Every day, numerous employees in a wide range of professions are injured while at work. While a substantial number of occupational injuries are typically minor, this is not always the case. When a worker is severely injured in a workplace accident, the resulting damage can have a drastic impact on their life.
If you are suffering from occupational injuries that you sustained while on the job, you might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Speak with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney today to learn more about what to do after a work accident in Joliet.
The term “workers’ compensation,” also known as “workman’s comp,” refers to the benefits that employees could receive for injuries they incurred while in the scope of their employment. In Joliet, these benefits are provided to employees under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, codified as Chapter 820 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes § 305. Not all injured employees may be eligible for workman’s comp benefits, however, and a lawyer could help identify which individuals or situations are not covered by this law.
For an injured employee in Joliet to receive workers’ compensation for their occupational injuries, they must file a workman’s comp claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission IWCC) and successfully pursue their claim. To succeed in their claim for benefits, they must show that the accident arose out of, and in the course of, their employment. In other words, workers’ compensation benefits are only awarded for the injuries an employee suffers while performing their occupational duties at work. In some situations, the question of what is considered “occupational duties” can be disputed by the employer or the insurance company, which is where it is helpful for the claimant to have someone on their side who knows the nuances of the law.
Effectively proving eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits can be a difficult task to undertake alone. By retaining the services of a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer, an injured worker could gain valuable insight of what to do after a work accident in Joliet.
There are many different types of jobs that exist, which means that there are countless ways of getting injured while in the scope of employment. However, occupations that involve a lot of movement, heavy lifting, and dangerous machines or tools are more likely to be hazardous. Some of the workplace accidents that produce workman’s comp claims include the following:
When any of these work accidents happen in Joliet, it is important to have a basic idea of what to do. No matter what the workplace accident may be, if an employee suffers harm while they are at work performing the tasks their job requires them to, they may be able to file for benefits, such as disability pay.
The injuries an employee might sustain in a work accident can vary wildly by occupation, and may range from a minor cut to a potentially fatal wound. In cases where an employee is harmed in a work-related accident, they could obtain workman’s comp benefits by notifying their employer and filing with the IWCC.
Although the process for filing a claim may seem simple at first, not all claims can be pursued effectively without assistance from a legal professional. If you are uncertain about what to do after a work accident in Joliet, call today to schedule a risk-free consultation with a lawyer who could help you fight for the relief that you deserve.