UPS Workers’ Comp in Illinois: Help for Drivers, Package Handlers & Seasonal Workers (2025 Guide)

Workers at UPS hubs across Illinois – from CACH in Hodgkins to Morgan Street in Chicago and Bedford Park – face serious injury risks, especially during the busy holiday season. If you’re a UPS driver, package handler, or seasonal worker hurt on the job, Illinois workers’ comp may cover your medical bills, lost wages, and long-term injuries. Here’s what to know before you trust Liberty Mutual or Helmsman to “do the right thing.”

Who This Guide Is For

This page is for UPS workers in Illinois who were hurt on the job, including:

• Package handlers, sorters, loaders, and unloaders

• Delivery drivers and feeder drivers

• Seasonal / peak-season and temp UPS workers

• Workers at major hubs like UPS CACH (Hodgkins), Morgan Street Center (Chicago), Bedford Park feeder gate, Elk Grove Village international, and Bensenville / supply chain facilities

If you were injured at any UPS facility or while making deliveries in Illinois, you likely have workers’ compensation rights—even if you’re seasonal, even if you were hired through a temp agency, and even if you’re partly blamed for the accident.

Common UPS Work Injuries We See in Illinois

Lifting, Loading & Hub Injuries

At facilities like UPS CACH in Hodgkins, Bedford Park, and Morgan Street Center in Chicago, workers deal with:

• Repetitive lifting of heavy and awkward packages

• Twisting and bending in tight trailers

• Fast conveyor belts and long shifts

This often leads to:

• Low back strains and herniated discs

• Rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement

• Knee injuries from pivoting, squatting, and stepping down from docks

• Wrist and elbow injuries from repetitive grabbing and lifting

Driver & Road Injuries

UPS delivery and feeder drivers face:

• Truck and van crashes in Chicago traffic and on interstates

• Slip-and-falls on icy steps and driveways

• Injuries from jumping down from high steps, curbs, or fences

• Dog bites and chase injuries at customer homes

These can result in:

• Fractures and torn ligaments

• Head, neck, and back injuries

• Long-term knee and ankle problems

• Permanent scarring or disfigurement

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UPS Workers’ Comp Basics in Illinois

Illinois workers’ comp is a no-fault system. That means:

• You usually don’t have to prove UPS did anything wrong

• You can still receive benefits even if you made a mistake or were partly at fault

• In exchange, you generally can’t sue UPS directly for pain and suffering

If your claim is accepted, you may be entitled to:

• Medical benefits – 100% of reasonable, work-related care (no co-pays or deductibles)

• Wage-loss benefits – typically 2/3 of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) when you’re off work (TTD)

• Partial wage-loss benefits if you’re on light duty and making less (TPD)

• Permanent disability benefits (PPD or, in severe cases, PTD)

• Vocational rehab / retraining if you can’t return to UPS work

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What to Do After a UPS Injury in Illinois

1. Get Medical Care Immediately

• Tell the provider it was a work injury at UPS.

• Be honest and detailed about how it happened.

• Follow through with recommended treatment and referrals.

2. Report the Injury to UPS ASAP

• Illinois gives you up to 45 days to report, but waiting is risky.

• Report it to a supervisor or manager and keep a copy of any written report.

• If you work at CACH Hodgkins, Morgan Street, Bedford Park, Elk Grove, Bensenville, or another UPS site, mention which facility, shift, and job you were performing.

3. Don’t Assume the UPS Insurance Adjuster Is on Your Side

Often UPS claims are handled by Liberty Mutual / Helmsman as insurer/TPA. Their job is to control costs, not maximize your benefits.

Watch for:

• Claim “investigations” that drag on

• Pressure to return to work too soon

• Denied MRIs, injections, or surgery

• IME doctors saying you’re “fine” while you’re still in pain

4. Talk to a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Before You Sign Anything

Once you sign a settlement:

• You may permanently close out parts of your case

• You may be giving up future rights you don’t even know you have

A quick review can prevent you from walking away from thousands of dollars or lifelong medical rights.

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Key Benefits for UPS Workers: TTD, TPD, Maintenance & AWW

Average Weekly Wage (AWW) – The Starting Point

Almost everything in your case (TTD/TPD/PPD/PTD) flows from your Average Weekly Wage.

