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Chicago Janitorial Worker Injury Lawyers

Janitorial workers in Chicago keep some of the city’s most iconic buildings clean and safe, from the gleaming towers along the Magnificent Mile to the office parks lining the Kennedy Expressway. But the work itself carries real physical risks. Slippery floors, heavy equipment, and exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals put janitorial workers in harm’s way every single day. If you were hurt on the job, you have legal rights under Illinois law, and the team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, a Chicago personal injury lawyer and workers’ compensation firm, is ready to help you pursue the benefits you deserve.

Why Janitorial Work in Chicago Carries Serious Injury Risks
What Illinois Law Covers for Injured Janitorial Workers
Common Injuries Janitorial Workers Suffer on Chicago Job Sites
How the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process Works for Janitorial Workers
Third-Party Claims: When You Can Sue Beyond Workers’ Compensation
Why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Fights for Injured Janitorial Workers in Chicago
FAQs About Chicago Janitorial Worker Injury Lawyers

Why Janitorial Work in Chicago Carries Serious Injury Risks

Janitorial work is physically demanding in ways that most people never see. Workers clean high-rise office buildings in the Loop, maintain hospital corridors near Illinois Medical District, and scrub kitchen floors in restaurants across Wicker Park and River North. Each of those environments presents its own set of dangers.

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common injuries janitorial workers face. The very act of mopping a floor creates a wet surface that can send a worker to the ground in an instant. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 17 percent of Illinois workplace fatalities in 2023, matching the national share. For janitorial workers who spend entire shifts on wet or freshly cleaned surfaces, that risk is constant.

Chemical exposure is another serious concern. Janitorial workers regularly handle bleach, ammonia, disinfectants, and industrial degreasers. Breathing in those substances over time can cause occupational asthma, skin conditions, and respiratory damage. The Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act, found at 820 ILCS 310, covers illnesses that develop from workplace chemical exposure, not just sudden traumatic injuries.

Repetitive motion injuries are common too. Pushing heavy mop buckets, scrubbing surfaces, and carrying supply carts puts constant strain on the shoulders, wrists, back, and knees. Over months and years, that strain becomes injury. Workers who clean large commercial properties, like the sprawling McCormick Place convention center or multi-floor office towers, are especially vulnerable to these kinds of cumulative injuries.

Overexertion from heavy lifting, injuries from falling objects in storage rooms, and accidents involving floor-cleaning machinery round out the list of hazards janitorial workers face daily. These are not minor risks. They are the kinds of injuries that put workers out of work for weeks or months.

What Illinois Law Covers for Injured Janitorial Workers

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) covers virtually every employee in the state, and that includes janitorial workers. It does not matter whether you work for a large commercial cleaning company, a building management firm, or a small family-owned janitorial service. If you were hurt on the job, the law protects you.

Under Section 3 of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, coverage is automatic for most employers in Illinois. Your employer is required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Under the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Workers’ Occupational Disease Act, workers’ compensation benefits are payable to employees and certain dependent survivors. That means your medical bills, a portion of your lost wages, and disability benefits are all potentially available to you after a work injury.

The law does not require you to prove that your employer did anything wrong. Workers’ compensation covers job-related injuries, including injury caused by repetitive use of a body part at work, traumatic injuries such as slip-and-fall accidents, and diseases caused by exposure to harmful substances or conditions at work. All of those categories apply directly to the work janitorial employees perform every day.

One important rule to know: workers must report the injury to their employer within 45 days of the incident. Missing that window can put your entire claim at risk. If you have been injured and have not yet reported it, do not wait any longer.

For occupational illnesses, like respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure, the Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act provides that disablement must occur within two years after the last day of exposure for most diseases. These time limits matter, and acting quickly protects your rights.

Common Injuries Janitorial Workers Suffer on Chicago Job Sites

Janitorial workers suffer a wide range of injuries, and many of them are serious enough to require surgery, physical therapy, or long-term medical care. Understanding what types of injuries are most common helps workers recognize when they have a valid claim.

Back injuries are among the most frequently reported. Mopping, vacuuming, and lifting heavy trash bags or supply carts all put strain on the lumbar spine. Herniated discs and lumbar strains are a regular result. These injuries do not always appear immediately. Sometimes a back problem builds over weeks of repetitive strain before it becomes debilitating.

Shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff tears, happen when workers repeatedly reach overhead to clean windows or high surfaces. Knee injuries develop from kneeling on hard floors for extended periods. Wrist and hand injuries are common among workers who scrub surfaces or operate power cleaning equipment for hours at a time.

Slip and fall accidents on wet floors cause fractures, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. A worker who slips while carrying a heavy bucket of cleaning solution can suffer multiple injuries in a single fall. Traumatic brain injuries from falls are a genuine risk in this profession.

Chemical burns and respiratory damage from cleaning agents are also compensable injuries. If a worker mixes the wrong chemicals in an enclosed space, like a storage closet in a Chicago office building, the resulting exposure can cause permanent lung damage. Private industry employers reported 101,400 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in Illinois in 2023. Janitorial and building services workers make up a meaningful portion of those cases.

If your injury falls into any of these categories, or into one not listed here, you may have a valid workers’ compensation claim. A qualified workers’ compensation lawyer can review the facts of your situation and tell you what your options are.

How the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process Works for Janitorial Workers

Filing a workers’ compensation claim in Illinois follows a specific process, and knowing the steps protects your rights from the start. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) is the state agency that oversees these claims. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission handles workers’ compensation claims and acts as an impartial court that answers those claims.

The first step is reporting your injury to your employer. Do this in writing whenever possible. Your employer is then required to notify their insurance carrier. From there, the insurer investigates the claim and either approves or denies it. If your claim is denied, you have the right to request a hearing before an IWCC arbitrator.

