The work of police officers in our state is crucial to the safety of our community. However, it is undeniable that being a police officer can be a dangerous profession. So, when a police officer is injured in the course of his or her job duties, he or she will want to pursue workers' compensation benefits, just like any other injured worker would. A denied workers' compensation claim could necessitate an appeal before the worker is awarded the benefits he or she deserves.
Peoria residents do not have to suffer on-the-job injuries alone
Some occupations in Illinois are inherently dangerous. For example, those who work in manufacturing often work with heavy machinery or machinery with rapidly moving parts that they could be caught in or struck by. Or, for example, firefighters put their health and safety at risk every day to save the lives of others.
Employers have duties in the workers' compensation process
In general employees in Illinois perform their basic job duties without incident. However, even the most careful employees can find themselves injured in workplace accidents. Employers here are obligated to take certain steps in the workers' compensation process after they receive notice that a worker has been injured on the job. First, the employer must provide first aid or other medical services, if necessary. Second, the employer must inform their workers' compensation administrator or their insurance carrier that the incident occurred. Employers must do this even if they want to dispute the worker's claim.
