Decatur Workers’
Compensation Attorneys

If you’re injured on the job, it puts you in a serious bind. Not only are you injured as a result of your work, but you’re also likely facing the inability to return to work for some time. Serious accidents on the job are far more common than you probably realize. In fact, even employees with desk jobs are not immune to dangerous accidents on the job, and those who work in fields like construction and manufacturing are especially vulnerable. If an accident on the job leaves you injured, it’s time to consult with an experienced Decatur workers’ compensation attorney.

Injuries on the Job: The Statistics

The National Safety Council (NSC) shares some staggering statistics related to injuries on the job, including:

• A worker is injured on the job every 7 seconds, and yes, you read that right.
• In 2017, 104,000,000 days of production were lost as a result of work-related injuries.
• The most common categories of injury that keep employees off the job include soreness or pain (such as sitting at a desk for hours at a time can cause), cuts, lacerations, or punctures, and strains, sprains, and tears.
• The injury-causing events that are most likely to lead to lost days on the job include overexertion (such as from repetitive motion or frequent lifting and lowering), dangerous contact with equipment or objects (such as being struck by or against a piece of equipment or object or being caught in between two unyielding objects), and slip and fall accidents.
• Finally, the five occupations that are most closely associated with days lost on the job as a result of injuries include the service industry (such as police officers and firefighters), the transportation and shipping industry, manufacturing and production, installation, repair, and maintenance, and construction work.

NSC reminds all employers to take careful action to help spare employees from suffering needless pain and injury and shares that accidents on the job are 100 percent preventable.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation insurance coverage is mandated by the State of Illinois, and if an employee is injured on the job or acquires an injury or illness that is job-related, that employee is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This is true, regardless of who is at fault for the injuries sustained. Unlike the employee’s wages, however, workers’ compensation benefits are not taxed. Workers’ comp typically covers any injury that is wholly or partially related to one’s job, and this includes the exacerbation of pre-existing conditions and injuries that are work-related but that are sustained elsewhere (such as in a car accident while driving a company vehicle).

Injuries Workers’ Comp Will Not Cover

Workers’ compensation coverage does have limitations and will not cover any of the following:

• Injuries that are self-inflicted (including those caused by starting a fight at work)
• Injuries sustained while in the act of committing a serious crime
• Injuries sustained while engaging in conduct that violates a company policy
• Injuries sustained while not on the job

Your Coverage

Your employer is required by law to carry workers’ compensation, and this requirement extends to the following benefits:

• Your medical and rehabilitative expenses
• Temporary total disability benefits that amount to two-thirds of your average weekly pay if you are required to stay off the job while you recover
• Two-thirds of the difference in pay if you are put on a light-duty job while you recover
• Job retraining if you are permanently unable to return to your former position
• Permanent total disability benefits if you lose the use of a body part

If You Are Injured

While every workers’ comp claim is specific to the incident involved, there are some basic steps you should take if you are ever injured on the job, including:

• Seek the immediate medical attention you need and follow your doctor’s advice to the letter.
• Notify your employer or supervisor about your accident.
• Consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. To obtain the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled and that you need, it’s in your best interest to obtain the professional legal counsel of a dedicated workers’ compensation lawyer.

You Need an Experienced Decatur Workers’ Compensation Attorney on Your Side

Being injured on the job can be especially difficult, and obtaining the compensation you need from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance can be an arduous process. If you’ve been so injured, the formidable Decatur workers’ compensation attorneys at Malman Law have considerable experience guiding claims like yours toward just resolutions. Our dedicated legal team is well prepared to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information today.

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