A firefighter was seriously injured in an Englewood fire yesterday afternoon. Authorities say that the firefighter injured his left knee and that he was transported to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. It is unclear how the firefighter injured his knee or whether he will be able to fully recover from this workplace accident.
Most workplace accidents are covered under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. The law provides benefits that cover the medical costs associated with on-the-job injuries and work-related illnesses. In addition to medical costs, workers’ comp benefits can also include funds for lost wages, permanent or total disability, wrongful death, rehabilitation programs and vocational retraining.
Employers such as the Chicago Fire Department have to fund workers’ compensation benefits or pass the costs onto an insurer. Employers are not entitled to force employees to bear workers’ compensation costs.
There are very specific things that an Illinois worker has to do in order to get workers’ compensation benefits. The new workers’ comp laws are filled with many legal traps designed to deprive workers’ of all the benefits they are entitled to. These traps are designed to benefit employers and their insurers at the expense of injured workers. This is why it is generally advisable to seek legal advice before filing a workers’ comp claim alone.
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