Work Injury Attorneys Belleville

Workplace injuries often occur through no fault of the employee due to occupational safety hazards, dangerous working conditions, or simple accidents. Work injuries can keep employees from returning to work or performing their job duties, and that is why workers’ compensation laws exist — to protect employees after a work injury. Workers’ compensation laws ensure that employers (or their insurers) are obligated to pay for the monetary and non-monetary damages resulting from a workplace injury.

If you have suffered an injury at work, whether it took place on or off the premises, Nelson & Nelson can help you through this complex situation. Contact us for a free case evaluation.

Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury

After the initial accident has occurred, you may have questions:

“Who will pay my hospital bills?”
“How can I feed my family when I can’t work?”
“What does this paperwork mean?”
“Do I have to see the doctor my employer is telling me to see?”
“Can my employer fire me if I have a work injury?”

You may feel overwhelmed with the uncertainty, but our work injury lawyers can make this extremely stressful time much easier for you. We will help guide you through the process after a workplace injury.

THE EARLIER YOU CONTACT US, THE FASTER WE CAN HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS!

Here are the steps you need to take after you are injured at work:

Step 1. Report the Injury

Notify a supervisor immediately after you are injured at work. It does not need to be your direct supervisor. In Illinois, notice may be as simple as telling a supervisor, or it may be in writing. If you do not report the incident within 45 days, you may forfeit your right to file a workers’ compensation claim.

In Missouri, the notice should be within 30 days and in writing. Properly document the workplace accident by including in your report the date and place of the accident and a brief description of the accident and resulting injury.

Step 2. Seek Medical Attention

Once your employer is notified, they are required to ensure you receive all of the necessary medical attention. Even if you are unsure that you need medical attention, you should still see a doctor. There are many instances where you do not know the full extent of your injuries because your body’s natural response after an accident is fueled with adrenaline. In Illinois, you should go immediately to your choice of medical provider (primary care physician or hospital). In Missouri, you must go to the doctor your employer directs you to see.

Step 3: Inform the Doctor About the Circumstances

Make sure that you tell the doctor that the injury occurred at work so it will be documented properly in your medical notes. Insurance companies will often try to deny workplace injury claims if the medical notes do not include that it was a work injury. Once you tell the doctor it is a work-related injury, they should send any and all correspondence about billing directly to your employer for payment.

Step 4: Ensure Your Employer Submits a Report

In addition to notifying their insurance company, employers must submit a report to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission or the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation. The report should contain your personal information and information about the accident, including when and where the accident took place, what you were doing at the time of the accident, how the accident occurred, and the injuries you sustained because of the accident.

Step 5. Hire an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

When it comes to workplace injuries, hiring a knowledgeable lawyer is a must! Your workers’ compensation attorney needs to be familiar with all of the complexities of Illinois and/or Missouri workers’ comp rules and regulations.

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Workers’ Comp Benefits You Are Entitled To

The results from a work injury can leave your health, career, finances, and overall well-being in disarray. Our workers’ compensation lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of Illinois and Missouri workers. Remember: you are not in this alone, our workers’ comp attorneys can help fight for fair compensation for your losses!

Medical Expenses Included in Workers’ Comp

Doctor appointments
Prescriptions
Surgery
Durable medical equipment

Employees are also entitled to vocational rehabilitation assistance if unable to return to their pre-injury job.

Types of Disability Benefits

The first three workdays of disability are not paid unless a doctor keeps you off work for at least 14 days.

Temporary Total Disability – These benefits are typically two-thirds of your average weekly wage (subject to minimums and maximums) and are paid up until your doctor declares that you have reached maximum medical improvement.
Temporary Partial Disability – These benefits are paid when employees are able to return to light-duty or part-time work that pays less than their normal wages. They are typically two-thirds of the difference between what you would have been able to earn before the injury and what you are currently making. They are paid up until you are able to return to work at the same level as before the work injury.
Permanent Partial Disability – Illinois workers’ compensation has four types of permanent partial disability benefits: scheduled losses, unscheduled losses, disfigurement benefits, and wage differential benefits. You receive these benefits if your doctor finds that the complete or partial loss of the body or body part partially impacts your ability to work. In Missouri, permanent partial disability benefits do not include the employer paying wage differential benefits.
Permanent Total Disability – Once your medical treatment is complete, your doctor will evaluate you for a permanent disability. You receive these benefits if you are permanently and totally disabled and unable to return to work. You will continue to receive weekly payments at your temporary total disability rate for life. You may also be eligible to receive Social Security disability payments.

If an employee was killed in a workplace accident, the family is entitled to receive death benefits as compensation for the loss of financial support and burial expenses.

Work with a Trustworthy Work Accident Attorney in Belleville, Illinois

The tough but compassionate Belleville workers’ compensation attorneys at Nelson & Nelson proudly protect the rights of employees injured on the job. Workers’ compensation laws can be confusing, and injured workers are frequently and unfairly denied the benefits owed to them. Our Belleville workers’ comp lawyers can answer your questions and support your claim in court if necessary.

Our attorneys have decades of expertise and knowledge to help you navigate the process and help you seek the compensation you deserve for any type of workplace injury. If you have sustained an injury or fallen ill at work, contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.