Naperville Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Naperville Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

If you’ve been injured at work, you understand how your life can change in a moment. If you’ve suffered a severe injury because of an accident that happened at work, we are so sorry that you’ve had to deal with this pain and suffering. Please know that our Naperville workers’ compensation lawyer’s care deeply about giving you justice after you have been wronged. Please call us right away to set up a free, initial consultation to get answers to questions that have weighed heavily on your mind. Get started with us right away. 

Why Workers’ Compensation Exists

When you’re hurt at work, you’re often looking for avenues of relief financially to cover your damages. Workers’ compensation can provide you with the financial relief that you need to cover damages, such as medical fees and lost wages, so that you don’t have to worry about taking the time needed to recover from your injuries and bring in the money financially that you need to survive. Workers’ compensation exists so that workers can return to work. You should absolutely take advantage of workers’ compensation if your injury happened in the scope of work.All types of workers in all types of work forces have filed for workers’ compensation. You don’t need to be workering in a high stress or labor job to take advantage of workers’ compensation. You can be eligible for workers’ compensation if you work in an office or a grocery store. If you were hurt because of your job or at your job due to negligence or carelessness then you should be entitled to receive workers’ compensation through your employer’s insurance.An example of someone who would need workers compensation is someone who works in a stockroom up on a ladder and the ladder was faulty, causing the worker to fall and suffer broken bones and a concussion. Construction workers falling from heights can also receive workers’ compensation.We would not want you to miss out on receiving justice simply because you thought that your injuries were covered by your employer’s insurance. Please explore all avenues of financial recovery. Our Naperville workers’ compensation lawyers can help you with this.

Steps to Take After the Accident

Immediately after you are hurt, you need to make a report to your supervisor or your employer. They need to know that you’re hurt at work and generate an accident report so that this can be documented officially between the two of you. They will also have to alert their insurance that there was an accident so they know what to expect when you bring your claim. This is a vital first step for you to take if you want workers’ compensation because it is the catalyst for your claim. Without making this report, there is no proof that you were hurt at work and you’re just going by your word, which might not be enough for some workers’ compensation insurance companies.As soon as you leave your workplace, you need to head straight to a doctor to get immediate medical care for your injuries. Our Naperville workers’ compensation lawyers suggest you go to an urgent care facility or the emergency room right after you report your accident with your employer or supervisor. You absolutely need to prioritize getting medical care.If you were to delay seeking medical care, not only will your health likely suffer but the insurance company will think that you lied about how you got hurt or how badly you were hurt, allowing them to reduce what they owe you or throw out your claim altogether.

Breakdown of Workers Compensation

If an employer does not carry workers’ compensation insurance, they can get into serious trouble. This is why when you are hurt at work you should assume that your employer has workers’ comp insurance for you. Here’s what you need to know about how this insurance works:Are you eligible?If you work at a company that has full-time and or part-time employees, then they should be carrying workers’ compensation meant to cover injuries that their employees suffer at the workplace. Your employer will pay a premium that covers any workers’ compensation claims. If you don’t think that your employer carries workers’ compensation or they tell you that they don’t, then you should reach out to us as soon as possible to see what can be done. Legally, they are supposed to carry this insurance for your benefit. It doesn’t necessarily matter how you got hurt so long as your injury happened at work. That would be the only eligibility that matters if you were to file a workers’ compensation claim. The only reason why they might turn you away from a workers’ compensation claim is if you had already left work when you got your injury and it wasn’t in the scope of the workplace.Beginning to file a claimThe very first step in getting workers’ compensation after you’ve been hurt is letting your employer know, as we have explained. Legally speaking, your employer has to let their insurance company know that you were hurt at work and that you will be filing a claim for your injuries. You should also let your doctors know when you receive treatment that it is because of a workplace injury.You will get a letter of acknowledgment from the insurance company letting you know whether or not they are going to accept your claim within a couple of weeks. From there, they will let you know whether or not you will be receiving workers’ compensation. If it is a no, then you need to reach out to our Naperville workers’ compensation lawyers right away.Getting medical care Make sure that when you get your medical assessment directly after your injury at work that they know of every ache and pain that you feel due to this accident. You also want to let them know that this is a workplace accident for which you intend to file a claim. This just gives them notice to be prepared in case the insurance company reaches out for your medical records. They will also mark it down as potentially covered by your workers’ compensation insurance.Temporary benefits availableIf your injury puts you out of work for over a week, then you might be able to receive those lost earnings, also known as lost time benefits. You’re going to have to have a record from your doctor that says you are not able to return to work. This needs to be officially documented in writing. Lost time benefits give you 2/3 of the monthly earnings you were receiving before your injuries. You should reach out to our lawyers to see what specifically you can receive in a temporary benefit in accordance with the law. It is the job of your lawyers to stay up to date with what benefits you are entitled to for temporary lost time.Permanent benefits availableIf you discover within the course of getting treatments from your doctor that you are never going to return to the state of physical health that you were in before this accident, then you might be eligible for permanent benefits of workers’ compensation. Because workers’ compensation is meant to get a worker back to work, if you are no longer going to be able to work in your lifetime then you should be entitled to those damages. This will be based on what your earnings were, as well as what your earning capacity was before your injury.Getting a hearing or appealIf you were told by the workers’ compensation insurance company that you cannot receive benefits, you can ask for a hearing to appeal this decision. You will need to fill out a request form; our attorneys can help you do this so it’s done correctly and within the proper amount of time. From there, you’ll be given a date for your hearing. Typically, this is going to take some time but with patience we can help you get the justice that we believe you are entitled to.

Call Our Naperville Workers Compensation Lawyers Today 

If you’ve suffered an injury that’s left you with severe damages, our Naperville workers’ compensation lawyers want to help you get justice as soon as possible. Please call our office today to set up a free initial consultation to go over your case and see what justice can be served.