the Illinois courts have ruled on establish the legal precedent.

If you have been injured on the job and are wondering about filing a Chicago workers compensation claim, contact a qualified workers compensation attorney in Chicago today.