Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Injuries Outside an Accident?

When you think of your employer’s workers’ compensation program, you may assume it only kicks in, so to speak, if you have an accident while on the clock (i.e., a slip and fall, an equipment injury, etc). However, it is possible to not have been involved in a specific event but also experience a work-related injury that affects your job performance, requires medical intervention, etc. So please read on to discover whether you still qualify for workers’ compensation outside of an accident event, and how one of the seasoned Illinois workers’ compensation injury coverage lawyers at The Law Firm of Kevin A. Moore can help you understand your rights to a claim. 

What are examples of work-related injuries that do not arise from an isolated workplace accident?

For one, you may not need to be made the victim of a workplace accident to incur a repetitive stress or overuse injury. For example, if your job requires you to handle vibrating tools for a majority of your workday, over time, you may develop carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis. Or, if your position entails constant bending over and lifting heavy objects, you may trigger chronic lower back pain or even herniated discs. 

Another example is not necessarily an injury but an illness or disease related to your occupation. Say you are exposed to dust or harmful chemicals in your workplace. Well, over time, you may contract a serious respiratory illness, such as COPD or even lung cancer. Or if you deal with machinery or equipment that is objectively loud, you may experience greater and greater hearing loss over time. 

As you can see, you may be unable to pinpoint an isolated event that caused your injury or illness to arise. However, after noticing symptoms, you may seek confirmation from a medical professional. They may diagnose your repetitive stress injury or occupational illness and testify on your behalf that it is indeed work-related. Further, it should fall under the umbrella of injuries eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. 

Under what circumstances can I receive workers’ compensation benefits for my mental health condition?

On the contrary, say you did experience a workplace accident but did not walk away with physical injuries. Rather, you may now suffer from mental health issues, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Well, this may be referred to as a mental-mental claim. Specifically, you may have witnessed your coworker undergo a violent accident. Or, you may have undergone extreme bouts of stress to meet or exceed expectations for your job performance. 

We must be honest with you that getting your mental-mental claim approved can be rather difficult. This is because your mental health condition cannot be seen. Plus, there is still a negative stigma surrounding mental issues. This is not to say it is impossible, though. We will help you draw a direct connection between a sudden, shocking, or extraordinarily traumatic event and your psychological issues, backed up with the right medical evidence and more. 

We understand just how difficult it may be to deal with this claims process, especially when you are distracted by your injuries. So please, allow one of the competent Illinois workers’ compensation injury coverage lawyers to do the legwork for you, so to speak. Please contact us at The Law Firm of Kevin A. Moore today.