• Usually based on your gross earnings in the 52 weeks before injury

• Can be adjusted if you haven’t worked a full year or your hours ramped up over time

• Very important for seasonal / peak workers, because a bad AWW can severely underpay your case

We regularly see Liberty Mutual/Helmsman calculate AWW in ways that conveniently lower your benefits—sometimes by hundreds of dollars per week.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

TTD is paid when:

• Your doctor has you completely off work, and

• UPS cannot offer work within your restrictions

You should receive:

• 2/3 of your AWW, subject to state minimums and maximums

• Paid weekly or bi-weekly, tax-free, while you’re off work and still recovering

If you’re off more than 14 days, those first 3 days should also be covered.

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)

TPD applies when:

• You’re back at light duty or part-time within restrictions

• You’re earning less than your pre-injury wage

You may be entitled to:

• 2/3 of the difference between your pre-injury AWW and your reduced UPS earnings

This is especially important for UPS drivers or hub workers who get bumped into a lower-paying light-duty job or fewer hours.

Maintenance Benefits

If you can’t return to your old UPS job and:

• You’re in vocational rehab or job retraining,

• And you’re making little or nothing while you try to re-enter the workforce,

You may qualify for maintenance benefits:

• Paid at the same rate as TTD

• While you actively participate in a reasonable job search or rehab plan

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Third-Party Claims: Dog Bites, Car Crashes & Unsafe Properties

Workers’ comp pays:

• Medical bills

• Wage loss

• Permanent disability

But it does not pay for things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, or full loss of normal life.

In certain UPS cases, you may also have a third-party claim against someone other than UPS. Examples:

• Dog bites or chase injuries at a customer’s home

• Slip-and-falls on unsafe stairs, walks, or driveways

• Car crashes caused by another driver

• Dangerous property conditions at places you deliver to

In those situations, we can:

• Handle your workers’ comp case AND

• Pursue a third-party personal injury case for additional compensation

We’ve done exactly that in UPS dog bite cases and dog-chase knee injuries, coordinating both sides to maximize the overall recovery.

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We Represent UPS Workers Across Illinois

We’ve helped injured workers from:

• UPS CACH (Hodgkins)

• UPS Morgan Street Center – Chicago

• UPS Bedford Park feeder operations

• Elk Grove Village UPS International & nearby hubs

• Bensenville and other UPS supply chain facilities

• Smaller UPS locations and routes throughout Chicago and Northern Illinois

Whether you were hurt:

• On the dock

• Inside a trailer

• On the road

• On someone’s front porch

You don’t have to figure out UPS workers’ comp on your own.

Liberty Mutual / Helmsman & “Open Medical” for UPS Claims

In many UPS cases, especially serious ones, we see Liberty Mutual / Helmsman take a specific approach at settlement:

• They often push to keep your medical rights “open” for life,

• Instead of paying for future medical treatment in a lump sum or funding a Medicare Set-Aside.

Pros:

• You may get ongoing treatment covered for years

• Helpful if you truly expect lifelong care and UPS keeps paying

Cons:

• You’re relying on the same insurer that has already tried to minimize your case

• Future treatment may be approved slowly, denied, or fought

• You may never receive a clean, final closure or full lump-sum value for your future medical risk

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Part of my job is to:

• Review your injury, age, job history, and medical needs

• Explain the trade-offs between open medical vs. a lump sum

• Help you choose a strategy that fits your real life—not just Liberty Mutual’s balance sheet

We Proudly Represent Teamsters — Including Thousands of UPS Workers Across Illinois

Many UPS workers in Illinois — especially package handlers, drivers, and feeder drivers — are proud members of the Teamsters, including Teamsters Local 705, Local 710, and other locals serving Chicagoland and Northern Illinois.

UPS is one of the largest unionized employers in the state, and most of the UPS workers we represent are Teamsters members working under the National Master UPS Agreement or a related contract.

25+ Years Representing Injured Union Workers in Chicago

At McHargue & Jones, we’re proud to say we’ve spent over 25 years representing injured union workers throughout Illinois — including hundreds of Teamsters across the state.

We understand:

• How UPS jobs are structured

• The physical demands placed on union drivers, loaders, and inside workers

• How seniority, job classifications, and bid routes work

• The unique challenges UPS workers face when dealing with Liberty Mutual/Helmsman

• How a workers’ comp case interacts with your Teamsters benefits, job protections, and long-term employment rights

Our firm has represented union workers from dozens of trades, but our deepest roots are with Teamsters members, who make up a substantial portion of the injured UPS workers we fight for every year. For 25 years, that’s exactly what we’ve done — and we’re proud to continue representing Teamsters workers from UPS facilities across Illinois.

