Chicago Workplace Injury Attorney

What to Do After a Workplace Injury in Illinois

The steps you take after a workplace injury can affect the documentation of your claim and the process for obtaining benefits. Consider the following actions.

1. Report the Injury to Your Employer Promptly

Notify your supervisor, employer, or appropriate management representative as soon as practicable after an accident. Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, notice of an accidental injury generally must be given within 45 days of the accident, subject to statutory exceptions and special rules.

Notice may be oral or written, but written notice can help establish what was reported and when.

Include the approximate date and location of the incident, a brief description of what happened, and the body parts or conditions affected. Keep a copy of any email, incident report, or other written communication.

Different rules may apply to occupational diseases, radiation exposure, and other specific circumstances. Do not assume that reporting the injury internally, or that your employer’s accident report, automatically starts a case at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Read Section 6 of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act and the IWCC Handbook on Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Diseases for official guidance.

2. Get Appropriate Medical Care

Seek medical attention promptly, especially if the injury is serious or your symptoms are getting worse. Tell the treating provider how the injury occurred, when your symptoms began, and how your job duties may have contributed to your condition.

Keep copies of medical records, work restrictions, prescriptions, referrals, and follow-up instructions. Explain your job duties accurately so your provider can assess any work-related limitations.

Illinois law generally requires an employer to pay for necessary medical services to cure or relieve the effects of a covered work-related injury. Provider-choice rules can be important. The law generally allows an employee to choose two physicians, surgeons, or hospitals, subject to applicable rules, including the effect of an employer’s approved Preferred Provider Program (PPP).

Review the IWCC Notice to Employees and the IWCC Handbook for information about medical care and provider choice.

3. Preserve Evidence and Claim Records

Accurate, consistent records can help establish the circumstances of an injury and document its impact on your ability to work.

Keep copies of:

• Incident reports and written communications with your employer.
• Names and contact information for witnesses, where available.
• Photographs or videos showing the accident scene, equipment, or visible injuries, when safely and lawfully obtained.
• Medical records, bills, prescriptions, and treatment recommendations.
• Work schedules, pay stubs, time records, and documentation of missed work.
• Work restrictions, modified-duty offers, and communications about your return to work.
• Letters, emails, and claim decisions from the employer, insurer, or claims administrator.

For repetitive-use injuries or occupational diseases, also record when symptoms began, the job tasks involved, and how the condition changed over time.

Keep original documents when possible and organize records by date. Avoid altering evidence or posting confidential medical or claim information publicly.

4. Understand Which Workers’ Compensation Benefits May Be Available

Workers’ compensation is generally a no-fault system. Depending on the facts and applicable law, benefits may include:

• Medical benefits: Necessary medical care related to a covered workplace injury or occupational disease.
• Temporary total disability (TTD): Wage-replacement benefits that may be available during a qualifying period when you cannot work while recovering.
• Temporary partial disability (TPD): Benefits that may apply in qualifying circumstances when you return to work at reduced earnings or on restricted duties.
• Permanent disability benefits: Benefits that may be available when an injury results in a lasting impairment or loss of function, as determined under applicable law.
• Vocational rehabilitation: Assistance that may be available when an injury affects your ability to return to suitable employment.

Eligibility, benefit amounts, duration, and other requirements depend on the circumstances of the injury, medical evidence, work status, and applicable statutory rules. Not every injured worker qualifies for every category of benefits.

For official information, consult the IWCC Handbook.