A work-related injury can prevent you from earning an income to support yourself, your family and can deplete your savings. This is why Illinois has strict worker compensation laws in place – to protect workers. Your employer must ensure you are equipped with safety gear and ensure the workplace is safe to prevent injuries, or worse.
Here are common injuries you can claim compensation if you are injured at work:
If you work in a factory or a place where you are required to repeat certain movements for hours, you can suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. This can be anything from sprains resulting from prolonged typing or trauma injuries due to repetitive hammering etc. Since these condition results from such jobs, your employer is legally obliged to pay you for damages. Even if you must stand for long periods of time to complete a job, the recovery from the strain is also covered.
You can receive worker’s compensation for any physical injury you sustain in the course of your work duties. For example, if you burn yourself while soldering, fracture a bone after falling from scaffolding or get a cut trying to stop yourself from falling, you can recover benefits that can help you heal and recover faster.
You should be paid for the following as compensation for your injuries:
You can only get these benefits if you inform your employer or HR about your incident as soon as possible. Typically, you have a 45-day deadline to do this. If you miss work for more than three (3) days because of your injuries, your employer must file an accident report on your behalf.
Workplace injuries are a pressing issue in Illinois, impacting a vast number of employees across diverse industries each year. Grasping the latest statistics can empower both workers and employers to adopt preventive strategies that enhance safety and mitigate risks.
In the year 2023, private sector employers in Illinois documented a staggering 101,400 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. This statistic translates to a total recordable cases (TRC) incidence rate of 2.4 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers, aligning with the national average. Among these injuries, approximately 64,500 cases required days away from work, job transfers, or restrictions—collectively known as DART cases—underscoring the serious nature of many of these incidents.
Certain sectors within Illinois face disproportionately higher rates of workplace injuries, including:
Manufacturing – This vital industry reported a TRC rate of 3.1 in 2023, reflecting a slight decrease from 3.5 in the previous year, yet still revealing significant safety challenges.
Trade, Transportation & Utilities – A significant number of injuries were reported from this sector, highlighting hazards that employees encounter in transit and logistics.
Education & Health Services – Workers in healthcare are particularly vulnerable, often grappling with injuries related to patient handling, which can lead to chronic physical strain.
Natural Resources & Mining – This industry recorded the highest TRC rate of 5.5 cases per 100 workers, indicating the perilous conditions that workers face in often hazardous environments.
The repercussions of workplace injuries extend far beyond immediate physical harm. They can result in prolonged medical expenses, lost income, and diminished productivity for affected workers. Illinois businesses bear significant financial burdens due to workers’ compensation claims and safety violations. Furthermore, data reveals that in 2021, over 86,000 emergency department visits in the state were linked to work-related injuries, reflecting the urgent need for improved safety measures.
To combat the prevalence of workplace injuries, Illinois is promoting a multi-faceted approach that includes:
By comprehensively understanding workplace injury statistics in Illinois, businesses and employees can proactively take actionable steps toward creating safer working environments. If you or someone you know has experienced a workplace injury, seeking guidance from legal or medical professionals can provide crucial support and avenues for recovery.
If you or someone you know has been injured in the job or has been left paralyzed and they cannot work, they need aggressive legal representation. Get in touch with us at the Law Offices of Robert Edens at 847-395-2200 to see justice done and receive the compensation you deserve. After determining the details surrounding your case, we will assign a workers’ comp attorney who will ensure your rights are not ignored or violated. This includes making sure your employer pays you for damages during your recovery period. We represent workers in Chicago, Libertyville, Woodstock, Waukegan and Antioch.
The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Law Office, have offices in Antioch, Waukegan, Grayslake, Woodstock and Barrington. We represent clients throughout the communities of Antioch, Waukegan, Grayslake, Barrington, Woodstock, Buffalo Grove, Deer Park, Gurnee, Lake Zurich, Round Lake, McHenry, Cary, Crystal Lake, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Wheeling, North Chicago, Zion, Inverness, Palatine, Wauconda, Island Lake, Fox Lake, Barrington Hills, Spring Grove, Lake Bluff, Lakemoor, Long Grove, Lake Villa, Kildeer, Wadsworth, Indian Creek, Fox River Grove, Lindenhurst and other cities within Lake and McHenry Counties Illinois.
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