Amazon Workers’ Compensation in Illinois

Helping Illinois Amazon Employees Recover Workers’ Comp Benefits 

Amazon workers’ compensation claims can be challenging to navigate, but injured workers don’t have to handle them alone. IL Work Injury Lawyer is the top workers’ comp law firm in Chicago, having secured over $450 million in compensation for over 5,000 clients nationwide. Contact us today for a free case review. ensation for over 5,000 clients nationwide. Contact us today for a free case review. 

Are Amazon Warehouse Workers Eligible for Benefits in Illinois?

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act requires companies to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees, which will cover medical care and a portion of lost wages (820 ILCS 305). Amazon warehouse workers, delivery drivers, and other employees who are injured on the job are entitled to this compensation. However, independent contractors are not eligible for these benefits. 

What Are the Most Common Injuries Among Amazon Workers?

The fast pace, long hours, and strenuous job duties at these facilities mean many Amazon employees will suffer a life-changing injury. Common injuries amongst Amazon workers include:

• Back injuries from moving and lifting heavy packages.
• Repetitive stress injuries from repetitive motions, like scanning and sorting.
• Slip and fall accidents in warehouses and loading docks.
• Crush injuries from forklifts, conveyor belts, and other heavy equipment.
• Knee and ankle injuries from standing and walking for long periods.
• Heatstroke, dehydration, and other heat-related illnesses from a lack of air conditioning.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome from typing, scanning, and lifting.
• Car accidents while delivering packages. 

What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available for Amazon Workers in Illinois?

Workers’ compensation covers all medical treatment for a work-related injury. These medical expenses can include hospital visits, physical therapy, and vocational retraining if you are not able to return to your former job.

In addition to medical bills, Amazon workers’ compensation benefits will cover approximately two-thirds of your typical income, up to the Illinois statutory limit for average weekly wages. 

There are four types of workers’ compensation claims, which depend on how long your injury is expected to last and whether you can return to work while recovering.

Temporary Partial Disability: Injured workers who can perform light duty while recuperating, such as those with repetitive strain injuries, will receive part of the difference between their previous and current wages.

Temporary Total Disability: If you are not able to work at all while you heal, you can qualify for most of your previous income.

Permanent Partial Disability: Some employees are not able to return to their previous duties even after reaching maximum medical improvement. In addition to covering all medical treatment related to your injury, you will also get part of the difference between your current and previous wages. 

Permanent Total Disability: If you are no longer able to work due to disability, such as paralysis, you can continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits up to the statutory cap. 

If an Amazon worker passes away, their family can also receive up to $8,000 for funeral and burial expenses (820 ILCS 305/7), as well as up to 25 years of payments or $500,000, whichever is greater.

How to File an Amazon Workers’ Comp Claim in Illinois

To ensure you receive your benefits, follow these steps.

• File a claim within three years of the injury (820 ILCS 305/6).
• Report your incident to your supervisor within 45 days. Delivery drivers should report to their manager or HR immediately after the accident.
• Seek medical treatment and inform the physician that your condition is work-related.
• Document the incident with accident reports, photos, and witness statements.
• File an Application for Adjustment of Claim with the Illinois Workers’ Comp Commission (IWCC), even if workers’ comp insurance begins paying immediately.
• Keep all your medical bills and pay stubs to support your claim.
• Work with a skilled workers’ compensation attorney to ensure that all your expenses are properly calculated and to challenge any denials. 

Do You Need to Prove Eligibility Under the No-Fault System?

For workers’ compensation, non-subscribers are not entitled to payment. This would include independent contractors, sole proprietors, and LLC owners. You will only be able to obtain benefits if you file a third-party claim.

Regular employees must prove that they were hurt in the course of their regular duties at work, as per the court case McAllister v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

How Do Amazon Workers’ Compensation Settlements Work?

Amazon workers’ compensation settlements are a lump sum payment, making it crucial to plan ahead and work with a financial advisor. 

Do Injured Amazon Workers Have Other Options for Compensation?

If you have workers’ comp coverage, you cannot sue Amazon for additional compensation. However, you may file a personal injury claim if you were injured due to another party’s negligence. This could include equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, or property owners. 

The Illinois Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act allows for the allocation of blame among multiple parties, meaning it is possible to sue more than one liable party (740 ILCS 100/). However, you only have two years to file a claim, unlike workers’ comp benefits (735 ILCS 5/13-202). 

IL Work Injury Lawyer Can Help 

A workers’ compensation lawyer from IL Work Injury Lawyer will guide you through every aspect of making a workers’ comp claim. We can assist you with the following tasks:

• Investigating safety conditions in warehouses and distribution centers.
• Reviewing accident records for workers injured in delivery vans.
• Obtaining OSHA safety reports, Amazon internal safety records, and medical records.
• Consulting with occupational safety experts, medical professionals, and other experts to support your claim.
• Representing you in negotiations with the insurance company or the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) to ensure that you receive all possible compensation.
• Coordinating both workers’ comp and third-party claims.
• If necessary, filing a lawsuit and representing you in court. 

How Common Are Workplace Injuries at Amazon?

With a global workforce of over 1 million at over 2,500 locations around the world, Amazon is one of the largest employers worldwide. However, it regularly places its workers in danger through poor working conditions. 

Despite the fact that Amazon claims workplace injuries are down by 34% over the last five years, many workers are still hurt in warehouses, distribution centers, and delivery vans every year. 

Amazon’s Recordable Incident Rate (RIR) was 6.3 in 2023. This is significantly higher than the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Total Recordable Cases (TRC) for all private industry, which was 2.4 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers. 

By Amazon’s own admission, the recordable incident rate for their general warehousing and storage sector is higher than the average for all private industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the total recordable case rate was 5.4 industry-wide in 2023, while Amazon’s rate was 6.5. 

The company has received 176 OSHA violations since 2000 and has been forced to pay $283,341,148 in fines. OSHA inspections of six Amazon locations, including one in Illinois, found that the company’s warehouse workers were at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders due to the fast-paced work environment and heavy packages. 

An investigation by Oxfam International found that 56 percent of Amazon workers felt anxious or depressed. At the same time, over half of respondents were pressured to work so fast that they did not have time to use the bathroom. This hectic environment increases the risk of serious accidents and permanent disability. 

Book a Free Consultation 

Workers’ comp cases can be highly challenging, especially against a multi-billion-dollar corporation like Amazon. However, you don’t have to fight alone. Our Chicago-based work injury law firm represents clients throughout Illinois on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we secure a settlement for you. Contact us today for a free consultation about your workers’ comp benefits.