Every day, workers in Illinois risk workplace injury. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workers suffered over 110,000 non-fatal injuries in Illinois workplaces in 2022 alone. While transport and manufacturing are some of the most hazardous industries in the state, workplace accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, and in any industry.
You may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if you’re hurt at work or develop a work-related condition in Illinois. Workers’ compensation covers medical expenses, income loss, disability, and more. You could also have a legal case and file a personal injury lawsuit for compensation.
Work injury claims can be complex. However, you don’t have to face the challenges alone. A dedicated Belleville, IL workplace accident lawyer at Bradley Law can help you rebuild your life after a serious workplace injury. We can guide you through seeking justice and compensation. Get started today with a free, no-obligation consultation.
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Common Workplace Accidents in Belleville
Some industries are inherently more dangerous than others. According to the BLS, workplaces with the most non-fatal injuries in 2022 in Illinois include:
- Education and health services
- State and local government
- Trade, transport, and utilities
- Natural resources and mining
- Manufacturing
- Services
- Construction
If you work in transportation, warehousing, construction, or manufacturing, you’re not only at risk of suffering an injury on the job; these industries also have the highest number of fatalities.
Common Workplace Accidents in Belleville
- Motor vehicle accidents: Work-related vehicle accidents can include car and truck crashes. Traffic accidents are a leading cause of workplace-related injuries and fatalities.
- Violence and injuries by persons or animals: Surprisingly, perhaps, getting attacked by people or animals is a daily risk to workers’ health. Some jobs, for example, delivery drivers or postal workers, are particularly risky.
- Falls, slips, or trips: Falls can happen anywhere. However, when they occur from great heights or into trenches, such as on construction sites and in factories, they can cause catastrophic injuries and even death.
- Contact with objects or equipment: Getting trapped in between machinery or injured by malfunctioning equipment can be a daily hazard for manufacturing, mining, and construction workers.
- Exposure to toxic substances: Exposure to toxins, such as chemicals or asbestos, can cause injuries and fatalities. Hazardous materials can also cause debilitating diseases surfacing years or even decades after exposure, such as mesothelioma and other cancers.
- Explosions and fires: Fires and explosions can be a daily hazard in industries working with flammable liquids and vapors, such as Illinois’ chemical plants and refineries.
Work-Related Conditions and Diseases
Workers not only get injured in accidents. They may also develop painful and debilitating workplace-related illnesses from years of heavy lifting, repetitive motions, or working in toxic environments. Such conditions include, among others:
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Back injury
- Chronic pain
- Hearing loss
- Respiratory diseases
- Asbestosis
- Cancer
Whether you were hurt in an accident or by years of working in hazardous environments, our Belleville, IL workplace accident lawyers have your back. We can assess your injury or condition, investigate the root cause, and discover all options for recovering compensation.
How a Belleville, IL Workplace Accident Lawyer Helps Injured Workers
As an injured worker, recovering what you need to get back on your feet and support your family after a workplace accident should be simple. However, in practice, it rarely is. There can be plenty of hurdles, such as an uncooperative employer or insurance company. Here’s how a skilled lawyer could help you get what you deserve:
Workers’ Compensation
If your valid workers’ compensation claim is denied, we can advocate for your rights to ensure you receive the medical expenses and lost wages you deserve. If your workers’ compensation benefits are reduced or terminated prematurely, a workplace accident lawyer at Bradley Law can appeal on your behalf.
Third-Party Liability
When a third party, such as a subcontractor or equipment manufacturer, causes your workplace injury, you could sue them. A Belleville, IL workplace accident lawyer can file a legal case against the responsible party, allowing you to seek compensation in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. Filing a lawsuit can also be vital for those who don’t qualify for workers’ comp, such as independent contractors.
Negotiating Settlements
If your employer or their insurance company makes lowball settlement offers that don’t cover all your losses, don’t rush to accept them. Instead, hire a lawyer with the negotiation power you need to fight for a fair and comprehensive settlement.
Retaliation Claims
While retaliation is illegal, it still happens. If your employer fired or demoted you for filing a workers’ compensation claim, our lawyers could sue them for wrongful termination and recover damages. You may qualify for back pay, reinstatement, and other compensation.