A case must be filed with the Commission within three years of the accident. That deadline sounds distant, but it passes faster than you expect, especially when you are focused on recovering from an injury. Filing promptly also makes it easier to gather medical records, witness statements, and other evidence while it is still fresh.

At a hearing, an IWCC arbitrator reviews the evidence and decides whether benefits should be awarded. When an employee files a claim, it is on the employee to prove to the Commission that they have a good claim, including that the worker was an employee on the date of the accident, was injured because of their employment, and notified the employer within the correct time limits.

If your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, you are not left without options. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act established the Injured Workers’ Benefit Fund specifically to pay benefits to workers whose employers failed to carry coverage. The Attorney General is responsible for seeking reimbursement from those employers after the Fund pays out.

Having a workers’ compensation attorney in your corner from the beginning makes a real difference. Insurers look for reasons to minimize or deny claims. An attorney who knows the IWCC process can push back effectively and help you get the full benefits you are owed.

Third-Party Claims: When You Can Sue Beyond Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is generally the exclusive remedy against your employer for a work injury. But in many janitorial injury cases, a third party, meaning someone other than your employer, may share responsibility for what happened. When that is true, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit in addition to your workers’ compensation claim.

Think about a janitorial worker cleaning an office building in Chicago’s West Loop. If a property owner failed to fix a broken staircase railing that caused the worker to fall, that property owner is a third party. If a manufacturer sold a defective floor-cleaning machine that malfunctioned and injured the worker, the manufacturer is a third party. These situations open the door to a civil lawsuit separate from the workers’ compensation process.

A third-party personal injury claim allows you to recover damages that workers’ compensation does not cover. Workers’ compensation pays medical bills and a portion of lost wages, but it does not compensate you for pain and suffering. The availability of non-economic damages is one of the most significant differences between traditional personal injury cases and Illinois workers’ compensation claims, as non-economic damages can easily reach into the millions of dollars.

To succeed in a third-party claim, you must prove that the other party was negligent. That means showing they had a duty of care toward you, they breached that duty, and their breach caused your injury. These cases require investigation, evidence, and legal strategy. A workers’ compensation attorney familiar with both workers’ comp and personal injury law can evaluate whether a third-party claim applies to your situation.

If you are a janitorial worker who was hurt at a client’s facility, a hotel, a hospital near the Illinois Medical District, or any other third-party location, there is a real possibility that more than one legal avenue is open to you. Call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg at (312) 222-0010 for a free consultation to learn what your case may be worth.

Why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Fights for Injured Janitorial Workers in Chicago

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has represented injured workers across Chicago and the surrounding area for decades. The firm handles workers’ compensation claims and personal injury cases for people who work hard for a living and deserve fair treatment when they get hurt. Janitorial workers are exactly the kind of clients the firm exists to serve.

The firm knows that janitorial workers are often employed by staffing agencies or cleaning contractors, which can make it harder to identify the right employer and the right insurance carrier. Those situations require careful legal analysis. The attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg know how to cut through that complexity and pursue every available source of compensation on your behalf.

The firm also understands that many janitorial workers are hesitant to file claims. Some fear losing their jobs. Illinois law prohibits employer retaliation against workers who file workers’ compensation claims. Filing a claim is your legal right, and no employer can lawfully punish you for exercising it.

Whether your injury happened in a downtown Chicago high-rise, a suburban office park off I-290, or a school building on the North Side, Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is prepared to handle your case. The firm serves clients throughout the Chicago metro area, and a workers’ compensation lawyer from the team is ready to review your claim today.

Call (312) 222-0010 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation. There is no fee unless the firm recovers compensation for you. You focus on healing. The attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg will handle the rest.

FAQs About Chicago Janitorial Worker Injury Lawyers

Can a janitorial worker file a workers’ compensation claim if the injury was caused by a wet floor they were cleaning themselves?

Yes. Illinois workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. You do not need to prove that someone else caused the accident. If you slipped on a wet floor while performing your janitorial duties and suffered an injury, that injury arose out of and in the course of your employment under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305). The circumstances of how the floor became wet are generally not a barrier to recovery.

What if my employer says I am an independent contractor and not an employee?

The label your employer uses does not automatically determine your legal status. Illinois law looks at the actual nature of the working relationship to decide whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor. Many janitorial workers who are called independent contractors are actually employees under Illinois law and are entitled to workers’ compensation coverage. If your employer is disputing your status, contact an attorney right away to protect your rights.

How long do I have to file a workers’ compensation claim after a janitorial injury in Illinois?

Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, you generally have three years from the date of your accident to file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. However, you must also report the injury to your employer within 45 days of the incident. Missing the 45-day notice requirement can put your claim at serious risk, so report your injury as soon as possible after it occurs.

Can I receive workers’ compensation benefits if my chemical exposure injury developed gradually over time?

Yes. The Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act (820 ILCS 310) covers occupational illnesses that develop from prolonged workplace exposure, including respiratory conditions, skin disorders, and other health problems caused by cleaning chemicals. For most occupational diseases, you must show that disablement occurred within two years after your last day of exposure to the hazardous substance. Medical documentation linking your condition to your work environment is essential for these claims.

What if the property owner where I was cleaning is partially responsible for my injury?

If a third party, such as a property owner, building manager, or equipment manufacturer, contributed to your injury, you may have a separate personal injury claim in addition to your workers’ compensation case. A third-party claim allows you to seek damages for pain and suffering, which workers’ compensation does not cover. These two claims can be pursued at the same time. An attorney can review your situation and determine whether a third-party claim applies to your case.

This page has been prepared by Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, located at 35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 1730, Chicago, IL 60601. Phone: (312) 222-0010. This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases.

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