Who’s responsible for your expenses after a serious work injury?
Work injuries are common enough that some employers, like manufacturing companies, may have medical offices right in their buildings. They may keep a nurse or similar medical professional on staff to offer trauma care immediately after someone gets hurt on the job.
Most of the time, accidents that leave someone injured are minor and require bandaging or for someone to go home for the rest of their shift. In some cases, however, an injury will be severe enough that it requires outside medical attention. A worker may have to go to the hospital and might find that they have to take weeks off of work or that they will have permanent job effects from their injury.
What options do workers have for compensation after they are injured on the job?
Most workers can receive workers’ compensation benefits
Illinois requires that all employers carry workers’ compensation insurance or that they self-insure. Unless you are an independent contractor or self-employed, you probably have workers’ compensation coverage.
Some workers need to take civil action
Most workers will find that workers’ compensation is sufficient for their needs, but a small number of employees hurt on the job may need to take further steps. If an employer violated the law or did not have workers’ compensation coverage as they should, an employee may have no choice but to take legal action against a business.
It may also be possible that a third party, such as a company that manufactured a defective tool, has responsibility for the worker’s injury. It may be possible to file a lawsuit against a third party whose actions or defective products caused your injury on the job.
Discussing the situation that led to your injury and its impact on your finances in-depth with an experienced attorney can help you explore what options and rights you have.