Chicago airport workers’ compensation: A guide for ABM employees

Every day, ABM maintenance, janitorial and custodial teams do important behind-the-scenes work in many Illinois airports. If you are one of them, your work keeps travel hubs like O’Hare and Midway International Airports clean, functional and safe for millions of people on a daily basis.

However, you are likely also aware that the physical toll of this work is significant. When an accident takes place, an injury can quickly put your health and livelihood at risk. If you were hurt while on the job at a Chicago airport, understanding your workers’ compensation rights can help you secure the needed resources to get back on your feet.

Common hazards at Chicago airports

If you work in maintenance or as a janitor, your job generally involves constant movement and physical labor. In an airport, some dangerous situations that can potentially cause injuries include:

• Slipping on a wet floor in a busy terminal
• Straining your back lifting heavy waste containers
• Suffering muscle damage from repetitive movements

These injuries can lead to serious medical conditions that keep you from working and put pressure on your finances. Workers’ compensation is there to provide vital support that can help cover some of the costs and your lost wages after a job-related injury.

What are your workers’ compensation benefits?

If you sustain an injury while working in Illinois, you may generally qualify for the following benefits:

• Coverage for all related medical bills and rehabilitation costs
• Disability payments depending on how injuries affect your ability to work
• Portion of your lost income

You do not need to prove that your employer did something wrong to receive workers’ compensation because it is a no-fault system.

However, it is essential to compile evidence that your injury occurred during the course of your employment to qualify for these benefits. Reporting your accident promptly is also important as large employers like ABM and their insurance carriers may often try to minimize or even deny your claims.

Ensuring your safe return to work

You deserve adequate support when you suffer a workplace injury. It is easy to feel like you are just another employee to a big corporation like ABM or an impersonal insurer.

But you do not have to manage the claims process alone. An experienced lawyer can help you with the paperwork and handle aggressive insurance adjusters so you can focus entirely on your physical recovery.

The workers’ comp lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca represent employees who have been seriously injured in accidents on the job. Call 312-724-5846 to request a free consultation. We serve clients throughout the state of Illinois.