Injured Employees: Do Not Assume Your Injury Is Unrelated to Work
Of the millions of Americans that are injured each year in workplace accidents or who develop diseases related to their occupation, a large percentage of those injured are legally entitled to benefits through their state’s workers’ compensation program.
Unfortunately for injured workers, these benefits do not kick in automatically and often require action from the victim.
Determining Whether an Injury is Work-Related
Some injuries are so clearly work-related that there is no reasonable argument to the contrary; let’s say a construction worker who is injured while using a power tool. Sometimes, however, there is some question as to whether a particular injury is related to work.
Slips and falls are not so clearly work-related, for example. In fact, slip and falls and parking lot injuries are two widely defended types of workers’ compensation cases. In either instance, it would be advisable to speak with an attorney with experience in a workplace injury.
Generally, in order to be work-related, an injury must occur while a worker is doing something that would ordinarily occur in the course of his or her job. Here are only a few examples of situations that may occur without a worker realizing it could be classified as a work-related injury:
- Car accidents that occur while delivering goods or going on a service call.
- Injuries that occur at a holiday office party.
- Anxiety or depression that occurs because of a work environment.
Pre-existing conditions that are aggravated by a person’s work or work environment may also be considered work-related injuries, as can illnesses or conditions that are caused by workplace conditions, such as hearing loss or repetitive strain injuries. Because of the complications that often arise when determining whether an injury is related to a person’s work, it is important for any worker that becomes ill or sustains an injury to talk to a lawyer to determine whether they may be covered.
Do not forget: insurance companies are financially motivated to contest your workers’ compensation claims and the benefits you may be entitled to receive.
Call Capron Avgerinos & Heinlen
Call Capron Avgerinos & Heinlen now at (800) 535-4542 if you need help with a workers’ compensation case in Illinois or Iowa. We are ready to assist you over the phone or in person. We perform our cases on a contingent fee basis, which means we are not paid unless you recover compensation for your claim. Call Capron Avgerinos & Heinlen at (800) 535-4542 – let us show how we can deliver results for you.
