Illinois Delivery Service Injury Lawyer
Delivery drivers work long hours performing a physically demanding job. It is no wonder then that many drivers sustain work-related injuries. When this happens the driver is protected by their employer’s workers’ compensation coverage. At Connolly Injury Law, our experienced Illinois delivery service injury lawyer can help you in dealing with your employer and their insurance company to obtain the full measure of benefits you may be entitled to under the law.
The Dangers of Working as Delivery Driver
Workers’ compensation is meant to provide “no-fault” benefits to employees who become injured or ill as a result of their job. This is especially important for delivery service workers, as their jobs require them to spend long hours on the road away from their employer’s offices or other facilities. Basically, as long as you are “on the clock,” you are protected by workers’ comp.
There are many ways a delivery service worker may be injured on the job, but here are just a few common scenarios where an employee may have a claim for workers’ comp benefits:
- You are driving your delivery vehicle to make a delivery and are suddenly hit by another car.
- You are in the process of making a delivery when you slip and fall on an icy sidewalk.
- You sustain a repetitive stress injury due to the fact you are constantly having to bend over and lift heavy packages as part of your normal work.
- You are exposed to a contagious and/or potentially deadly disease, such as COVID-19, because you are required to interact with the public on a regular basis.
- You are bitten by a dog while making a delivery and not only sustain physical injuries but also develop post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the experience.
Regardless of the type of injury, the process of filing a workers’ comp claim is basically the same. The first step is to notify your employer of your accident. This is not optional–if you do not inform your employer within a specified time period, you may forfeit any rights to workers’ comp benefits under Illinois law.
Workers’ comp itself does not cover all of your losses. It will pay for your medical care related to the accident and provide wage replacement benefits. But it will neither pay you 100 percent of lost wages nor cover other types of damages such as your pain and suffering. If, however, there was a third party who may have been responsible for your accident–someone other than your employer or their agents–you may be able to pursue an independent personal injury lawsuit against such parties.
Contact Connolly Injury Law Today
Workers’ compensation claims are often more complicated than employees realize. For example, the laws governing how to calculate wage replacement benefits are often quite confusing, and many employers will try and take advantage of this to offer a settlement that is less than what the worker is actually entitled to under the law. This is just one reason you should always work with an experienced Illinois delivery service injury/workers comp lawyer who understands the system. So if you have been injured while performing your delivery service job and need legal advice, contact Connolly Injury Law today to schedule a free initial consultation.
