It is an employer’s duty to provide their employees with a safe work environment, within reason. Even in the safest of offices, however, accidents can happen. This is especially true with higher-risk jobs or jobs requiring manual labor and heavy machinery. If an employee gets injured on the job, there are certain rights that their employer must offer them, mainly the option of workers’ compensation. If you were injured at work, contact a Kane County workers’ compensation lawyer for representation and advice.
Does an Injured Employee Have a Right to Workers’ Compensation?
In Illinois, every business is required to offer their employees workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is insurance for employees who are injured at work or due to their job. By filing a workers’ compensation claim, an injured employee can obtain financial compensation and medical coverage for their injury. If the accident results in the death of the employee, their dependents can also receive benefits through workers’ compensation.
What Are the Rights of an Employee Injured at Work?
If you are injured on the job you will want to receive the full extent of the benefits you are entitled to. To ensure that you do, you must inform your employer of the accident and injury as soon as possible and get examined by a medical professional right away. Illinois law states that an employee must inform the employer of the injury within 45 days of it occurring. It is important to keep in mind that by receiving workers’ compensation benefits you may be waiving your right to sue the company.
Your rights after an injury include filing a workers’ compensation claim, having a hearing, seeking medical treatment, appealing the decision if your claim is denied, returning to your job if possible, and receiving disability benefits if you can’t return to work. An employer is not allowed to try to prevent you from filing a claim or fire you for filing a claim.
What Are The Employer’s Rights?
Your employer has rights too. They are within their rights to do the following.
- Investigate the accident and how it occurred
- Request a workers’ compensation hearing and/or attend your workers’ compensation hearing
- Stop paying your salary if you cannot work
- Have someone else do your job
- Offer you a different job with responsibilities within your abilities for the time being
- Request that you be examined by an independent doctor
- Request that the insurer challenge the amount of compensation decided on
- Report workers’ compensation fraud
How Much Money Will I Get if I Was Injured at Work?
The financial benefits you receive from your workers’ compensation claim will vary depending on the specific circumstances of your case. It will depend on your wages, the type of accident and injury, how the accident happened, and how it will affect your life and working ability. A variety of factors will impact your compensation. That is why it is important to work with an experienced attorney. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skill to make a case for the most fair compensation possible.
