Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychological injury that can develop after a traumatic workplace event. Illinois workers may experience PTSD following assaults, workplace violence, serious accidents, near-death incidents, or witnessing catastrophic injuries or fatalities on the job. In certain situations, PTSD is covered under Illinois workers’ compensation law, allowing injured employees to receive…
Workplace attacks are one of the most common causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Illinois workers. Employees who are assaulted, threatened, or violently confronted at work may develop PTSD even if their physical injuries heal—or even if no physical injury occurred at all. In certain situations, PTSD caused by a workplace attack may be…
Do I need a lawyer to get a workers’ comp settlement in Illinois? No—Illinois law does not require you to have a lawyer to settle a workers’ compensation case. However, injured workers who handle a claim on their own may receive a lower settlement than those with legal representation. Insurance companies often take claims more…
Teachers attacked at school are often injured during assaults or physical altercations with students, parents, or co-workers—and many of these injuries are covered by workers’ compensation under Illinois law. Being struck, kicked, bitten, pushed, or hurt while restraining a student or breaking up a fight is not “just part of the job.” When violence occurs…
When a nurse is attacked by a patient at work, Illinois workers’ compensation treats the incident as a work injury—not a personal matter. The nurse may be entitled to medical treatment, wage replacement benefits, disability compensation, and in severe cases lifetime benefits, even if the hospital minimizes the assault or no criminal charges are filed….
Chicago nurses who are attacked by patients at work are covered by Illinois workers’ compensation law. Despite new hospital safety laws, patient violence continues to injure nurses across Chicago emergency departments and inpatient units. When a nurse is assaulted on the job, workers’ compensation may provide medical treatment, wage replacement, permanent disability benefits, and—in severe…
A serious early-morning crash involving a dump truck on the inbound Kennedy Expressway (I-94) near downtown Chicago caused major traffic delays and sent the dump truck driver to the hospital with injuries, according to Illinois State Police and ABC7 Chicago. The crash occurred near Madison Street and Monroe, in the Near West Side / Greektown…
Illinois workers’ compensation law establishes specific requirements for reporting work injuries, obtaining medical treatment, and receiving wage replacement benefits. This page summarizes ten core rules injured workers should understand, including filing deadlines, available benefits, medical treatment rights, settlement considerations, and common issues that can affect workers’ compensation claims under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. 10…
By Workers’ Compensation Attorney, Matthew C. Jones Updated March 12, 2026 Illinois workers’ compensation is designed to provide medical treatment and wage replacement benefits when employees are injured at work. In reality, many claims become disputes about medical treatment, work restrictions, and settlement value. Insurance companies frequently challenge injuries, schedule independent medical exams (IMEs), delay…
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most frequently disputed workers’ compensation claims in Illinois — especially in Chicago’s manufacturing, trades, and warehouse industries. Even when your symptoms seem obviously work-related, insurers often argue that carpal tunnel is “degenerative,” “age-related,” or “not caused by your job.” But under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, carpal tunnel…
A tragic workplace violence incident recently occurred at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Oswego, Illinois, where a 19-year-old man was charged with murder and multiple felonies after allegedly stabbing several people. According to reports, one delivery driver was killed and another maintenance worker was seriously injured while performing job-related duties at the restaurant.(Source: ABC7 Chicago) While…
A tragic workplace accident occurred in Wauconda, Illinois, when a 37-year-old man from North Chicago was crushed to death beneath a vehicle after it fell from an elevated lift at a local auto repair shop. According to ABC7, the fatal incident happened around 8:52 a.m. at 398 W. Liberty Street when a vehicle slipped off…
A tragic construction accident on Chicago’s West Side has once again highlighted the extreme dangers faced by electricians, laborers, and construction crews working near energized power lines. According to WGN News, a 33-year-old worker was killed and another was seriously injured after their lift came into contact with a live electrical line on February 25,…
Every holiday season, Chicago and the surrounding Chicagoland suburbs experience a sharp increase in commercial truck and delivery vehicle traffic, driven largely by peak demand from Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and other logistics companies. As delivery volumes surge, delivery drivers, truck drivers, and warehouse workers face longer shifts, tighter deadlines, winter weather, and heavier congestion on…
Injured at work? You have rights your employer may not explain. While workers’ compensation is meant to protect employees after a workplace injury, many employers and insurance companies quietly work to delay, minimize, or deny valid claims. Understanding how the system really works can help you protect your health, income, and future. If you were…
