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Workplace injuries can happen suddenly or develop over time. In any case, going to the doctor as soon as you realize something is wrong can help you document an injury and determine its cause.
Seeking medical treatment after a workplace injury in Chicago is the first step in the workers’ compensation claims process and is critical to receiving benefits from your employer. By having a medical professional evaluate your injury, you can show that your job was the cause and demonstrate its effects on your ability to continue working. A knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer could provide more information and help you with your claim.
Some workplace injuries will be obvious, such as a broken bone after a slip and fall, a muscle strain from lifting a heavy load, or a head injury from an object falling from above. Machinery accidents in an industrial setting or at a loading dock can also cause readily observable injuries.
Other conditions, however, might be harder to detect without medical attention. Chronic pain and strains can result from months or years spent in awkward positions, and stress fractures and spinal damage can accumulate over time.
Both accident-related and stress injuries can form the basis for workers’ compensation, but only if they are detected and diagnosed as work-related. For example, a doctor can examine whether a worker’s muscle strain likely came from sitting at their desk at work or if a back injury could be related to the lifting and moving done daily as part of their job.
Injuries can also take the form of long-term illnesses from exposure at work, such as in the case of certain cancers and lung diseases. To receive benefits from an employer, a Chicago worker will need to get medical care after discovering their workplace injury.
Workers’ compensation benefits provided by an employer’s insurance can include wage replacement and payments to cover medical expenses. Most Illinois employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance by law, preventing workers from suing based on a workplace injury.
After an injury has been reported to an employer, they can contact their insurer and begin the process of paying out benefits to the injured worker. The employer and the insurer will require evidence of the injury to justify continuing to pay benefits for both income and medical costs.
As a result, obtaining medical evidence of a workplace injury and its cause can help a worker support their claim for benefits and push back against attempts to limit compensation. Visiting a doctor quickly can prevent doubts over how work-related an injury may be.
A worker looking for medical treatment after a workplace injury may benefit from having a Chicago lawyer by their side to ensure their injury is properly documented. An attorney could also prepare the necessary materials and paperwork to protect your rights to benefits over time, depending on the severity of your injury’s resulting disability.
Laying the groundwork for receiving workers’ compensation benefits can be crucial to maintaining your livelihood after a serious injury. Attempting to prove that you are entitled to benefits without medical treatment after a workplace injury in Chicago could leave you battling an employer and insurer over the compensation you deserve.
A personal injury attorney at McCready Law could assist you in getting the benefits you need. Schedule an appointment with a lawyer as soon as possible.