How Can I Prove My Injury Happened at Work?

 Posted on June 05, 2025 in Workers' Compensation

Almost all employers in Illinois have to maintain workers’ compensation insurance policies. If employees are injured at work or become ill from work-related causes, workers’ comp benefits provide funds for medical expenses and other limited financial losses. However, no insurance carrier wants to pay claims. The company might try to say that you were injured on your own time, which would mean you are ineligible to receive benefits.

Our experienced Aurora, IL workers’ compensation attorneys can help you gather and present the evidence needed to prove the origin of your injuries. In addition to workers’ comp benefits, your work-related injury might also provide grounds for a separate personal injury claim. If so, we can assist with that claim as well.

What Can I Do to Prove My Injury Is Work-Related?

Some injuries result from an obvious accident. Falling from a ladder or being hit by a moving forklift are examples. However, some kinds of injuries develop over time without an apparent accident. Repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome and back strains, can be caused by performing the same actions or motions regularly. Symptoms of organ damage, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue damage might gradually appear.

When there is no visible, immediate injury from an accident, an insurer has room to question the validity of your claim. Whether your injury has developed over time or was caused by a specific incident, you can gather evidence to prove it is work-related in several ways, including:

• Reporting your injury to your supervisor as soon as you become aware of it

• Asking for copies of written reports

• Taking photos of your injuries and anything that contributed to your accident

• Listing eyewitnesses who saw your accident, if applicable

• Keeping detailed records, especially if your injury developed gradually

• Getting medical care and explaining what happened to cause your injuries

• Following all medical advice and continuing treatment until your doctor releases you

• Avoiding social media, as insurers could use posts to discredit your injury

The best thing you can do if you are injured at work is to contact our office. After assessing your situation, we can give you additional advice based on your specific circumstances. We know the various ways that workers’ compensation insurers try to withhold benefits and how to overcome the related challenges.

What If I Also Have a Personal Injury Claim?

When you accept workers’ compensation benefits, your employer is usually protected against personal injury claims. However, that protection could be voided in instances when an employer's obvious negligence contributed to worker injuries or when a third party causes workplace injuries. For example, construction sites often have several work crews with different employers. 

In certain cases, you could have both workers’ comp and personal injury claims for the same injury. Both types of claims require you to prove the details about how you were injured. Personal injury cases may also require you to establish another party’s negligence. If defective products or equipment contributed to your injury, strict liability could apply in your product liability claim.

Although you could work with different attorneys for each case, that approach often results in lower compensation amounts. We handle workers’ comp, personal injury, and product liability cases. Our streamlined method means seamless representation that can maximize your benefits and damages.

Discuss Your Case With Our Kane County, IL Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

After a workplace injury, our experienced Aurora, IL personal injury attorneys will fight to help you receive the benefits and compensation you are entitled to. Give Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. a call at 630-907-0909 or contact us online to arrange for your complimentary case review today.