Workers’ Compensation
Work Comp Attorney in St. Clair County, IL
Work Comp Attorney in St. Clair County, 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 what part of the country you call home. Any error you make could result in the insurance company or your employer rejecting your claim.
At Drummond Law, our work injury lawyers will take 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 full and fair compensation.
For help filing for workers’ compensation or any other issues regarding your claim, talk to a work comp attorney in St. Clair County, IL, at Drummond Law today. Feel free to contact us or call 800-842-0426 for a free consultation.
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim With the Help of a Work Comp Attorney in St. Clair County, IL
Injuries can result from either one single traumatic event (including a slip and fall, electrocution, machine-related accident, etc.) or they can occur over time (such as repetitive stress, toxic exposure, etc.) Both types of injuries are equally valid and equally worthy of compensation.
No work injury is ever too minor, and you shouldn’t minimize them. 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 the steps below:
- Inform your manager, HR representative, or employer 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 care as soon as possible – 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.
- Hold on to ALL copies of present and past medical records – No piece of information is unimportant when it comes to your health and wellbeing.
- File an Application for Adjustment of Claim – If you think that your employer may not pay your benefits either now or in the future, file this form.
- Ensure that your employer reports your injury to the workers’ compensation insurance company – They will review your claim and you will receive either an approval or contest of the claim.
- Speak to a qualified work comp attorney in St. Clair County, IL – Our law firm handles workers’ compensation claims against state and local government employers, private industry, and more.
Our compassionate work comp attorneys in St. Clair County 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 workers’ comp benefits you are entitled to.
Am I Eligible For Workers’ Compensation Benefits in St. Clair County?
The laws vary by state, but generally you are eligible for workers’ compensation if you are considered a legal employee and you have been injured while performing a job-related duty. Statute of limitations do apply, so do not delaying in filing your claim.
Settlements for work comp claims generally include medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of affection and income, mileage and rehabilitation reimbursement, and other expenses related to a workplace accident. We’re familiar with all the regulations, rules, and laws associated with the often muddled work comp legal process, so speak with us to learn more now.
Types of Work Injuries
Even if you work in a small operation or an office-setting, a workplace accident can happen anywhere, anytime. At Drummond Law, we take on cases with a variety of accident causes. Here are the most common kinds of work injuries that are eligible for workers’ compensation.
- Falls, slips, and trips – This is the number one thing most people think of when they imagine a workplace accident. Injuries can result from spills, debris in walkways, poor lighting, oily surfaces, ice, and uneven walking surfaces. You may be entitled to workmans comp if you suffer 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.
- Contact with an object – This is common in careers that involve heavy machinery, such as manufacturing, construction, and farming. A person may be struck by a swinging, rolling, flying, or falling 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 result from faulty electrical outlets, open flames, gas lines, improperly-stored combustible materials, and exposed wiring. Besides the burns these cause, further injuries include respiratory issues, internal damage, and in the worst cases, death.
- Vehicular accidents – These involve people who may drive for a living (such as truck drivers), those who are driving while performing a work-related task, 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 depends on your specific case.
- Repetitive stress and overexertion – If your job involves a lot of throwing, lifting, carrying, pulling, holding, and pushing motions, it can lead to lasting effects including chronic joint pain, muscle strain, carpal tunnel, lower-back injuries, and more. A worker might be entitled to a workers’ compensation claim because employers should provide protective gear and allow frequent breaks.
- Work-related illness – For example, working in an older building may expose you to asbestos which may cause a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma. Other types of toxic, chemical, or illness 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 entitled to a claim.
What to Do If Your Work Comp Claim Is Denied
Countless employers and their insurers attempt to escape responsibility for injuries that their employees suffer at the workplace. When this happens, you must file a Claim Petition for Workers’ Compensation benefits in court. Verifying your disability or injury is often one of the most difficult parts of the fight for the benefits you are owed, so it’s vitally important to partner with a St. Clair County work comp attorney to protect your rights.
Your work comp attorney will:
- Help you prove your inability to work and need for benefits
- 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
- Gather all necessary information to include in the petition
- Represent you in front of the various levels of the appellate courts
Hire Our Work Comp Attorneys in St. Clair County, 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. For more than 45 years, Drummond Law has been helping St. Clair County workers get the benefits they deserve after getting hurt on the job. To speak to our work comp attorneys in St. Clair County, IL, for a free case review, feel free to contact us or call 800-842-0426.