If you recently suffered a twisted ankle in your Illinois workplace, you may be wondering what actions, if any, you can take to receive compensation for your injury.
Understanding how the law works can help you make informed decisions moving forward.
Am I eligible for workers’ compensation?
According to the Workers’ Compensation Act, if you have an injury from a work-related incident, you should be eligible to receive partial or whole benefits. In workers’ compensation claims, it does not matter who is responsible for the injury if it happened in the workplace. If you are at fault for your twisted ankle, you can still file a compensation claim. However, if your injury was the result of a consistently unsafe work environment, you may want to report the hazardous conditions to prevent future injury for yourself or your coworkers.
What should I do if injured?
If you sustain an ankle injury at work, the first thing you should do is visit a doctor. This action will not only allow you to make sure there is no serious damage, but it will also give you information on the severity of the injury to share with your employer. You should then notify your employer as soon as you are able. Doing so can create an environment of transparency and expedite the compensation process. By law, you must report the injury to your employer within 45 days. If you wait too long, not only is the credibility of your claim diminished, but your employer can also deny your workers’ compensation claim. You should also check with your coworkers to see if anyone witnessed the incident to provide you with evidence.
It is important to know how workers’ compensation laws work so you can take the correct actions to recover from your twisted ankle injury.
