One Injury, Two Claims

We obtained a global settlement for $700,000 for a construction worker who suffered a back injury in a work-site accident. His one accident resulted in two claims and is an excellent example of why you should consult an experienced Worker’s Compensation & Personal Injury attorney following any accident that is work-related or may be due to the negligence of another person or entity.

In this case, the injured construction worker was working for a subcontractor. He was able to receive compensation from two sources: a worker’s compensation through the subcontractor; and, a suit against the general contractor responsible for the construction site.

Determining who is financially and legally responsible for your injuries is not always as straightforward as it seems.

Multiple cases often arise out of one accident. Attorneys who are inexperienced in Illinois Worker’s Compensation and Personal Injury law may not have the expertise required to pinpoint multiple claims. An experienced injury attorney can make a huge impact on your compensation and benefits. We believe identifying all at-fault parties in an accident is one of the most important services that a personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyer provides. That one legal task unquestionably helps obtain the maximum financial compensation possible for an injury.

Our office frequently receive calls from individuals who believe they only have a workers’ compensation claim. But after discussing the facts, such as in the above case, I often identify others who are also liable for the injury. Work-related driving accidents are common sources of multiple claims: a worker’s comp claim through the employer; and, a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

However, other multiple claims may not be so clear-cut: Nurse A works at Acme Nursing Home. She rides the elevator to her floor to start her shift, where renovations have been underway.Upon exiting the elevator, she trips on new tile flooring being installed by XYZ Contractors, where a 1/2-inch rise was created where the new tile meets the unfinished floor. Nurse A breaks her arm and must have surgery and extended time off of work. This is both a worker’s compensation case and a personal liability case against the flooring company.

If you or a loved one is injured in any type of accident, be sure to contact Styka & Styka at (312) 357-8000. We can identify all liable parties and help you understand your options.

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