If you are hurt at work, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits will help you pay for medical bills or recoup a portion of any wages lost while off the job. Ideally, you’ll tell your Illinois employer as soon as possible about your condition. You are also encouraged to seek treatment immediately following a workplace accident.
What to tell your employer
You should supply as many details as possible when reporting a workplace injury to your supervisor. For example, you should specify when the accident took place, what you were doing when it happened and if anyone was with you. You should also provide details about your physical issues, such as whether you’re having difficulty breathing or think that you incurred a concussion. If necessary, you can ask for an ambulance or other forms of emergency care to stabilize your condition.
When to seek treatment
You should seek care immediately following a workplace accident even if there are no obvious signs of harm. This is because symptoms of a concussion, internal injury or other maladies may present hours or days after an accident. By then, investigators may conclude that your injuries may have happened outside of work and deny your workers’ compensation claim.
File a workers’ compensation claim
It’s typically a good idea to file a workers’ compensation claim within 24 hours of a workplace accident. The sooner that you file a claim, the less time you’ll need to wait to receive the compensation you deserve. Your claim may take as little as a few days to process if your case is a straightforward one, or it can take several weeks or months if there are multiple complexities.
A broken bone, concussion or other injuries may keep you out of work for weeks or months. In some cases, you may not be able to return to your current position. However, understanding what to do after getting hurt may minimize the risk of long-term damage to your health while bolstering your chances of obtaining compensation.