Back Injuries
Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Representing Employees in Schaumburg and Wheaton
Depending on their severity, back injuries can have long-term and debilitating consequences for a person. If you have suffered a back injury in the course of your work, you may be entitled to certain workers’ compensation benefits. At Therman Law Offices, our Wheaton and Schaumburg back injury lawyers have compiled many years of experience helping injured workers pursue the benefits that they are rightfully owed after an accident on the job, whether this is a car accident, a slip and fall, a construction accident, or another incident.
Pursuing Benefits for a Back Injury on the Job
Some jobs require a great deal of physical work, including pushing, pulling, carrying, and lifting heavy materials. Repeatedly engaging in these actions could lead to a back injury. Even sedentary jobs that require minor physical work can lead to back injuries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, back injuries are the most common types of workplace injuries among employees today. Research shows that up to one-third of back injuries could be prevented through a better-designed job workspace.
Back injuries tend to range in severity from mild strains requiring physical therapy and rest to herniated discs that require surgery and ongoing care, such as physical therapy. Serious back injuries may limit a person’s ability to perform basic day-to-day tasks, including their ability to work. In the most severe cases, in which a back injury causes permanent damage, the injury may prevent the person from being able to work altogether. A back injury attorney in the Schaumburg or Wheaton area can help them pursue the appropriate benefits when this happens. Common on-the-job back injuries include:
- Lower back strains and sprains;
- Herniated and slipped discs;
- Pinched nerves;
- Fractured vertebrae;
- Degenerative disc disease;
- Damage to the sciatic nerve (sciatica); and
- Stenosis.
No matter which type of back injury you have suffered, we can help you determine if you are entitled to file for workers’ compensation benefits. Illinois law requires all employers to maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover their employees’ work-related injuries. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides benefits to anyone injured within the scope and course of employment. This simply means that the back injury must have been sustained or exacerbated while the employee was on the job. It is important to note that workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
Workers’ compensation will pay benefits for the vast majority of on-the-job injuries. However, there are some categories of injuries that are not covered by the program. For example, workers’ compensation will not pay for injuries resulting from an employee’s intoxication, self-inflicted injuries, and injuries sustained while violating the law or a company policy.
If you have suffered a back injury, you should notify the employer as soon as possible and no later than 45 days after the accident. Our Schaumburg and Wheaton back injury attorneys can assist you with this process. Similarly, medical treatment should be sought as soon as possible and no later than 90 days after the accident. These time frames are critical in every workers’ compensation case, so it is important to follow them vigilantly. In addition, the deadline to file a workers’ compensation claim, known as the statute of limitations, is three years from the date that the injury occurred or two years from the date that the employee received their last workers’ compensation benefits, whichever is later.
In some cases, workers choose to settle their cases. This typically happens through a negotiation process between the injured employee and his or her lawyer and the insurance company. If you settle, all rights to further compensation regarding this specific injury are waived. As a result, any plans to accept a settlement should be discussed thoroughly with a lawyer and should not be taken lightly.
Get Assistance from a Knowledgeable Back Injury Lawyer in Wheaton or Schaumburg
At Therman Law Offices, our diligent workers’ compensation attorneys have handled many work-related back injury cases in Illinois. Our team understands how to navigate complicated workers’ compensation claims. You can rest assured that we can answer your questions and provide personalized legal representation at every step of the way. We also assist people in the areas around Addison, Elmhurst, West Chicago, Lemont, Westmont, Oakbrook, Terrace, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, and Lisle. Call us today at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.
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Chicago 773-839-8944
Wheaton & Schaumburg 847-744-8400