Reporting A Workplace Injury To An Employer In Illinois
After an injury occurs while you are working, you can file a workers’ compensation claim and recover benefits. However, to ensure you recover the benefits you deserve, you should ensure you follow the proper procedures when reporting your injury to your employer. If you do not know what the proper procedures for reporting a job-related injury to an employer are, do not worry. This article is dedicated to helping you understand the proper procedures for reporting a workplace injury to an employer. Read on.
When To Report a Workplace Injury to an Employer
Under Illinois law, an employee is generally required to report a job-related injury to an employer within 45 days after their accident occurs. However, your employer might have a policy in place that requires you to report a job-related injury to them before the 45 days in order to receive benefits. If your employer has such a policy, you should keep in mind that it is only a policy and not the law. That said, it is advisable to report a workplace injury as soon as possible.
How To Report a Workplace Injury to an Employer
In Illinois, employees can either report a job-related injury orally or in writing. However, it is advisable that you give your employer a written notice. In your written notice, you should include, among other things, the following;
- Your name
- Your address
- Your telephone number
- A description of the accident
- The date and place of the accident
As it pertains to the description of your accident, you should be as detailed as possible. Often, injured employees are denied workers’ compensation benefits because they do not provide enough details in their accident report. In your accident report, ensure you provide enough details that can help you prove to your employer that you were involved in an accident while at work and that the accident directly led to you sustaining the injury. For instance, in your report, provide details about the task(s) you were performing before the accident, including any equipment you were handling (if applicable) before the accident. If there was an obstacle, make sure you include that in your report.
Be Honest in Your Report
It is extremely crucial that you are honest in your accident report. Not only can you be denied workers’ compensation benefits if you submit a false claim, but you can also be penalized by authorities. Indeed, making honest mistakes when writing an accident report is always a possibility. However, you want to ensure that you avoid making mistakes which can result in your employer accusing you of fraud or dishonesty.
The following are some mistakes you want to ensure you avoid on your accident report;
- Describing symptoms that never occurred
- Speculating about your accident – For instance, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident, and are unsure about what caused you to slip and fall, avoid linking your accident to a specific substance or cause.
Contact a Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Were you injured while at work? Do you want to recover the maximum possible amount of compensation? Please contact our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer at Connolly Injury Law to schedule a consultation and discuss your case.
Source:
law.cornell.edu/wex/workers_compensation
