Equipment Accidents

Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for Schaumburg and Wheaton Residents

Industrial and construction workers routinely work with and close to heavy equipment, which can cause accidents resulting in serious injury or death. Despite these work zones being subject to strict regulations, these accidents still happen. If you are an employee who has been hurt in a workplace accident involving weighty machinery or equipment, you can likely file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Our Schaumburg and Wheaton workers’ compensation attorneys have the knowledge to help you pursue the benefits you need so you can move forward with your life.

Heavy Machinery and Equipment Accidents

Heavy machinery and equipment accidents can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries, which makes following safety procedures all the more important. Work-related mishaps can take place for a number of different reasons. In some cases, a body part or an article of clothing can get stuck in a piece of equipment, whereas in other cases, inexperience or inadequate training may be the cause of the accident. Other accidents involving equipment include:

• Motor vehicle crashes;
• Backing up or blind spot accidents;
• Crashes with equipment or machinery;
• Being pinned or caught in between equipment or objects;
• Body parts being entangled in machines;
• Falling or flying equipment parts.

Many types of injuries can take place in a heavy equipment accident. While every case is different, some common injuries include broken bones, lacerations, burns, brain injury, and spinal cord injury. In some cases, these accidents can lead to amputation of body part such as a finger, hand, arm, or leg.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Illinois

In every work environment, equipment should be maintained well and workers must be trained to operate the equipment properly. In addition, there must be a safety protocol in place in case something goes wrong or in the event of an accident. If you have been injured in a work accident involving heavy equipment or machinery, you should be able to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can seem simple but the reality is that it can be a complicated process, which is why it is advisable to work with an attorney who can guide you through the process.

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act requires employers to provide workers’ compensation benefits to employees who sustain an injury or become ill in the course of employment. Under the Act, individuals who suffer an on-the-job injury or illness are entitled to: all reasonable and necessary medical expenses; wages in the amount of 2/3 of your average weekly wage; and certain disability benefits depending on the nature and seriousness of the disability. It is important to note that workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, meaning that an injured worker should receive benefits regardless of who is at fault for the injury.

Obtaining Death Benefits for a Deceased Worker

Workplace injuries do not just affect the employee who was injured, they also affect the worker’s dependant family members. In cases where a worker has died in a workplace accident, certain surviving family members may be able to recover death benefits. These benefits are designed to help keep the family financially afloat in the aftermath of the sudden and unexpected death of a loved one. Death benefits typically include medical benefits to cover the cost of the decedent’s medical bills; income benefits to supplement your income after the loss; and burial benefits to cover the cost of the decedent’s funeral.

Consult a Seasoned Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Wheaton or Schaumburg

Workers operating heavy equipment involving moving parts are at a high risk of getting hurt. If you have been injured in a workplace accident involving heavy equipment or machinery, we can potentially help. At Therman Law Offices, our hard-working and knowledgeable Wheaton and Schaumburg attorneys can help you learn more about your rights and legal options. You can trust that our top priority is to resolve your case as efficiently as possible. We proudly serve clients from Mt. Prospect, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Elgin, Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Wood Dale, Bensenville, and Bloomingdale. Call us today at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.