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When you’re hurt at work, you should report the incident to your employer within 45 days, but the sooner, the better. After that, you can start looking for legal representation if you wish.
Working with a work injury attorney can be the difference between getting compensation and not getting compensation, so it’s best not to take any chances. When you’re hurt at work, contact a reliable Bensenville work injury attorney and get the claims process started.
Learn About Common Workplace Injuries
When you get hurt at work, it can be confusing to try and figure out whether your injury will be covered by workers’ compensation. In order to get a better idea of whether your situation is eligible, it can be helpful to learn about common workplace injuries that are eligible and compare yours.
Some of the most frequently occurring workplace injuries include:
- Traffic incidents: Injuries sustained while driving or otherwise using a company vehicle.
- Overexertion: Probably the most common work injuries, these involve pushing, pulling, carrying or lifting, throwing, or holding.
- Repetitive motion: Injuries caused by making the same movement over and over again.
- Workplace assaults: When one or more workers is assaulted on the job.
- Struck by an object: Injuries involving falling or dropped objects.
- Struck against an object: Injuries involving doors, windows, or walls.
- Slips and falls: Slipping and falling on wet or uneven floor surfaces, or on uncleared sidewalks during the wintertime.
- Caught in/compressed by: Injuries that typically involve heavy machinery or occur in factories.
- Fall to a lower level: Falling down stairs or off of a roof or ladder.
What You Should Know About Workers’ Compensation Cases
Hiring a work injury attorney can be infinitely helpful. For instance, when you’re dealing with a work injury case, there are a lot of details you should know about—what the statute of limitations is, what paperwork you’ll need, and what kind of compensation to fight for, for instance.
Types of compensation to fight for can include lost wages, permanent injury, or medical bill reimbursement. If you’re unsure of any of these details, a workers’ compensation lawyer can be a great asset.
The Claims Filing Process
Filing a claim for a work injury doesn’t have to be frustrating. When you work with a workers’ compensation lawyer, you’ll have access to reliable help and guidance.
First, you will need to notify your employer of the incident. Do this as soon as possible after the injury occurs. If you seek medical care, be sure to inform staff that your injury is work-related, as some employers may require you to visit specific facilities.
Next, an insurance carrier will open a benefits claim once they receive reports from doctors and your employer. Once the claim is reviewed, if it is found to be compensable, the carrier will discuss with the injured party as well as the employer what the rate of pay or benefits will be while the injured person recovers.
If the claim is denied, though, the injured person will have the option to appeal.
