The Importance of Health and Safety in Retail Stores When most people think of hazardous jobs, retail roles generally do not make the list. Retail workers are just as likely as any other worker to be injured at their jobs and may be equally at risk for occupational accidents as workers in traditionally “dangerous” roles….
In most industries, people who are injured on the job have the option to file a claim with their employer and their employer’s insurance company in order to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is not available to all employees in the United States, including people who work in the railroad industry. Railroad workers have…
Can I Sue My Employer for Negligence Leading to My Work Accident? The reception of workers’ compensation benefits is not dependent on fault. An injured employee does not need to blame another person to qualify for benefits. In addition to the absence of “fault” under the workers’ compensation system, employees cannot sue their place of…
To recover benefits under the workers’ compensation system, an injured employee must spend a significant amount of time speaking with their employer, representatives from their employer’s insurance company, and attorneys. These processes can be complicated for the many non-native English speakers in the American workforce. Workers’ compensation bureaus throughout the United States (including the Illinois…
Nearly every business in the United States is required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance and provide benefits to injured employees. In addition to offering those benefits in the event of an on-the-job accident, employers must also take action to ensure their employees are educated on their rights under the workers’ compensation system. The Rights of…
Having a pre-existing condition does not automatically disqualify you from workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois. If a work accident or job duties aggravated, accelerated, or worsened an underlying condition, you may still be entitled to medical treatment, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, permanent disability benefits, and even surgery. These cases are common—and frequently denied—but many…
Illinois law does allow recovery for certain mental or psychological conditions, but the rules are more restrictive than for physical injuries. Generally, mental injury claims fall into three categories: 1. Physical → Mental (Most Common and Strongest) This occurs when a physical work injury leads to a mental condition, such as: depression after a serious…
By law, almost every business (with a few exceptions) is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to pay benefits to employees who are injured on the job. Unfortunately, some employers manage to avoid purchasing workers’ compensation insurance, and put their employees at risk. How to Know if Your Employer is Covered Most employers, if they…
In a typical injury case, whoever is at fault for the accident is required to pay damages to the injury victim. In order to receive the compensation they deserve, an injured person must prove that another party was at fault. However, workers’ compensation cases are different — injured employees do not have to prove that…
A recent study revealed a potential link between mothers’ exposure to solvent chemicals in their place of work, and the chance of autism development in their children — exposed mothers were found to have a 1.5 times greater probability of having a child with autism than mothers who were not exposed to solvents. A solvent…
Do you need a workers’ compensation attorney in Illinois? Most Illinois workers assume that if they get hurt on the job, workers’ compensation will automatically cover their medical bills, lost wages, and any permanent injury. Unfortunately, that isn’t how the system works. While Illinois law requires almost all employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, the…
On-the-job injuries are sometimes caused by issues with the work equipment. An employee mishandling tools, or a lack of proper training are two examples of issues that could contribute to a work accident. However, some incidents in which equipment is the main cause of a work injury are not the fault of anyone at the…
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of serious injuries in Illinois. Between snow and ice, wet store floors, broken steps, and poorly maintained properties, thousands of residents and workers are hurt every year in preventable falls. Under Illinois premises liability law, property owners must keep walkways, parking lots, stairwells, and…
