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Warehouse workers at Amazon face similar hazards to workers in any other warehouse. However, according to one study, Amazon workers get injured more than twice as many times as workers in other warehouse jobs. In 2021, there were more than 34,000 serious injuries to employees while on the job at Amazon facilities. Among all warehouse workers in the United States, Amazon employees make up roughly one-third of these workers, but nearly half of all injuries (49%)  happened at Amazon facilities.
Like any personal injury lawsuit, you’ll first need to prove that another person or business entity is responsible for your injuries and was negligent. Where a case becomes more complicated for a self-employed person is in the calculation of lost wages. If you work for someone else, either as an hourly or salaried employee, it is rather straightforward to calculate how many hours or days of work you lost due to your injuries and provide a letter stating what regular compensation and bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation you missed out on. You can also include any sick, vacation, or bonus days you had to use during your hospitalization and recovery. If you are self-employed, the process becomes more complicated.
If you’ve been injured on the job, you’ll need to file a claim first with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. In Illinois, you’re allowed to select your own doctor to treat workers’ comp injuries. This is so that you have a better chance of securing a physician who has your recovery and best interests in mind, rather than one who has a vested interest in the insurance company’s profits.  You will, however, need to secure a doctor who accepts workers’ comp insurance, so make sure you let them know upfront that you were injured on the job, and it will be the company’s insurance policy paying. The doctor will need to know this information ahead of time because the insurer will certainly require the doctor to obtain authorization before performing certain treatments or tests.
If you were injured in a trucking accident in Chicago, Berwyn, Oak Lawn, Cicero, or a nearby community, call the injury attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law for a free consultation.

Call: 773-838-8100

Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Office Party Injuries?

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Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Office Party Injuries

The holiday season is upon us, bringing with it the annual company party. We’ve all heard the horror stories of office parties gone awry – falling trees, stumbling and intoxicated coworkers, bad food or perhaps even a slip and fall on some spilled punch.

But what happens if someone gets injured at an office party? Are they covered under workers’ compensation for their injuries at the annual company party?

There is no easy answer to this question. Whether the injury will be covered depends on the factors at play in that particular accident.

Generally, Illinois’ workers compensation provides coverage for work-related injuries. In other words, there must be some nexus between the worker’s job and his or her ailment. Usually, the employee’s role in causing the injury or accident is irrelevant in workers’ compensation cases.

Whether an employee is eligible for workers’ compensation for injuries sustained at a holiday party turns largely on a determination of whether the party was “work-related.” Some of the considerations that might come into play include:

  • Was attendance at the party mandatory or voluntary?
  • Were employees paid to attend the party?
  • Did the party occur during regular working hours?
  • Was the party held at the employee’s usual workplace or at an offsite location?
  • Were clients or customers present at the party?

Every case is different. Employees who are injured at an office party should consult with a workers’ compensation attorney who can help them understand how the law applies to their injury.

In the meantime, the injured worker should follow the same procedures applicable to any workplace injury – inform the supervisor, seek medical attention and keep detailed records of all symptoms, treatments and expenses.

About the Author

Kurt D. Lloyd is a plaintiff’s trial lawyer who focuses on medical malpractice and other catastrophic injury cases. He lives in Chicago and represents injured clients throughout Illinois. He is also the founder of Lloyd Law Group, Ltd.

Chicago accident lawyer Kurt D. Lloyd