Proving Employer Negligence
Sometimes, an injured employee has a legal case against their employer. This can occur when an employer lacks workers’ compensation coverage, fails to ensure workplace safety, or deliberately causes a worker’s injuries. In such cases, a skilled workplace accident lawyer can file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Belleville, IL
Workers’ comp insurance in Illinois can provide injured employees with essential benefits, allowing them and their families to go on with their lives. Some of the workers’ comp benefits victims and their families could receive in Belleville include:
- Necessary medical treatment of your workplace-related injury or condition.
- Rehabilitation services to help you return to work.
- Temporary disability income to compensate for some lost wages during recovery.
- A settlement for a permanent impairment.
- Death benefits for families of workers killed on the job.
Benefits such as the weekly wage replacement payment are typically based on your average weekly wage, number of dependents, and extent of your disability. Workers’ comp generally only offers wage replacement payments of up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage.
Compensation in Workplace Personal Injury Lawsuits
Workers’ compensation is a crucial safety net for employees. However, since it typically only covers partial wage losses, you and your family may still face financial hardship during your recovery. Workers’ comp also doesn’t allow you to recover benefits for your pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life due to an injury.
If someone else is responsible for your injury, such as a grossly negligent employer or another contractor on your job site, you could have a legal case and recover damages with a lawsuit. Compensation can include non-economic damages, such as:
- Pain and anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of life enjoyment
Depending on the severity of your injuries and financial losses, non-economic damages could provide a substantial financial cushion that allows you to recover with dignity and comfort.
If someone else, such as an employer or third party, caused your accident and injury, don’t pay for their mistake. Our Belleville, IL workplace accident lawyers can analyze your circumstances and pursue the compensation you deserve.
What to Do After a Belleville Workplace Accident and Injury
Be careful to avoid jeopardizing your workers’ comp benefits or personal injury compensation. When you’re injured on the job or suffer from a work-related condition, you must take certain steps to protect your legal rights and health, including:
- Immediately report your injury to your employer: An Illinois employee must report an injury as soon as possible and no later than 45 days after the injury.
- Complete an accident and injury report: Your employer must provide you with an injury report. This document is vital evidence of your injury and essential when applying for benefits or filing a lawsuit.
- Seek medical care: Protect your rights and health by visiting a doctor as soon as possible after a workplace injury.
- File an Illinois workers’ compensation claim: Your employer should provide you with the documents to file a claim. Fill out all the required paperwork meticulously.
- Contact a Belleville, IL workplace accident lawyer: Seek legal advice to protect your rights, specifically if an employer seems uncooperative or your claim was denied. An attorney can help if your workers’ comp claim is minimized, delayed, or denied and assess your other options for receiving compensation.
FAQs
What if I’m responsible for my workplace injury?
Fortunately, workers’ comp is a “no-fault” system, meaning even if you have some fault in your accident, you should still be able to recover the benefits you need. However, there are some situations that can make it next to impossible to receive workers’ comp, including:
- You were intoxicated when your accident and injuries occurred.
- You violated company policies, such as safety procedures.
- Your injuries are self-inflicted
- You were injured during your commute to or from the job
Can my employer fire me during an ongoing workers’ comp claim?
Retaliation is illegal, and an employer must not fire you for filing a workers’ comp claim. However, in at-will employment states, such as Illinois, employers don’t have to provide a reason for terminating an employee.
So yes, unfortunately, you could get fired during an ongoing workers’ comp claim. However, if you believe you were let go due to filing for workers’ comp, contact an attorney immediately, as you could sue your employer for wrongful termination.
How much does a Belleville, IL workplace accident lawyer charge?
Workplace accident lawyers typically charge on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. Moreover, the fees of workers’ comp attorneys in Illinois are capped at 20% to protect workers requiring legal representation.
Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers never charge you upfront. You only pay us if and when we win, and you recover compensation.
Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Fight for Your Rights
We believe that all employees deserve adequate benefits and compensation when injured at work. However, the workers’ comp system and personal injury legal process can be complex and lengthy, especially when insurance companies or employers put stumbling blocks in your path.
Don’t struggle alone to get what you deserve. Our determined Belleville, IL workplace accident lawyers can work tirelessly for your best interests while you’re healing. Contact us today to clarify your rights and options in a free case review.
