Caring With Our Clients, Fierce With The Insurance Companies
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, warehouses are among the most prevalent sites for work-related injuries. Twenty-five percent of these injuries occur at loading docks. Furthermore, 16 percent of injuries occurring at loading docks, in Illinois and across the United States, are strain injuries. Strain injuries are categorized as musculoskeletal disorders, which consist of damage to the body’s joints,…
The cumulative effect of injuries incurred by Illinois workers can be unpredictable. In some cases, the effect is immediate and the recovery following treatment is permanent. In other cases, the effect intensifies later or recovery following treatment is only temporary. These latter cases present challenges for recipients of workers’ compensation awarded on the basis of the original effect of their…
Construction workers face a high risk of injury relative to other professions. According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction site accidents are a significant contributor to both fatal and nonfatal injuries for workers in Illinois and across the United States. The risk of injury to construction workers may be evaluated in the context of both fatal…
Exposure to excessive heat is a serious danger for people who work outdoors. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 423 American workers died from heat illness during the years 1992 through 2006. The combination of hot weather, heavy protective clothing, hard physical labor, and bulky equipment can make some professions such as firefighting especially hazardous. All…
In Illinois, there are situations when workers may consume alcohol or be on prescription medications while on the job. Employees in the beer industry, for example, may taste alcohol in the course of performing their job duties. Likewise, other workers may be taking prescription drugs during the workday at the direction of a physician. In situations such as these, employees…
According to the Illinois Department of Labor, more than 150,000 workers in the state experienced on-the-job injuries in 2013. Every injured worker has the right to claim full compensation for all hours of work lost and all medical expenses incurred. Unfortunately, some employers may not have sufficient insurance to cover the needs of their injured employees. In these cases, the…
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more than four million workers suffer work-related injuries every year in the U.S. Not all occupational injuries, however, are visible. In addition to physical injuries, such as a broken leg or strained back, employees in Illinois, and elsewhere, may also develop psychological injuries, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, as a…
Generally, Illinois employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses may be eligible for benefits under the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act. These benefits may include coverage of medical and rehabilitative care costs, disability pay and the costs of long-term care needs. Important documentation for workers’ compensation claims In order to help workers receive the benefits they are entitled to, it is…
Every year, about 45,000 workplace burn injuries occur, according to a 2011 report from the American Burn Association. Burn injuries may not be the most common workplace injuries, but they can be among the most impactful, since they often cause lasting physical and psychological harm. When employees in Chicago, Illinois, sustain burn injuries, they may be entitled to various workers’…
According to the records of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, nearly 1,500 workers’ compensation cases were appealed in 2013. Injured workers have the right to appeal if they are denied benefits or offered insufficient compensation. Employees suffering from the aftermath of a workplace accident can increase their chances of a successful appeal by learning about the system and avoiding some…