Millions of people work in the healthcare field. These workers have some of the most important jobs in Illinois and throughout the United States. Just as with every other field, medical workers often suffer on-the-job injuries.
If you have been injured while working in the medical industry, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for medical expenses and other items. At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., our Chicago health care work injury lawyers can examine the facts of your case and help you understand your legal rights and options.
You can get the dedicated help you need from our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers. We have over 75 years of combined legal experience, and we’re ready to fight for you.
Why Hire Our Health Care Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Chicago, IL?
Hiring our Chicago personal injury lawyers after an accident at work can improve your chances of getting fair compensation through the workers’ comp system. We believe in standing up for injured workers and offering personalized legal representation to each client who turns to us for help.
You can rely on our team to:
- Answer the questions you have about the Illinois workers’ compensation system
- Explain what to do after an accident at work
- Gather evidence to support your workers’ comp claim
- File all the appropriate paperwork on your behalf
- Look for evidence of third-party liability
Our attorneys can examine your case and help you determine whether you would be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Under Illinois law, injured workers may qualify for certain benefits when they suffer an injury or occupational illness that arises out of and in the course of employment.
These protections extend to Illinois healthcare workers. Find out more about how our Chicago workplace injury lawyers can help by reaching out to us for personalized support.
Benefits Available Through a Workers’ Comp Claim
Workers’ compensation benefits may cover necessary medical care and vocational rehabilitation related to a covered work injury. If your injury prevents you from working while you recover, you may be entitled to temporary disability benefits that provide partial wage replacement.
If your injury temporarily prevents you from working, you may qualify for temporary total disability benefits. Depending on the nature and extent of a lasting impairment, you may also qualify for permanent disability benefits. Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, covered benefits are provided through the workers’ compensation system, with the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance generally responsible for payment.
Going Beyond a Workers’ Comp Claim in Chicago
In some cases, health care workers may have the option to pursue compensation outside of the workers’ compensation system. This may be possible when a third party contributed to the worker’s injuries.
We can discuss the requirements for filing third-party claims when you contact us for a risk-free initial consultation. We stand up for injured workers, and we’ll put you first.
The Steps in Filing Your Workers’ Comp Claim
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.
Once notified, your employer must report your injury to its insurance company or claims administrator. The insurance company may investigate the claim and determine whether to accept or dispute the claim. If the claim is disputed or benefits are denied, you may have the right to seek relief through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). If your claim is accepted, you may begin receiving the workers’ compensation benefits for which you qualify.
What Happens if the Insurance Company Denies Your Claim?
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. Our health care workers’ compensation attorneys know how to handle disputed claims and can help you determine your options.
Our knowledge of Illinois law allows us to work confidently on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Health Care Workers’ Comp Claims
You can rely on our health care workers’ compensation attorneys in Chicago to provide fast answers to any questions you have, including:
What Healthcare Workers Qualify to File Workers’ Comp claims?
Doctors, nurses, nurse’s aides, medical assistants, emergency medical technicians, nursing home workers, and transportation workers play a critical role in running hospitals and other health care facilities. They may all qualify to file an Illinois workers’ compensation claim after an accident at work.
What Injuries Can Healthcare Workers Suffer?
Injuries to Chicago healthcare workers can take a variety of forms, such as:
- Back or neck injuries;
- Knee or shoulder injuries;
- Muscle sprains or tears;
- Illnesses from exposure to blood-borne pathogens;
- Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome;
- Needlestick injuries; or
- Allergies to latex or chemicals.
Our team can help after any kind of injury sustained on the job. We’re ready to help with your workers’ comp claim today and can tell you more about the occupational diseases and injuries commonly faced by Illinois healthcare workers.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against My Employer After an Accident?
For injured workers in the healthcare industry, workers’ compensation is typically the only option to obtain compensation for a work-related injury. A worker cannot sue their 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.
Workers in the health care industry generally do not need to establish negligence or show fault to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. Instead, they must establish that the injury or illness arose out of and in the course of employment and meets the requirements for workers’ compensation coverage under Illinois law.
Consult Us After an Injury on the Job in Chicago, IL
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 Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., 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. Learn more about the services we offer and how we can help by reaching out to our Chicago health care workers’ compensation attorneys right now.
We‘re standing by and fully prepared to offer the support you deserve.