When an employee is injured while on the clock while performing their job duties, they usually have a clear-cut case for workers’ compensation. But what about employees who are injured on company property or while on work-related travel, but not actively performing their job duties? The good news is that in some cases, employees may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation for injuries that happened “off the clock.” If you were injured on company premises, or while traveling for work, contacting an attorney is a smart move. Workers’ compensation claims for off-the-clock injuries are often wrongfully denied - involving an experienced attorney from the start gives you the best chance of receiving the workers’ compensation you deserve.

When Can I Get Workers’ Compensation if I Was Hurt on Company Premises?

Just because you were not actively working when you were injured does not mean you are not eligible for workers’ compensation. You may be eligible for workers’ compensation if you were injured:

• In employee parking - If your employer maintains a parking area at your workplace and you are injured while entering or leaving, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Common causes of injuries in employee parking areas include falls due to holes in the pavement or other tripping hazards and even some car accidents. However, if you parked in an area that your employer does not control, such as a public parking garage, you will not be eligible for workers’ compensation.
• While on break - If an unsafe condition in a break room or cafeteria caused your injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation even though you were not technically working. For example, if a break room appliance was leaking and you slipped and fell in the puddle, you are probably covered.
• On the premises before or after your shift - If you were injured while entering or leaving your workplace, you may be covered even if you were not on the clock. In large workplaces, such as factories or hospitals, employees are sometimes injured while walking through the facility on the way to or from their particular workstation. For example, a factory worker may be injured when machinery placed dangerously close to a walkway catches his sleeve.

Can I Get Workers’ Compensation if I Was Hurt During Business Travel?

In many cases, yes. Workers’ compensation covers a range of injuries that occur during business travel. Because you would not have been traveling in the first place if your employer had not sent you, you could receive workers’ compensation even if you were not actively engaged in a work-related activity while traveling. This can include injuries that occurred while traveling, in your hotel room, or in some cases, during an excursion such as local sightseeing.

Whether a work injury is caused by repetitive motion, a sudden workplace accident, exposure to disease-causing substances, or other circumstances, the results can be life-changing. Many people who suffer a work-related illness or injury are unable to work and earn an income while they recover. They are also faced with considerable medical costs. Workers’ compensation is intended to cover expenses resulting from a work injury. However, some workers’ compensation claims are denied. If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, read on to learn about your legal options.

Reasons for Workers’ Compensation Claim Denials

Injured workers must follow certain procedures to be entitled to compensation through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. For example, workers must report the injury and submit the correct paperwork within a certain time fame. Independent contractors and people who are self-employed are not eligible for workers’ compensation. Workers may also be denied compensation if the injury does not warrant medical treatment or time off work.

However, not every workers’ compensation claim denial is justified. If an insurance company or employer denies an injured worker’s claim, the worker has the option to appeal the denial with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC).

Developing an injury at your job can be very unpleasant. Severe, one time injuries - such as a fall or crash - gain a lot of media attention, however, the most common of workplace injuries arise from small everyday tasks and motions. This type of workplace injury is called a repetitive stress injury. If you have developed a repetitive stress injury, a DuPage County personal injury attorney can help you fight for your workers’ compensation.

What Is an RSI?

RSIs also go by other names such as repetitive motion injuries or overuse injuries. RSIs form a large umbrella over injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and rotator cuff syndrome. Because it takes a long time for injuries like these to become noticeably bothersome, it is vital to pay attention to them from the beginning. A key factor of receiving workers compensation for such injuries is that you can prove that it was directly caused from the job.

Unfortunately, RSIs are very common and often go untreated. With the delayed symptoms of these injuries, it is likely the employee will not notice their pain or weakness until much later on. For instance, working at a computer and sitting at a desk chair all day can lead to various nerve issues in your hands and severe posture issues overall.

Any type of injury that a person sustains has the possibility of temporarily affecting their life and their ability to work. However, some injuries can be more serious than others and can leave a person dealing with the effects of the injury for life. There are various types of benefits that are paid out by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), both for injuries that are temporary and injuries that will last much longer. If an injury leaves a permanent scar or disfigures a person, they may be eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits from their employer. Disfigurement cases are notoriously subjective; what one person considers to be “disfigured,” another one may not. Having a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer on your side can be extremely beneficial to your case.

What Qualifies as Disfigurement?

Many different types of businesses see scarring and/or disfigurement injuries, however, manufacturing and other industrial jobs can be particularly prone to more serious injuries that may cause permanent scars or disfigurement. According to the Illinois Supreme Court, disfigurement comes into place when a healed scar “impairs or injures the beauty, symmetry or appearance of a person or thing; that which renders unsightly, misshapen or imperfect or deforms in some manner.”

If a person claims disfigurement, the scary must be both permanent and serious. However, these types of cases are very much subject to opinion. The location of the scar also matters. In general, Illinois allows for disfigurement claims to be paid out to individuals who suffer a serious and permanent scar to their head, neck, face, arm, hand, chest above the breast line or leg below the knee.

Even though summer does not technically start until near the end of June, June typically marks the beginning of the summer season. The temperatures are rising and the sun is shining full blast most days, which can be fun for beach goers and other outdoor enthusiasts, but stressful and sometimes even deadly for some workers. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), overexposure to heat is a real concern for many U.S. workers. Overexposure to heat can lead to serious illness or even death, causing dozens of worker deaths each year. Your employer has a responsibility to protect you from heat exposure in your workplace. If you have suffered a heat illness while at work, you may be eligible to claim compensation.

Occupations That Face Heat Exposure

There are various occupations from many different industries that have a daily risk of overexposure to heat. Both indoor and outdoor occupations have the potential to cause heat exposure that can lead to serious injury. Some of the occupations that are most likely to expose employees to excessive heat include:

Indoor Occupations