Accidents can and do happen on the job, regardless of the occupation or workplace environment. According to Illinois law, if you are injured at work, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. This claim means you cannot sue your employer for an injury you suffer performing your job, even if your employer’s negligence caused your injury. Alternatively, when someone else who is not your employer is at fault for your work-related injury, you may sue him or her for wages lost or medical bills caused by his or her negligence. These types of claims against an individual or another company that caused a workplace injury are called “third-party claims.”

Understanding Third-Party Liability

Illinois has a no-fault workers’ compensation system, meaning it does not matter if the employer or employee is to blame for the injury. If an employee suffers a serious injury at his or her workplace in Illinois, he or she can file a workers’ compensation claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Benefits can include temporary or permanent disability payments, as well as coverage for medical bills and lost wages.

Workplace injuries can also occur due to no fault of the worker or the employer, but instead because of another person’s or entity’s actions or inactions. Under these circumstances, the injured employee can file a liability lawsuit against the at-fault third party and seek damages. Compensation can be for lost wages if the employee cannot return to work for a period of time, and also medical costs, disability, disfigurement, in addition to pain and suffering. In some cases, it may be appropriate to file both a workers' compensation claim and third-party lawsuit.

It is no secret that riding a motorcycle is extremely dangerous and could result in permanent or fatal injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,172 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in 2017. While driving a motorcycle is dangerous regardless of the situation, there are some preventative safety measures that can be taken to better protect yourself while riding on the roads.

What Can I Do Before Getting on my Motorcycle?

Driving a motorcycle requires different skills than operating your average car does. Motorcycle licenses are required in addition to a typical automobile driver’s license. One should spend ample time practicing in a controlled space before heading to busier roads. Inexperienced drivers can be the most dangerous.

Like any vehicle, motorcycles must be checked to ensure that everything is in proper working order. Many do not self-check their cars after taking them to the mechanic for a routine checkup. Motorcycle drivers should be taking additional measures. The NHTSA suggests checking the tire pressure and tread depth, hand and foot brakes, headlights and signal indicators, and fluid levels before riding your motorcycle.

Accidents can and do occur at companies and job sites even if every safety precaution is taken. In Illinois, workers’ compensation benefits can help cover medical expenses and lost wages if a worker is hurt while on the job. The majority of workplace injuries involve an employee eventually returning to work after he or she is healed. In certain accidents, however, a worker may sustain injuries so severe that they cause permanent restrictions or disability. If you are permanently disabled as a result of a catastrophic work injury, disability benefits might help you reclaim your life.

Types of Permanent Disability Benefits in Illinois

According to Illinois law, there are two different types of permanent disability benefits depending on the consequences of an injury. Employers are required to pay permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits to an employee who is impaired or disfigured in some way while performing his or her job but who is still able to work in a limited capacity. Sometimes surgery will repair or correct an injury, and the worker can go back to his or her job after attending a rehab facility or doing physical therapy.

Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits are for an employee who is permanently unable to work in any capacity. With extreme cases, amputation may be necessary if a body part has been severed and cannot be reattached. If an employee loses both hands, arms, feet, legs, eyes, or any of these two body parts, that constitutes permanent total disability. This also applies if there is permanent and complete loss of the use of those body parts.

Many people enjoy riding their bicycles in the summer, especially after a long winter. In Illinois, cyclists must obey the same traffic laws, signs, and signals that apply to motor vehicles. For example, bicyclists are required by law to ride in the same direction as vehicle traffic. However, even though bikes have the same rights as other vehicles, cyclists are much more likely to be injured in a motor vehicle collision.

Road rage is one issue that can have a significant impact on bicyclists. An aggressive driver who strikes a bicycle is likely to cause serious or fatal injuries. If you are hurt while riding your bike due to a road rage incident, you should seek legal advice and learn about your options for pursuing compensation from the driver who injured you.   

The Chicago metropolitan area is among the most congested in the United States. The average driver spends an extra 111 hours in the car each year because of traffic. Along with the millions of cars on our roadways each day also comes an increased risk of car accidents and potential injury.

Some car crashes are minor, while others result in severe injuries with long-term effects or even permanent disability to drivers and occupants. Anyone injured in an auto accident should first seek medical attention for a complete diagnosis. If your accident was caused by the negligence of another driver, the next step is to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer who can fight for the compensation you deserve.