In most states, including Illinois, employees are not permitted to sue their employers for workplace injuries. The reason for this is because they are typically covered by their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance.
Workers’ compensation covers most work injuries regardless of fault or liability. Illinois workers’ comp laws are particularly favorable toward workers, meaning you’re likely to be covered in the event that you are hurt on the job.
Often, severe accidents warrant filing a lawsuit. However, it’s important to recognize when legal action is appropriate. Attorneys evaluate cases based on their viability, meaning your case has to be worth pursuing before they take it on. They’ll do so by looking at a number of factors.
Lawsuits can be expensive to pursue, so your attorney will need to determine whether your case is worthwhile. The factors that need to be considered before filing a personal injury lawsuit include the following.
Often, injuries result from a faulty product. A case involving this type of injury falls under product liability, in which either the manufacturer, the party who designed the product, or those in charge of marketing and labeling are held responsible for any damages that may result.
These types of claims are further divided into different categories depending on which party is responsible.
A work injury may lead to a long-term disability, in some cases permanently limiting one’s ability to work. In Illinois, disability benefits are available under workers’ compensation, though there is one other option available as well—Social Security disability insurance (SSDI). These two types of benefits work in different ways, and it’s important to know which will benefit you most in the event of a job-related injury.
The ultimate purpose of workers’ compensation is to cover your expenses in the event of a work-related injury. In Illinois, that typically means medical expenses and related costs, though it can cover lost wages, job rehabilitation, and long-term disability, especially if an injury leaves you permanently crippled.
Slipping and falling on a floor or walkway may not always seem immediately serious, but the truth is slip, trip, and fall accidents can have severe results. According to the CDC, roughly between 20% and 30% of slip and fall accidents result in moderate to severe injuries, including fractures and head trauma.
The following facts and statistics show just how serious these types of injuries can get:
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