How to Properly Lift Heavy Objects at Work Whether you work as a package delivery driver, on an assembly line, or even in an office environment, lifting is a common duty in many workplaces. Unfortunately, any kind of heavy lifting at work can put you at risk for suffering a serious back injury if not…
My short answer: you should almost always try to use workers’ compensation insurance, not your own health insurance, for a work injury. Here’s why. 1. No co-pays, no deductibles, no out-of-pocket bills Under workers’ comp, there are no co-pays or deductibles for approved treatment. When your claim is accepted and the bills are handled correctly,…
What does the insurance adjuster mean “it’s under investigation”? You hurt yourself at work and you opened a claim with the insurance company. They should be paying your benefits, right? But the adjuster is telling you that they are investigating and don’t want to pay. What does that mean, and what can you do next?…
Understanding How Workers’ Comp Affects Your Taxes If you have suffered a work-related injury in the last year and have been receiving workers’ compensation benefits, you may have concerns about how those benefits could affect your taxes in the future. This blog will attempt to answer any questions you may have about how your workers’…
Each month, the National Safety Council (NSC) observes different safety campaigns to promote safety, responsibility, and well-being across the country. In March, it is officially National Ladder Safety Month, as presented by the American Ladder Institute. At McHargue & Jones, LLC, we are often called upon to help clients who have fallen off unsafe ladders,…
Understanding Occupational Illnesses Is your job making you sick? We are not talking about workplace frustrations like not enough pay for too much work. We’re talking about actual illnesses. Occupational illnesses are a serious concern for people in numerous jobs and industries. Each day at work, someone in such an industry might be exposed to…
According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), November of 2020 was the fourth hottest November on record, which dates back to pre-1900. November 2021 is looking to compete with last year, too. Whether you live in California, Idaho, Illinois, Florida, or Massachusetts, you have probably noticed that working outside is getting warmer…
Not all jobs keep you behind a desk or counter, or even within a brick-and-mortar place of employment. Many people make a living by driving around their cities and counties each day, and we’re not talking just about truck drivers. The growing “gig economy” has allowed thousands and thousands of Americans to use their cars…
What Is a Seizure? A seizure is a medical condition caused by neurological damage or deficiencies. When an electrical impulse in the brain is unable to reach its intended destination or otherwise “misfires,” it can cause a seizure. Although many types of seizures are caused by identifiable seizures, a rare few are not, which means…
Most workers don’t want to get in trouble with their employer, even when they know that their employer is doing something wrong. Unfortunately, this type of thinking contributes to many unsafe workplaces around the country. The people who see something is unsafe are the same ones who are worried about reporting it. The conflict begs…
You probably know that you can file for workers’ compensation benefits after a serious work-related injury, like a slip and fall in the workplace or an accident on a construction site. What happens if your work injury did not happen all at once, though, but instead happened gradually over time? Can you still get workers’…
No one wants to see an unfamiliar doctor after being hurt. When it comes to workers’ compensation claims, though, going to a doctor chosen by the employer is a common fear. If you live in Illinois and get hurt at work, can you choose your own doctor or do you have to head to a…
What are Five of the Most Common Types of Workers’ Comp Claims During the Holiday Season? The holiday season is the busiest of the year for many different industries and sectors. As workers struggle to keep up with increased client, customer, and consumer demands, the chances of suffering a work-related injury go up. For this reason,…
Construction workers are constantly reminded that their line of work is dangerous. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) releases a list of workplace accidents each year, and construction accidents frequently are at the top of that list in frequency and severity. Posters throughout a construction site also warn of the many dangers there and…
Did your employer refuse to report your work injury, change the story, or pressure you to say it happened at home? In Illinois, you may still have a valid workers’ compensation case. This guide explains what to do next — and how the workers’ comp lawyers at McHargue & Jones can protect your benefits with…
