The Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers at Morici, Longo & Associates have vast expertise in helping victims understand the kind of circumstances that give rise to a workers’ compensation case. Some of it may surprise you. In this segment of our ongoing educational series exploring workers’ rights, we will discuss the setting in which an injury will be considered to have occurred “during the course of” and “ arising out of” one’s employment.
We, of course, know that in Illinois most employees are protected by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, a statute first created in the early 1900s. The Act is wide-ranging in its protections and the benefits it provides. Cases under the Act are brought before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and our lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions in payments for our clients over our more than 20-year history.
What is “Hurt at Work?”
So what kind of circumstances are considered to be “during the course of” and “arising out of” one’s employment? Seemingly straight forward answers may apply to situations where you are injured at your employer’s fixed place of business.
For instance, being injured while lifting at work, slipping and falling while performing a specific work task, or being hurt while using a piece of equipment: everything from a hammer, ladder or scaffold; to a forklift, overhead crane, or power tool. Other scenarios may lead to a compensable injury; for instance: walking into work and slipping on an icy parking lot, being struck by a falling object when unloading a truck at a customer’s facility, tripping and falling on a customer’s premises. Even driving from one work appointment to another and being involved in an auto collision.
These situations are all very fact-specific and a case-by-case analysis needs to be made by one of our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys. Consultations, of course, are always free.
Getting the Treatment You Need
Our Chicago workers compensation lawyers make sure you are getting the treatment you need, and receiving the benefits check you deserve. If your injury was caused in part by a third party; for example, if defective premises caused you to fall while making a delivery; or an unsafe contractor failed to provide a safe construction site; or a driver collided with your car while you were driving for work, our trial lawyers will bring a separate action for compensation above and beyond your workers compensation benefits.
If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries in a workplace accident, we are here for you. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Chicago workers’ compensation attorney from Morici, Longo & Associates, please don’t hesitate to send us an email or call (312) 779-0366.