A Few UPS Cases I’ve Handled as an Illinois Workers’ Comp Lawyer

I’ve represented UPS workers across Illinois, including:

Dog Bite During a Delivery – Surgery + Third-Party Case

One UPS driver was bitten by a dog while delivering a package. The bite led to:

• Significant scarring and surgery

• A workers’ comp case for medical bills, wage loss, and permanent disability

• A third-party negligence case against the property owner for pain and suffering

We were able to coordinate both cases to maximize his total recovery—not just what UPS and its insurer wanted to pay.

Dog Chase Injury – Knee Injury Jumping a Fence

Another UPS driver wasn’t actually bitten—but when a dog charged him, he jumped a fence to escape, landed badly, and seriously injured his knee.

Even without a bite:

• It was still a work-related injury

• We pursued workers’ comp benefits for surgery and time off

• We also evaluated a third-party claim against the property owner for unsafe conditions

Loading/Unloading & Rotator Cuff Shoulder Injuries

I’ve also represented UPS workers hurt while:

• Lifting a single very heavy package (a one-time lifting accident), and

• Doing repetitive overhead lifting and sorting for months or years

Both patterns can lead to classic rotator cuff tears, labral tears, and chronic shoulder pain. Whether it’s a sudden incident or a cumulative trauma claim, Illinois law can still recognize it as a compensable work injury if it’s tied to your UPS job.

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Do Seasonal & Temp UPS Workers Qualify for Workers’ Comp?

Short answer: yes.

In Illinois, workers’ comp focuses more on how and where you were hurt than on whether you’re full-time, part-time, or seasonal.

You may qualify for workers’ comp if:

• You were working for UPS or a staffing agency assigned to UPS

• You were injured while performing your job duties

• The injury arose out of and in the course of your employment

Being:

• Seasonal

• A peak “helper”

• Recently hired

• Or still in training

does not automatically disqualify you from benefits. The key is: were you working for UPS (or on their behalf) when you got hurt?

Why UPS Injuries Spike During the Holidays

From Thanksgiving through New Year’s, UPS volume explodes:

• Longer shifts, forced overtime, and fast-paced loading

• Heavier, awkward packages

• Slippery docks, icy stairs, and dark residential delivery routes

• Rushed training for seasonal workers

That combination leads to a predictable pattern every holiday season:

• Back and shoulder injuries from constant lifting and throwing packages

• Knee and ankle injuries from jumping in and out of trucks or over obstacles

• Slip-and-falls on icy docks, driveways, and stairs

• Dog bites and chase injuries in residential neighborhoods

• Truck and van crashes in heavy traffic and bad weather

Even if you’re “just seasonal” or “only a peak helper,” you may still be fully covered by Illinois workers’ comp if the injury arose out of and in the course of your UPS work.

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FAQs: UPS Workers’ Comp Claims in Illinois

Do seasonal or holiday UPS workers qualify for Illinois workers’ comp?

Yes. If you’re working for UPS (or through a staffing agency assigned to UPS) and you’re hurt while doing the job, you may qualify for workers’ comp—even if you’re seasonal, part-time, or just hired for the holidays.

Can I choose my own doctor, or do I have to see the UPS / Liberty Mutual doctor?

Under Illinois law, you generally have the right to choose your own doctors within certain limits. UPS or Liberty Mutual may send you to an IME (independent medical exam), but that doctor does not automatically control your case. Your treating physician’s opinion still matters, and an attorney can help if the IME is being used to cut off benefits.

What if Liberty Mutual / Helmsman denies my UPS claim or stops paying benefits?

You can file a case with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and request a hearing in front of an arbitrator. We do this regularly when benefits are unfairly denied, cut off early, or when needed care (like surgery, injections, or an MRI) is refused.

I was hurt delivering for UPS by a dog or bad driver. Do I have more than just a workers’ comp case?

Often yes. You may have:

• A workers’ comp claim against UPS, and

• A third-party case against the dog owner, property owner, or at-fault driver

Workers’ comp handles your medical and wage loss; the third-party case can pursue pain and suffering and full damages. We coordinate both to maximize your total recovery.

How long do I have to report a UPS work injury in Illinois?

You should report it as soon as possible. Legally, Illinois gives you up to 45 days to notify your employer of a work injury, but waiting can make your claim harder to prove and easier to deny. In practice, tell a supervisor right away and get it documented.

Does it matter which UPS hub I worked at?

No. Whether you’re at CACH in Hodgkins, Morgan Street in Chicago, Bedford Park, Elk Grove Village, Bensenville, or a smaller UPS location, your rights come from Illinois workers’ comp law, not the specific facility. The hub matters for proving the facts; your legal rights are the same statewide.