Machine Operator Accidents

Work Injury Attorneys for Clients in Wheaton and Schaumbur

Machine operators face challenging work conditions continually, as they rely on the use of equipment day after day. Dangers presented to workers operating machines exist in a range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and transportation. Even when workers are following safety precautions, a machine may not work as it should, or it can suffer from a defect. Illinois law provides benefits to those employees hurt in the course and scope of employment. The purpose of these laws is to make the worker whole again after suffering a loss. At Therman Law Offices, our Wheaton and Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyers help injured employees and their families pursue the benefits to which they are legally entitled.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Laws for Injured Employees

As a state-mandated insurance program, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides workers benefits when they have suffered work-related injury or illness in the course and scope of employment. These benefits are intended to provide lost income for the injured worker, and to offer medical care. Injured workers are not required to prove fault when filing a workers’ compensation claim.

The types of benefits provided by workers’ compensation insurance include medical and rehabilitation costs reasonably required for the treatment of work-related harm, including injury and illness. Disability benefits range in types, and the nature of harm that each worker experiences dictates the kind of benefits they receive.

Temporary disability benefits, for example, are equal to two-thirds of the employee’s average gross weekly wages, provided the employee is not able to work while recovering. Partial disability benefits may be appropriate in cases where a worker has been hurt on the job, but has retained at least some ability to continue working, even in a more limited capacity. Permanent and total disability benefits are provided to those injured workers unable to work for the remainder of their life. A doctor must deem the worker permanently and totally disabled in cases where this sort of claim is made.

For those workers injured in a machine operator accident, permanent total disability benefits would be appropriate if they suffered the loss of a limb, or a crushing injury. In addition to other benefits, injured workers may be entitled to job retraining. This is vocational rehabilitation that helps employees transition back to work. A skilled workers’ compensation attorney will review your specific case to assess the types of benefits to seek in a claim.

Machine Operator Accidents Can Lead to Devastating Injuries and Serious Harm

Machine operator accidents can result from faulty equipment. Despite the fact that employers must maintain their machines and perform regular safety inspections, defective machinery continues to harm workers. Employers are also required to properly guard against accidents by training machine operators in accordance with specific safety protocols. Accidents occur, and because workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, the injured employee need not prove fault for their injuries.

Injuries suffered in a machine operator accident can range from crushed hands suffered by press operators to serious lacerations and burns suffered by workers pouring hot liquid metal into molds. Workers operating machines repetitively can face carpal tunnel syndrome from the required motion. Even nail guns that malfunction can cause injury, and regardless of caution exercised by the worker, the harm can be devastating and even life-changing.

Retain a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Serving Wheaton or Schaumburg

Operating workplace machines presents risk of danger, and those employees hurt in an accident have the right to pursue benefits through filing a workers’ compensation claim. The dedicated Wheaton and Schaumburg attorneys at Therman Law Offices can assist you in filing your claim and fully understanding your legal options throughout the process. Our clients include employees and their families in Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Mt. Prospect, Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Elgin, Streamwood, Hanover Park, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Roselle, and Bloomingdale. Set up a consultation to understand more about your claim by calling 312-588-1900 or contact our offices online.

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