Soft Tissue Injuries

Workplace Accident Attorneys Advocating for Injured Workers Throughout the Chicago Area

Workers can suffer soft tissue injuries over time, due to repetitive movement and overuse at work. They can also suffer a soft tissue injury in one sudden accident, such as a sudden trip or slip at their workplace. While the type of injury ranges in severity, the pain can linger and affect an individual’s ability to return to work. At  Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our Chicago work injury lawyers are familiar with soft tissue workplace injuries and advocate for workers who are seeking medical treatment and benefits for a work-related accident or condition. Our workers’ compensation attorneys represent only workers, rather than employers, and we understand the physical impact of a soft tissue injury upon a person’s ability to work, as well as the emotional consequences that accompany a period of lost earnings.

Benefits Are Available for Workers Suffering from Soft Tissue Injuries

When injuries are work-related and sustained in the course and scope of employment, employees have the right to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The type of treatment received and the benefits to which workers are entitled vary. Often, depending on the severity of the injury, workers can receive ongoing benefits for treatment and physical rehabilitation. Disability benefits, costs of treatment, and missed wages from work are types of benefits that may be received when a victim has suffered a soft tissue injury or another physical loss at work.

Soft tissue injuries are those that affect tendons, muscles, and ligaments, as opposed to bones. Throughout all workplaces, soft tissue injuries can seriously impede the ability of a worker to perform their work tasks without pain. For example, when a ligament is stretched or torn, a sprain can result. Workers who slip on the floor and fall may find that they have suffered a sprained wrist or ankle.

Additionally, some workers may be diagnosed with tendonitis, a common form of soft tissue injury. Tendonitis occurs when tendons are inflamed, and it is often accompanied by heat and redness. Tendonitis can occur from repetitive movements, and it can accompany elbow and shoulder injuries, which are common among workers who repeatedly lift or haul heavy materials.

When a worker has proven the link between the workplace and their soft tissue injury, they may be considered to have a successful workers’ compensation claim. The types of benefits that may be received range from permanent total disability to temporary partial disability benefits. Often, workers are unable to work for a period of time, and partial disability benefits will cover their lost wages for a reduced ability to work. The employer would be responsible for paying partial disability benefits for a period of time, until the injured worker has reached maximum medical improvement.

For some workers who have suffered a soft tissue injury, vocational rehabilitation can help them train and prepare for a change in their position. According to state workers’ compensation laws, vocational rehabilitation is provided as a benefit to injured workers, and it can include supervised job search programs, as well as counseling. The cost of vocational rehabilitation would fall to the employer or the employer’s insurance company.

Retain an Experienced Chicago Attorney When Bringing a Workers’ Compensation Claim

The physical trauma that accompanies a soft tissue injury can be life-changing and can force people to rethink their ability to return to work and provide for their loved ones. After you or someone close to you has endured soft tissue injuries caused by work, you have the right to pursue benefits through your employer. Unlike with a personal injury claim, there is no requirement that injured workers prove fault for soft tissue injuries in the workplace. However, there are specific legal procedures that must be followed, and significant importance is placed upon proving the connection between the work accident or condition and the soft tissue injury. By contacting the skilled workers’ compensation lawyers at  Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, we can help you understand your rights and obligations. We also help workers in Champaign, Aurora, Springfield, Quincy, Rockford, and other cities in Champaign, Adams, Winnebago, Kane, and Cook Counties. To discuss your claim in further detail during a free consultation with an attorney in the Chicago area, contact our office at 312-724-5846 or online.