Workers’ Compensation
Work Comp Attorney in Champaign, IL
Work Comp Attorney in Champaign, IL. When unsafe work conditions result in an illness or a work injury, it’s within your rights to seek the benefits necessary to cover providing for yourself and your family|If you ever get hurt on the job, it’s your right to seek compensation so that you can continue to keep the lights on and put food on the table for you and your family; however, the workers’ compensation process is oftentimes complicated no matter where you live. Any mistake you make could result in the insurance company or your employer rejecting your claim.
At Drummond Law, our work comp attorneys will guide you through every aspect of your claim from beginning to end. We can fill out crucial paperwork on your behalf, facilitate communication with all parties involved, and negotiate with your employer and their insurance company for fair and just compensation.
For help filing for workers’ compensation or any other issues regarding your claim, talk to a work comp attorney in Champaign, IL, at Drummond Law now. Please contact us or call 800-842-0426 for a free document review.
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim With the Help of a Work Comp Attorney in Champaign, IL
Injuries may result from either one single traumatic event (like a slip and fall, electrocution, machine-related accident, etc.) or they can occur over time (such as repetitive trauma, toxic exposure, etc.) Both types of injuries are equally valid and equally worthy of compensation.
No work injury is ever insignificant, and you should never take them lightly. As soon as you are injured at work, time is of the essence. You need to explore your options for filing a workers’ compensation claim. Here are several important steps to take:
- Tell your employer, manager or HR rep about the injury – Also, insist that they fill out an accident report. It is also good practice to send them a notice detailing the accident and the injury in writing.
- Seek medical treatment as soon as you can – Inform the doctor that the injury happened while at work and tell them the name of your employer. Also, be sure to follow all of the doctor’s orders for treatment, because failure to do so may jeopardize your claim.
- Obtain ALL copies of past and present healthcare reports – No piece of information is unimportant when it comes to your health and wellbeing.
- File an Application for Adjustment of Claim – If you feel your employer may resist paying for your treatments now or in the future, you will want to file this form.
- Ensure that your employer reports the injury to the workers’ compensation insurance company – They’ll look over your claim and you will receive either an approval or contest of the claim.
- Get in touch with a qualified work comp attorney in Champaign, IL – Our law firm handles workers’ compensation claims against state and local government employers, private industry, and more.
Our seasoned work comp attorneys in Champaign listen to you and believe that your work injury is valid. We can help shoulder some of the burdens you face during what is already a stressful time. If you’ve been injured on the job, Drummond Law can help you get the work comp benefits you deserve.
Am I Eligible For Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Champaign?
The laws vary by state, but generally you are entitled to workers’ compensation if you are considered a legal employee and you’ve been injured while performing a work-related responsibility. Statute of limitations do apply, so file your claim in a timely manner.
Settlements for work comp claims usually include medical bills, loss of affection and income, mileage and rehabilitation reimbursement, pain and suffering, and other expenses related to a workplace accident. We are well-acquainted with all the regulations, rules, and laws associated with the often confusing work comp legal process, so speak with us to learn more now.
Most Common Workplace Accidents
No matter how relatively safe a place may be, an accident can happen anywhere. At Drummond Law, we see them every day. Here are the most common types of workplace accidents that qualify for workers’ compensation.
- Falls, slips, and trips – This is the main thing many people think about in regard to a workplace accident. Injuries can result from poor lighting, spills, debris in walkways, and icy, wet, oily, or uneven surfaces. You may be entitled to workmans comp if you suffered one of these injuries because the employer should’ve taken measures to prevent this injury, such as fixing broken lights, putting proper safety signs up, non-slip mats, de-icing walkways, etc.
- Getting struck by an object – This is common in careers that involve heavy machinery, such as manufacturing, construction, and farming. A person can be struck by a flying, rolling, falling, or swinging object causing blunt-force trauma. The employer should cover this type of work injury because they had a duty to properly train employees, supply appropriate protective gear, post signs of imminent danger, etc.
- Electrocution, fire, explosion – This can be caused by faulty electrical outlets, open flames, gas lines, improperly-stored combustible materials, and exposed wiring. Besides the burns these cause, the injuries can include respiratory issues, internal damage, and in the worst cases, death.
- Vehicular accidents – These involve anyone who was driving while performing a work-related task, people who may drive for a living (such as truck drivers), or anyone who spends time working near other cars on the road or machinery. Whether or not this is viewed as personal injury or work comp will depend on the facts of your case.
- Overexertion or repetitive stress – If your job involves a lot of pulling, pushing, lifting, throwing, carrying, and holding motions, it can lead to long-term physical harm such as lower-back injuries, chronic joint pain, carpal tunnel, muscle strain, and more. A worker may be entitled to a workers’ compensation claim because employers should allow frequent breaks and provide protective gear.
- Work-related illness – For example, working in an older building may expose you to asbestos which causes a cancer known as mesothelioma. Other types of illness, chemical, or toxic exposures can occur in everything from manufacturing facilities to corporate offices. Whether the onset of the illness took place in a short amount of time or over years, you may still be eligible for a claim.
What to Do If Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied
Countless employers and their insurers attempt to escape responsibility for injuries that their employees suffer at the workplace. If this is happening to you, you must file a Claim Petition for Workers’ Compensation benefits in court. Proving your injury or disability is often one of the most difficult aspects of fighting for the benefits you are entitled to, so it’s critical to work with a Champaign work comp attorney to protect your rights.
A work comp attorney at Drummond Law will:
- Prove to the courts your injury and need for compensation
- Discover all the ways how your employer did not take proper safety precautions or let your workplace run the risk of injury
- File all paperwork on your behalf
- Ensure that all necessary information is included in the petition
- Represent you in front of the various levels of the appellate courts
Hire Our Work Comp Attorneys in Champaign, IL | Contact Drummond Law
We get that being injured on the job and thus not being able to provide for your family is a troubling experience, and that you have the right to be compensated for your troubles. Since 1976, Drummond Law has been helping people in Champaign receive work comp benefits after an injury has put them out. To speak to our work comp attorneys in Champaign, IL, for a free case discussion, feel free to contact us or call 800-842-0426.