Filing for workers’ compensation shouldn’t be a mystery

On behalf of Jeffrey Frederick of Frederick & Hagle posted in Workers’ Compensation on Tuesday, August 18, 2015.

There is often a significant amount of confusion and uncertainty that accompany serious workplace accidents. Confusion may concern what led up to the event, and uncertainty may include worrying about the future — especially about finances. At our firm, we believe that any individual who has been injured during the course of work activities deserves to understand the process involved in filing for and obtaining workers’ compensation benefits.

Before actually filing for benefits in Illinois, injured workers must adhere to a guideline of necessary activities. One of the first — and perhaps most important — steps that an injured worker must take is to seek out and obtain medical care and treatment for the injury. This can be done either before or after letting an employer know that an injury was suffered, although he or she must be notified sometime within a 30-day timeframe following the accident. Depending on the type of injury and if a serious accident contributed to it, the employer might already be aware, although it is almost always advisable to make sure.

As part of the submission process, injured employees are required to have proof of their injuries as documented by a medical professional. This proof must also explain the full breadth of any and all related injuries and how they will affect the victims’ future employability. Once all of the necessary paperwork and documentation has been filed, the injury victim will be given a date to attend the arbitration hearing.

The period of time leading up to the hearing can be worrisome, but with the right help and guidance during the filing process, some of that uncertainty can be eased. Our firm takes great pride in achieving successful results for injured workers in Illinois who can benefit from the relief that workers’ compensation benefits can provide. Even if the initial claim is denied, we understand what it takes to successfully appeal that decision.