Violence Against Healthcare Workers: Can You File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Illinois?

Healthcare professionals across Illinois face challenging work environments, including the growing threat of violence in hospitals, clinics, and care facilities. Nurses, physicians, EMTs, and other staff members are increasingly exposed to verbal threats, physical assaults, and emotional trauma on the job. These incidents can lead to serious injuries that affect a worker’s ability to continue in their role.

At Illinois Workers’ Comp Lawyers in Chicago, we help injured healthcare workers secure the benefits they deserve. If you were attacked or assaulted while performing your job, you may have a valid workers’ compensation claim under Illinois law.

Acts of violence in healthcare can involve patients, visitors, or even coworkers. In many cases, staff are harmed while trying to de-escalate volatile situations or provide care to individuals in distress. Some common scenarios include:

• A nurse being struck by a confused or aggressive patient
• An emergency room technician attacked during intake
• A home health aide assaulted while providing in-home care
• A caregiver injured breaking up a fight between patients
  

These incidents may result in physical injuries like fractures, concussions, or soft tissue damage, as well as mental health conditions such as PTSD or anxiety. If the injury happened while carrying out work duties, workers’ comp benefits may be available.

Illinois workers’ compensation laws provide coverage for most employees who are injured in the course of their employment. This includes:

• Full-time and part-time medical staff
• Hospital employees, nursing home workers, and paramedics
• Mental health professionals and caregivers
  

If the violence occurred while you were doing your job—even if the person who harmed you wasn’t a coworker—you may still qualify for benefits. The law does not require you to prove your employer was at fault.

Employers or insurers may dispute claims involving violence, arguing that the incident was unpredictable or not work-related. If that happens, legal intervention may be necessary to protect your rights.

After a violent incident, healthcare workers should take the following steps to support a workers’ compensation claim:

• Report the attack to a supervisor or manager right away. Illinois law requires notification within 45 days of the injury.
• Get medical treatment, even if injuries seem minor. Mental health evaluations are also important and may be covered.
• File a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. You must file within three years of the incident or two years after the last benefit payment.
• Document the situation with detailed notes, photos of injuries, and names of witnesses when possible.

These steps can help establish a clear record of what happened and ensure that your claim is not denied due to lack of evidence.

Healthcare workers injured in violent workplace incidents may be eligible for several types of benefits under Illinois law:

• Medical expenses, including hospital care, therapy, and prescriptions
• Wage replacement, through Temporary Total Disability (TTD) if you cannot work
• Permanent disability compensation, if the injury causes long-term impairment
• Vocational rehabilitation, if you cannot return to your prior role
• Mental health support, for PTSD, anxiety, or other psychological injuries
  

Even if you are offered a quick settlement, it may not reflect the full value of your long-term needs. Having your case reviewed before accepting an offer can prevent financial hardship later on.

Violence in healthcare settings is a serious issue, and no one should have to suffer in silence. At Illinois Workers’ Comp Lawyers, we advocate for injured healthcare workers and help them navigate the claims process with confidence. If you’ve been harmed in a workplace assault, contact us today so we can fight for the benefits you deserve.