Health Care Injuries
Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Representing People in Wheaton and Schaumburg
Millions of people work in the health care field. These workers have some of the most important jobs in Illinois and throughout the United States. Just as with every other field, health care workers often suffer on-the-job injuries. If you have been injured while working in the health care industry, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for medical expenses and other items. At Therman Law Offices, our Wheaton and Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyers can examine the facts of your case and help you understand your legal rights and options.
Benefits Based on Health Care Injuries
We rely on health care professionals to care for the sick and injured. Doctors, nurses, nurse’s aides, medical assistants, emergency medical technicians, and transportation workers play a critical role in running hospitals and other health care facilities. Injuries to health care workers can take a variety of forms, such as:
- Back or neck injuries;
- Knee or shoulder injuries;
- Muscle sprains or tears;
- Slip and falls;
- Illnesses from exposure to blood-borne pathogens;
- Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome;
- Needle stick injuries; or
- Allergies to latex or chemicals.
Whatever the cause of your injury, our attorneys can examine your case and help you determine whether you would be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Under Illinois law, injured workers can recover certain benefits if they sustained an injury or contracted an illness during the course of employment. Workers’ compensation benefits can pay for all of the medical bills and rehabilitation costs arising from the work injury. If the injury caused you to miss work, you will be entitled to portions of your lost wages as well. If you become disabled and cannot work either permanently or temporarily, you may be entitled to certain disability benefits. The employer’s insurance company pays these benefits, and they are entirely free for the employee.
For injured workers, workers’ compensation is typically the only option to obtain compensation for a work-related injury. A worker cannot sue his or her employer after getting hurt on the job. Instead, the worker must file a workers’ compensation claim to pursue compensation for expenses and losses related to the injury. The worker does not need to establish negligence or show fault. The worker only needs to show that the injury took place while he or she was engaged in a job-related activity.
The first step in starting a workers’ compensation claim in Illinois is notifying your employer of the injury as soon as possible. If you fail to notify your employer within 45 days, you may lose your right to benefits. Notice can be verbal or in writing. Once notified, your employer must report your injury to its insurance company or claims administrator. The insurance company will then investigate the claim and make a decision regarding your claim. Under Illinois law, the insurance company must approve or deny your claim in a timely manner. If the claim is accepted, you will start receiving benefits.
If the claim is denied, however, you can appeal by filing an application for adjustment of claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). The IWCC is an impartial administrative government body that processes workers’ compensation claims between employees and employers. If the IWCC denies your claim as well, you may still have some options to continue your appeal. We will review your case and help you determine your options.
Consult a Job Injury Attorney in the Wheaton or Schaumburg Areas
If you work in the health care industry and have suffered an on-the-job injury, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. At Therman Law Offices, our knowledgeable attorneys can provide you with a free consultation about your case and help you determine your options. We understand that dealing with a workplace injury is extremely stressful, but we will handle your case with the utmost compassion. We proudly represent people in cities such as Schaumburg, Wheaton, Norwood Park, Edison Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Elmwood Park, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Rosemont, and Elk Grove Village. Call us today for a free case evaluation at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.
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Chicago 773-839-8944
Wheaton & Schaumburg 847-744-8400