Office and Professional Injuries
Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Assisting Injured People in Wheaton and Schaumburg
Construction sites are not the only places where someone can be injured. Office spaces may also lead to workplace injuries that can significantly affect a person’s life. If you have a workers’ compensation claim arising out of an office or professional injury, you need to reach out to a Wheaton or Schaumburg workers’ compensation attorney who can help. At Therman Law Offices, we can provide legal advice and assistance at every step of your workers’ compensation claim. We represent people throughout Cook County in filing initial claims and appealing claims that have been denied.
Benefits Based on Office and Professional Injuries
Unfortunately, workplace injuries at the office are more common than you may think. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that office and professional injuries make up a very large portion of the 3 million non-fatal injuries that occur in workplaces each year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that office workers are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to suffer a disabling injury from a fall than non-office workers. Other common types of office injuries include but are not limited to:
- Slip and fall injuries;
- Repetitive stress injuries;
- Injuries from falling from chairs;
- Back or neck injuries from workstations that are ergonomically incorrect;
- Head injuries from objects falling off high shelves;
- Injuries from office equipment, including computers, printers, and copy machines;
- Eye strain and headaches from staring at a computer for long periods of time; or
- Ailments contracted from co-workers in close working spaces.
Workers’ compensation may be available when these injuries take place in an office or other professional setting. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that pays monetary benefits, such as medical expenses and lost wages, to workers who become injured, ill, or disabled during the course of employment. Employers are required to carry this type of insurance, and it is entirely free for the employee. These benefits are available to the employee irrespective of who was at fault for the accident and resulting injuries. In other words, you will be able to pursue workers’ compensation benefits regardless of whether your employer, your co-worker, or you caused the injury.
The extent of your injury or illness, and your ability to return to work after the accident, will determine the type of benefits that you can obtain and for how long. Possible benefits may cover medical costs, surgery costs, partial lost wages or income, permanent loss, and more. The time period to report an injury starts running as soon as the injury takes place, and your claim may be denied if you do not report your injury on time.
Workers’ compensation is typically the exclusive remedy for injured workers in Illinois. This means that a person injured on the job cannot sue the employer or an employee for negligence. You can simply file a workers’ compensation claim, which will be handled by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. There is an exception to this rule. If a third party, such as a property owner or a product manufacturer, caused your injury, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against that party. Third-party claims allow plaintiffs to recover damages, such as pain and suffering and other losses, that are not covered by workers’ compensation.
Contact a Workplace Injury Lawyer in Wheaton or Schaumburg
If you have been injured in a workplace accident at an office, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. Once there has been an injury at an office space, it is essential to make contact with an attorney as soon as possible. At Therman Law Offices, our attorneys can provide legal advice and assistance at every step of your workers’ compensation claim. With more than 35 years of combined experience, we understand how to navigate these types of cases. We proudly represent people in cities such as Schaumburg, Wheaton, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Bloomingdale, and Roselle. For more information about your legal rights and options, call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.
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Chicago 773-839-8944
Wheaton & Schaumburg 847-744-8400