Work Accidents

Fast-food worker wins benefits in court after altercation with coworker

April 3, 2014

Recently, a fast-food chain employee won workers’ compensation benefits in a case that came before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission on appeal. After a workers’ compensation case is decided in court, either the worker or the…

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Messenger Establishes Employment Relationship in Workers’ Compensation Case

March 13, 2014

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission has found that a bicycle messenger was an employee of a courier service and was therefore entitled to benefits, despite an agreement stating that the messenger was an independent contractor. The…

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Two Illinois Workers Injured in Combustible Dust Explosion

February 11, 2014

An Illinois metal products company was cited for safety violations after two workers were injured in a combustible dust explosion at a Glendale Heights Facility. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the citations to Northstar…

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Unions Criticize Chamber of Commerce Over Workers’ Comp Report

January 21, 2014

In a joint statement, the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association criticized the Illinois Chamber of Commerce over the Chamber’s report on alleged flaws in the state’s workers’ compensation program. The statement said that…

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Employer Convicted of Felony for Failure to Secure Workers’ Compensation Insurance

December 20, 2013

An employer was convicted of a felony for failing to obtain workers’ compensation insurance, a first in the state of Illinois. The felony conviction was secured by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Special Prosecution Division…

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Illinois Supreme Court Allows Mailbox Rule in Workers’ Compensation Case

October 29, 2013

The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the “mailbox rule” as it applies to workers’ compensation cases. The court held that the petitioner’s appeal to the circuit court was timely filed because it was postmarked by the filing…

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Employee Claims Retaliation for Filing Workers’ Compensation Claim

October 15, 2013

An Illinois woman claims she was fired from a retail store because she filed a workers’ compensation claim. Cynthia Hewitt filed a lawsuit against Casey’s General Store in Maryville. According to the lawsuit, Hewitt began working…

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Employee Denied Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Fall from Chair

September 17, 2013

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission ruled that a Department of Human Services worker was not entitled to compensation for a fall from a chair, because her work did not expose her to an increased risk of…

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Worker Claims He Was Fired After Applying for Workers’ Compensation Benefits

August 29, 2013

A lawsuit has been filed alleging that a worker was fired after applying for workers’ compensation benefits. Roger Johnson filed suit June 11 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, claiming that he was wrongly discharged. The…

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Researchers Say Hospitals Should Track Workplace Injuries

July 18, 2013

Researchers say that a small change in the way hospitals record data could have a big impact on preventing occupational safety and health hazards. The researchers, from Drexel University’s School of Health, say that recording industry…

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