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​Experienced ILLINOIS Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
& CHICAGO Injury Lawyers

Restaurant and Hotel Employees

Chicago Attorneys Representing Injured Workers in Claims for Benefits

Individuals working in the restaurant and hotel industries may suffer physical ailments, occupational illnesses, and injuries that accompany their work in the service sector. These employees spend hours on their feet, and as a result, they may develop musculoskeletal disorders and other medical conditions due to their work requirements. If you are a restaurant or hotel employee in the Chicago area who has suffered a work-related injury, the Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca can assist. We represent employees against employers and insurers in claims for the benefits provided by Illinois law, aiming to secure the compensation to which you may be entitled.

Injured Restaurant and Hotel Employees Have a Right to Benefits

The service sector remains physically demanding, typically requiring workers to complete shift work that subjects them to a higher risk of harm than people in many other industries. Common injuries suffered by hotel and restaurant workers include sprains and strains, slip and falls, and back injuries. According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, the workers’ compensation system covers workers who suffer injuries or aggravations of pre-existing conditions in the course and scope of employment. This Act applies to restaurant and hotel employees who are hurt while at their workplace, or while performing work-related tasks.

Benefits available to restaurant and hotel workers include payments for total and permanent disability, partial disability, and temporary disability. Additionally, employees can recover for reasonably necessary medical costs and lost earning capacity due to their injuries. When workers have been disfigured or scarred, they may also receive payments for these injuries.

Additionally, restaurant and hotel workers hurt at work may be eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation in order to return to employment, perhaps in another, less physically demanding industry. Vocational rehabilitation is available to workers who are unable to work in their former job position, due to residual restrictions or other limitations. Vocational rehabilitation is intended to help the employee return to their pre-injury physical state and recover their average weekly wage. For workers who participate in vocational rehabilitation, it is necessary that they comply with the terms of the program. An individual plan will be tailored to the employee’s needs, which can include retraining or other care that is specific to their condition.

In many cases, an employer may require that an injured restaurant or hotel employee undergo an independent medical exam before receiving benefits or compensation. This Independent Medical Examination (“IME”) is a way to assess the details of the employee’s claim, and it is clarified within the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. The purpose of the IME is to analyze the worker’s alleged injury and to produce a report that clearly sets forth findings. In some situations, there may be conflicting medical opinions between the result of the IME and the view held by the employee’s examining doctor. In this case, legal representation by a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer can help support the injured worker’s claim.

It is important to recognize that when making a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, hotel and restaurant workers are not pursuing a personal injury claim against their employer. As a result, there is no need to prove fault for the workplace injury. Illinois workers’ compensation laws are no-fault, and compensation is provided regardless of the cause of the physical injury or condition.

Retain a Skilled Chicago Attorney After an Accident on the Job

Following a workplace accident or illness related to your occupation as a restaurant or hotel worker, you can assert your right to workers’ compensation benefits. The Chicago attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca also help people in Champaign, Aurora, Rockford, Springfield, Quincy, and other areas in Kane, Champaign, Cook, Sangamon, Winnebago, and Adams Counties. We can explain your rights and obligations and provide compassionate, diligent legal services. Call our office at 312-724-5846 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a skilled job injury lawyer.