An accident on the job can leave you reeling. Instead of finishing work and going home, you can wind up at the hospital hurt and worried. On top of the pain, you might be thinking, “What if this was my fault? What if I did something wrong? How am I going to financially recover from this?”
In Illinois, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. This means you do not have to prove that your employer was negligent or that you weren’t at fault to be eligible for benefits.
Accidents happen: You can still be covered
Let’s say you work in a busy kitchen. You’re rushing to get an order out and accidentally spill some grease on the floor. You don’t realize it, and a few minutes later, you slip on the greasy spot and fall, hurting your back. You feel awful. You’re worried about missing work and paying your bills. And you’re afraid that because you spilled the grease, you won’t qualify for workers’ compensation.
Here’s the good news: In Illinois, you don’t have to prove your boss or coworker did something wrong to receive workers’ compensation. You only need to prove your injury happened because of your job. Workers’ compensation benefits typically cover situations like the kitchen fall, even if caused by your own mistake or oversight.
When you might not be covered
There are a few situations where you might not get workers’ comp:
- If you intentionally hurt yourself
- If you were drunk or on drugs when the accident happened
- If you were doing something completely unrelated to work
But these are rare exceptions. In most cases, if you get hurt doing your job, you’re covered.
Getting hurt at work is a frustrating and painful experience. Not only do you have to deal with the physical and emotional toll of an injury, but you may also worry about how you’ll support yourself and your family while you’re recovering. Fortunately, workers’ compensation benefits can help you get back on your feet, so don’t let misconceptions or misunderstandings keep you from pursuing the benefits you deserve.
