Hip Injuries
Attorneys for Workers’ Compensation Claims in Wheaton and Schaumburg
As the largest joints in the body, hips affect our ability to stand, sit, and perform work tasks. Unfortunately, employees throughout Illinois can suffer debilitating hip injuries at work that may require rehabilitation, physical therapy, and possibly surgery. Injured workers and their families may seek workers’ compensation benefits that help them during this period of financial uncertainty. At Therman Law Offices, we help clients understand their legal rights as we work to develop a strategy to pursue their benefits under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Our experienced Wheaton and Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyers have over three decades of combined experience to representation, and are prepared to answer your questions.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act Provides Benefits for Hip Injuries
Workers’ compensation laws provide financial assistance to employees in the form of benefits without requiring proof of fault. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act makes clear that when a worker has suffered an injury in the course and scope of employment, they are entitled to file a claim for compensation. As such, a hip injury that occurred or that was exacerbated while the worker was on the job would entitle that worker to seek compensation benefits.
The types of hip injuries that may trigger a claim for compensation range can include tendonitis, fractures, or strains. A workplace vehicle crash can leave workers with hip injuries, as can a slip and fall accident. Other employees may find that repetitive squatting to complete work tasks leaves them with hip pain or stiffness. Treatment for workplace hip injuries can range from over-the-counter medications and rest to complete hip replacement surgery. If surgery is required, an employee may a face long term absence from work in addition to rehabilitation. A knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney can assess what types of benefits you may be able to claim following an injury.
Filing a Claim for Benefits
The first step after suffering a work-related hip injury is to file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Employers must be given notice of an injury within 45 days following an accident. In most cases, a medical examination will be required in order to document the injuries. Medical treatment should be sought within 90 days following the accident. An overall deadline to file a worker’s compensation claim is three years from the date that the injury took place.
To make you eligible to recover workers’ compensation benefits, Illinois law mandates that your injury must have arisen in the course and scope of employment. In other words, you must have suffered your injury or illness while on the job. Some workers may have begun their employment with an underlying condition, such as bursitis, which affected their hip. This will not prevent them from recovering compensation because when injuries are exacerbated at work, the employee is still entitled to benefits. It is important to note that there are certain situations in which an employee will not be eligible to receive benefits, such as when they are injured while violating the law or intoxicated.
Hip injuries that occur on the job and either temporarily or permanently affect your ability to work entitle you to disability benefits. According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits are paid to those workers who cannot perform their work tasks during their period of healing. Even those workers who are cleared for some work by their physician may be eligible for TTD benefits, particularly if their employer cannot accommodate their needs. These types of benefits may be appropriate for employees recovering from hip replacement surgery, for example.
In comparison, temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits apply when an injured employee is capable of returning to work in a more comprehensive capacity, even if they cannot fully perform their previous work duties. TPD benefits are intended to cover the gap between what the worker earned before their injury and the wages they receive for work performed in a more restricted manner. Vocational retraining is also available under workers’ compensation laws.
Call an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Schaumburg or Wheaton
At Therman Law Offices, we appreciate that workplace hip injuries can leave you facing financial stress due to your inability to work. We are here to help by providing competent and effective legal representation. As dedicated workplace injury attorneys in Schaumburg and Wheaton, our team also represents people in Addison, Villa Park, Lombard, Elmhurst, Lemont, West Chicago, Oakbrook Terrace, Westmont, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Bolingbrook, and Lisle. To begin the process of understanding your right to workers’ compensation benefits, call our office at 312-588-1900 or contact us online to learn more.
FREE CONSULTATION
Chicago 773-839-8944
Wheaton & Schaumburg 847-744-8400