Health Care Industry Injuries

Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Helping Employees in Chicago and Surrounding Communities

Workers suffering from a range of workplace injuries are eligible for benefits, including those who work in health care and have been hurt at work. Health care industry injuries can lead to serious and debilitating harm, and health care workers are as much at risk as employees in many more obviously dangerous industries. Nurses, physician assistants, and others within the health care profession have physically demanding jobs, and Illinois law provides compensation for medical conditions and injuries suffered at work. The Chicago work injury lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca are here to help throughout all of the stages of pursuing workers’ compensation benefits.

Illinois Law Provides Benefits for Workers Suffering from Health Care Industry Injuries

As a growing sector of the economy, the health care industry employs millions of workers. Dangers on the job can include toxic exposure, fires, latex allergies, stress, and violence in the workplace. Health care workers are involved in handling patients, and manually lifting patients or moving them can lead to repetitive stress injuries. Sharp injuries due to handling needles and other instruments are also common, resulting in cuts or puncture wounds. Additionally, slip and fall accidents are common, since liquids on the floor of hospitals and other premises can pose hazards.

According to Illinois law, injuries that are suffered “in the course of employment” entitle a worker to compensation. The types of injuries suffered by health care workers include bone fractures, neck and back injuries, and head injuries. Some workers may find that they have come into contact with infected patients, due to their handling of bodily fluids. The risk of serious disease is high and can lead to life-altering medical conditions.

Filing a claim for workers’ compensation provides workers with a means to receive benefits, regardless of who caused the accident or the worker’s injuries. The system of workers’ compensation allows for an employee to maintain a relationship with their employer, despite receiving benefits from the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer. Employers are prohibited, by law, from retaliating against workers who have filed for workers’ compensation.

According to law, workers who have missed work due to their injuries may recover a portion of their wages. If a health care worker is temporarily or permanently disabled due to their injuries or medical condition, they can receive monetary support and benefits, as well as vocational retraining. In the event of a fatality, the family members of the deceased worker can seek death benefits, paid through workers’ compensation insurance.

To prove that injuries were caused at work, health care workers will need to set forth strong medical documentation. Some workers may have suffered from a pre-existing condition that was aggravated by workplace conditions. An example may be a worker who has endured years of arthritis, only to suffer more aggravation in their current work after repetitive lifting and movement of patients. Since compensation for a pre-existing condition is available to workers according to Illinois law, this employee would be eligible for compensation if they can show that their current employment aggravated their condition.

Hire a Skilled Job Injury Attorney in the Chicago Area

If you or someone you love has suffered a health care industry injury, the skilled Chicago lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca can help you understand your legal rights and file a claim for benefits. We can help resolve any disputes concerning your benefits eligibility or coverage for medical care. In the event that your initial claim for benefits is denied, our dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys can help with an appeal and advocate on your behalf throughout the legal process. Call our office at 312-724-5846 or reach us online to schedule a free consultation. Our office also represents people elsewhere in the state, including workers living in Aurora, Champaign, Springfield, Rockford, Quincy, and other areas of Kane, Champaign, Winnebago, Sangamon, Adams, and Cook Counties.