CRUSHING INJURIES

WORKPLACE ACCIDENT LAWYERS PROVIDING REPRESENTATION TO EMPLOYEES IN CHICAGO Crushing injuries in the workplace often occur when a worker is caught between two large pieces of machinery. These serious injuries can cause debilitating complications and can be fatal. For those individuals who have suffered a crushing injury while working, Illinois law provides workers’ compensation benefits. At  Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca , our Chicago job injury lawyers can help investigate and set forth a strong claim for compensation. We help workers throughout a variety of industries, and we have successfully recovered medical benefits and disability payments for many people hurt in the course and scope of their employment.

ILLINOIS EMPLOYEES ARE ENTITLED TO WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR CRUSHING INJURIES Workers engaged in tasks surrounding heavy objects may find themselves more likely to suffer crushing injuries. Force or pressure upon a body part can crush it and cause damage to bodily structures. For example, workers may be hit by a forklift and suffer a crushed arm or leg, or an individual may suffer a crushed hand if an arm is caught in a machine. Crushing injuries can occur when a worker comes into contact with a machine that has moving parts, such as a power shear or brake press, common in manufacturing industries.

Crushing injuries can also take place when construction materials fall or collapse. Scaffolding is one example of a type of construction material that could cause a worker to get crushed. Trench work and excavation work create potentially serious crush hazards. Crushing injuries can occur when workers are struck by another object or pinned between two objects. This may be common on docks, where workers find themselves loading materials on and off shipping vessels.

The effects of crushing injuries can cause workers to suffer bleeding, bruising, nerve injuries, fractures, and serious muscle, blood vessel, and tissue injuries. Of all of the potential consequences, nerve injuries and serious infections can cause permanent impairments, leaving workers permanently disabled and facing high medical bills.

Throughout Illinois, workers who suffer job injuries, including crushing injuries, are entitled to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. This form of insurance pays for medical costs related to the injury and can replace a segment of lost wages from work. Benefits for permanent disabilities are also available, and they are often invoked in the case of crushing injuries.

Due to the potential severity of crushing injuries, workers may receive permanent disability benefits if they have suffered permanent loss of use or an amputation of a body part. According to the law, complete or partial loss of a body part entitles workers to permanent partial disability benefits. While Illinois law does not define “loss of use,” generally, workers who are unable to perform the work tasks in which they formerly engaged will be capable of proving this loss.

Permanent total disability would be appropriate for workers who have suffered the permanent loss of both feet or hands, or both legs, due to a crushing injury. Employees who are permanently unable to perform work, when there is a reasonably stable employment market, may be entitled to these permanent total disability benefits. In the event that an employee has been rendered permanently unable to work and then is able to return to employment, the employer can petition for a termination or a modification of these benefits. The reality is that even if a worker is capable of returning to their employment, they most likely have suffered financial hardship due to their injuries.

DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF YOUR SITUATION WITH A CHICAGO ATTORNEY If you or someone close to you has been unable to work because of a permanent disability or a serious workplace injury, a workers’ compensation attorney can help file a claim and pursue benefits. The Chicago lawyers at  Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca are committed to providing quality legal representation. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation and can be reached by calling 312-724-5846 or completing the online form on our website. We also represent people in need of a job injury attorney in Aurora, Springfield, Champaign, Quincy, and Rockford, as well as other areas of Winnebago, Sangamon, Cook, Adams, and Kane Counties.