Injuries on Lunch Breaks

 

 

 

Illinois law requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect their workers. Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, workers can generally receive workers’ compensation benefits for injuries that arise out of the course and scope of employment. As mentioned earlier, a workplace accident can happen anywhere and at any time. A worker might be injured after a slip and fall accident in the office kitchen or in a car accident coming back to work from a lunch break. If you were injured on a lunch break, obtaining workers’ compensation is complicated. Every case is different and whether you will be entitled to compensation benefits will depend on a number of factors that an experienced attorney can help you analyze.

 

Typically, for an injury to be considered work-related, it must fulfill the following criteria: i) the injury must have taken place in a zone of employment; ii) the injury must be directly linked with working duties; and iii) the injury must have not happened during commuting hours or other unpaid hours. As such, an employee who is hurt in an on-site cafeteria will more likely be able to receive compensation than someone who got hurt while out to lunch at a restaurant. However, an employee who gets hurt while running a work-related errand would be covered by workers’ compensation.

 

 

If your injury does, in fact, qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you may be entitled to the following: 100 percent coverage of all reasonable and related medical expenses, with no out-of-pocket costs or co-pays, and temporary total disability (TTD) while you are temporarily unable to work. TTD is 2/3 of an injured worker’s average weekly wage. For workers who are injured but can still work light duty or on a part-time basis, an employer may pay temporary partial disability benefits for the difference in earning from the time prior to the injury. We can evaluate your case and determine which type of benefits would be most appropriate in your situation.

 

 

If you were injured at work during a lunch break, you can contact an experienced Schaumburg and Wheaton attorney. At Therman Law Offices, we are committed to helping you pursue the benefits you may deserve after being injured on the job. We will give you a realistic assessment of your claim so that you are not wasting any time. If your claim does have merit, however, you can you can take comfort in knowing that we will zealously advocate for your rights. We proudly represent clients from Mt. Prospect, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Elgin, Bartlett, Arlington Heights, Hanover Park, Wood Dale, Bloomingdale, Bensenville, and Roselle. Contact us today to set up a free consultation. You can reach us via phone at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.