Common mistakes made by injured workers

Getting injured while on the job can significantly impact your life in many ways. Not only are you suffering from severe pain from the injury, but you’re worried about how it will affect your ability to continue working. On top of that, you might be concerned about the medical costs and if you’ll have to take a temporary leave from your position.

Many factors contribute to workers’ compensation cases, which is why you must avoid making mistakes after an injury. Here are the most common mistakes that injured workers make:

• Not reporting the accident: In the state of Illinois, you have 45 days to report your workplace accident and subsequent injury to your employer. Failing to report the accident on time can forfeit your chance to receive any compensation.
• Not filing a claim: If you want workers’ compensation benefits, you must also file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. There is a three-year time limit on filing a claim.
• Not disclosing every injury: No matter how small or insignificant an injury might seem, you must report every injury you received from your accident. If you leave out an injury during your claim but later try to receive benefits for it, you may have trouble proving that injury was a result of your accident. Revealing all your injuries at the time of your accident ensures that you receive the fullest compensation possible.
• Not returning to work when able: When you’re physically able to return to work, it’s important that you do. Failing to return to work may be voluntary loss of income, which can affect your chance to receive benefits.
• Not speaking with an attorney: Workers’ compensation can be a challenging process to handle alone. An attorney will fight for you and help guarantee that you receive the compensation that you deserve.

Workplace injuries can be incredibly severe and lead to temporary or permanent disabilities. If you sustain an injury while on the job, you should seek legal action as soon as possible to help take control of the situation and ensure your chance at compensation.