Illinois Workers' Compensation Attorneys Blog

Illinois workers injure their knees quite frequently. Bending down, squatting and heavy lifting are often required activities at many Illinois factories and construction cites. As such, Illinois manual workers tend to put a lot of stress on their knees performing these activities.

Often these injures occur when a worker twists or turns his or her knee quickly causing damage to the meniscus. The menisci (plural for meniscus) are a pair of rubbery, semi-circle shaped pads that essentially act as shock absorbers for your knee joints. When these pads become torn, they can cause pain and prevent a worker's knee from functioning correctly.

Doctors usually categorize meniscus tears by three different types: minor, moderate, and severe. Minor tears generally involve slight pain and swelling which goes away in a few weeks. Moderate tears can cause more intense pain at the side or center of the knee along with stiffness and limited mobility. In the case of a severe tear, fragments of the torn meniscus may actually get wedged into the joint space of your knee causing the popping or clicking sensation that many workers with meniscus injuries often complain of. With all three types of meniscus injuries, immediate treatment by a doctor is essential to prevent the injury from getting worse.

If the meniscus tear is caused by a work-related injury or if a worker's pre-existing knee injury is made worse by his or her job, then it is also essential for the Illinois injured worker to contact a lawyer who specializes in Illinois Worker's Compensation Law right away. The worker may be entitled to compensation for any needed medical treatment as well as off-work benefits under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act.

Meniscus Tear WebMD.com

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One of the most common injuries among Illinois workers, particularly manual laborers, is a lower back injury. Lower back pain is most commonly caused by lumbar (lower back) muscle strains and sprains. The back is prone to injuries of this nature because workers typically use their backs for weight-bearing, moving, twisting, and bending.

Lumbar strains and sprains are distinguished by certain characteristics: A muscle strain occurs when muscle fibers in the lower back are abnormally stretched or torn. A muscle sprain occurs when the ligaments that hold bones together are torn from their attachments. Both types of work-related back injuries can come about suddenly, or gradually from overuse.

Both lumbar sprains and strains have similar symptoms: low back pain radiating into the buttocks, stiffness, muscle spasms, and an inability to maintain normal posture due to the pain and/or stiffness. These symptoms are usually treated with bed rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and occassionally physical therapy.

Sometimes lower back pain is indicative of a more serious work injury. A doctor who specializes in these types of work injuries may order an X-ray or Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to check for more serious problems such as a bulging or slipped disc.

It is extremely important for an Illinois injured worker to report a back injury to his or her employer the moment it occurs, or if it occurs gradually over a period of time, the moment it prevents the injured worker from doing his or her job properly. Additionally, the injured worker should contact an attorney and file a claim under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act immediately, particularly if the injury occured gradually as gradual (degenerative) injuries are frequently disputed by the employer's insurance company.

Low Back Strain and Sprain NeurosurgeryToday.org, September, 2005

An Illinois construction worker died from injuries he sustained when a piece of the worker's hooded sweatshirt became entangled in a piece of sewer equipment the worker was using. The construction worker was apparently working with a power rodder to clean out a drain. The construction equipment snagged a piece of the worker's clothing and twisted it around the worker's neck. A neighbor found the worker unconscious and called paramedics who rushed the Illinois worker to the hospital. Unfortunately, the construction worker did not survive his injuries.

Accidents like this serve as a reminder to the Illinois working public of the dangers associated with many manual labor jobs, particularly construction jobs. It is imperative that Illinois construction employees and employers strive to maintain the highest level of safety at work sites. Unfortunately, even with the most vigilant safety measures in place, accidents may still happen, sometimes under the least expected circumstances as this story demonstrates.

Injured workers must report work-related injuries to a supervisor and seek medical treatment immediately if necessary. Injured workers should also keep in mind that under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, Illinois construction workers are entitled to off-work benefits while recovering from the accident, and compensation for medical expenses. An attorney that concentrates in Worker's Compensation law can safeguard an Illinois injured worker's rights to benefits and maximize the injured worker's recovery.

Worker killed after clothing got entangled in sewer equipment New York Injury News, October 26, 2009

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is an injury that causes pain, tingling, or other problems in a person's hand because of pressure on the median nerve located in the wrist. CTS can be caused by many things, but it is commonly associated with making repetitive hand and/or wrist movements.

There are many Illinois workers whose jobs consist of making hand and wrist movements over and over again throughout their work day. Jobs in which workers must use their hands and wrists consistently are not limited to assembly line or factory jobs but can also include construction, retail, and even office jobs.

Treatment for CTS may range from wearing wrists splints and icing the hands and wrists to surgery depending on the severity of the injury. It is important that if an Illinois worker begins to feel pain or tingling in his or her hands and wrists that they see a doctor and begin treatment immediately. The sooner a worker starts treating CTS, the better the worker's chances of stopping symptoms and preventing long-term damage.

Additionally, if the Illinois worker's symptoms are caused by their work, it is important that he or she speak to an attorney immediately because he or she most likely has a right to benefits under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act. A competent attorney will be able to secure payment for medical expenses as well as off work benefits for the injured worker.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Health Center, WebMD.com

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A construction worker was trying to remove a collapsed concrete column with an excavator at Illinois State University's Hovey Hall when the column fell on him and he was crushed to death. The deceased worker was an employee of Stark Excavating, Inc. The 18,000 pound piece of concrete fell on the cab of the excavator causing severe trauma to the workers lower body which killed him.

Of all Illinois work sites, construction sites are probably the most dangerous work sites in the state. Illinois construction workers risk serious injury and even death on a daily basis in Illinois. It is for this reason that many of the cases filed with the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission are for construction related injuries.

Under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, Illinois construction workers are entitled to off-work benefits while recovering from the accident, and compensation for medical expenses. If an Illinois construction worker dies from his or her injuries, his or her widow or widower, children, or totally dependent parents who qualify for death benefits are entitled to benefits under the Act.

In some cases, an injured worker may be entitled to pursue a second case if a third party, other than the worker's employer, is responsible for the accident. If the injured worker has a third party case, it must be filed within two years of the accident.

Worker killed by collapsed column at Illinois State University, New York Injury News, December 30, 2009

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