An on-the-job injury can turn your life upside down. From the pain to the mental anguish to the impact on your finances, you’ll find yourself dealing with challenges that you never even took into consideration.
A workplace injury requires immediate medical attention. Not only does this allow you to understand your injuries and prognosis, but it also puts you in position to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.
If you don’t have any experience filing a workers’ compensation claim, you may be unsure of what comes next. Here are some questions you can answer to better understand your situation:
- What is covered by workers’ compensation insurance? In short, it’s designed to cover employee injuries that occur on the job. A common example of this is a construction worker who slips and falls as a result of a disorganized job site.
- What does workers’ compensation insurance cover? While your workers’ compensation payments won’t be as much as your typical paycheck, the system does provide coverage for replacement income, medical care, retraining costs and compensation for permanent injuries.
- Is everyone covered by workers’ compensation insurance? Generally, employees are the only ones covered by workers’ compensation, with these groups of individuals excluded: independent contractors, volunteers, farmers, casual workers and railroad employees.
- Does workers’ compensation provide coverage for injuries that develop over a longer period of time? Yes, workers’ compensation covers more than incidental accidents that cause immediate injury. An example of this is a receptionist who develops carpal tunnel syndrome after many years of typing.
- Can an employer terminate an employee for filing a workers’ compensation claim? Your employer is not permitted to retaliate against you for filing a claim, and if they do you have the legal right in Illinois to file a lawsuit.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim for the first time can be a challenging task. Not only are you dealing with your injury and the impact on your life, but you must also make timely and accurate decisions to put you in position to receive benefits.
If you receive a denial letter, learn why this happened and then begin the appeals process. Your employer pays for workers’ compensation insurance for a reason, so do not hesitate to seek benefits if you’re eligible.