Official numbers on injuries and deaths on the job in Illinois plus what we found analyzing 100 of our own published case results.
Private employers in Illinois reported 91,600 nonfatal work injuries and illnesses during 2024. On top of that, the state recorded 156 work-related deaths. These are the most recent consolidated figures available in 2026, according to the BLS report on nonfatal injuries in Illinois and the report on fatal work injuries in Illinois.
To pair the government picture with real, hands-on experience, Illinois Compensation analyzed 100 case results published on our own site. Of those, 80 list an amount, and together they add up to $9,059,058.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Nonfatal injuries and illnesses in private industry | 91,600 |
| Cases with days away, restriction, or job transfer | 58,300 |
| Cases with at least one full day away from work | 37,900 |
| Cases in state and local government | 21,700 |
| Total nonfatal: private + state/local government | 113,300 |
| Workplace deaths | 156 |
| Increase in deaths vs. 2023 | 7.6% |
| Published cases analyzed by Illinois Compensation | 100 |
| Published cases with a known amount | 80 |
| Total of published amounts | $9,059,058 |
| Average of the 80 cases with an amount | $113,238 |
| Median of the 80 cases with an amount | $88,000 |
Source: BLS: nonfatal injuries and fatal work injuries in Illinois
The state report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows private employers recorded 91,600 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses during 2024. That’s a rate of 2.2 cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, compared with 2.3 nationally.
Adding private industry and state/local government, Illinois recorded roughly 113,300 nonfatal cases.
| Industry | Cases | Rate per 100 workers |
|---|---|---|
| Trade, transportation, and utilities | 31,600 | 3.1 |
| Education and health services | 21,700 | 3.0 |
| Manufacturing | 15,400 | 2.7 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 10,000 | 2.7 |
| Professional and business services | 5,800 | 0.8 |
| Construction | 3,200 | 1.5 |
Source: BLS, Table 2: cases by industry
Trade, transportation and utilities; education and health; and manufacturing accounted for 75% of private-industry cases.
Illinois recorded 156 workplace deaths in 2024, 7.6% more than in 2023. The rate was 2.7 per 100,000 full-time-equivalent workers, according to the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
| Year | Workplace deaths |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 172 |
| 2016 | 171 |
| 2017 | 163 |
| 2018 | 184 |
| 2019 | 158 |
| 2020 | 135 |
| 2021 | 176 |
| 2022 | 177 |
| 2023 | 145 |
| 2024 | 156 |
Source: BLS: historical series 2015-2024
| Event | Deaths | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation incidents | 55 | 35% |
| Violent acts | 36 | 23% |
| Falls, slips, and trips | 30 | 19% |
| Contact with objects or equipment | 20 | 13% |
| Exposure to harmful substances or environments | 11 | 7% |
Source: BLS: fatalities by event
Construction accounted for 26 fatalities and manufacturing for 11.
The OSHA Severe Injury Dashboard holds records of hospitalizations, amputations, and loss of an eye through October 31, 2025. It updates periodically, covers OSHA’s federal jurisdiction, and does not include fatalities. It doesn’t replace the BLS state estimates.
We reviewed 100 published case results. Of those, 80 include an amount, totaling $9,059,058, with an average of $113,238 and a median of $88,000.
Source: Illinois Compensation analysis of published cases
| Amount | Accident or injury | Location | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | Fall from a roof | Homer Glen | Construction |
| $350,000 | Back injury | Crystal Lake | Drywall |
| $350,000 | Back injury | Illinois | Not specified |
| $315,000 | Back injury with surgery | Illinois | Factory |
Source: Published case results from Illinois Compensation
Those four add up to $1,415,000 — about 15.6% of the total analyzed. Past results don’t guarantee similar outcomes.
Source: Illinois Compensation analysis of 100 cases
Back, shoulder, and falls account for 47% of the analyzed cases.
Source: Illinois Compensation analysis of 100 cases
A specific classification is available for 48% of the cases. The rest stay as “other or not specified” until there’s verifiable information.
Source: Illinois Compensation analysis of 100 cases
Our cases span communities across Illinois — from Chicago to suburbs and cities throughout the rest of the state. The 49% listed only as “Illinois” should not be assigned to Chicago or matched to specific locations without evidence.
There’s no one-size-fits-all number. The outcome can change based on your wages, diagnosis, surgery, treatment, disability, time off work, evidence, and whether a third party is also responsible.
Section 6 of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act generally states that notice must be given as soon as possible and no later than 45 days. The IWCC publishes a handbook on benefits and procedures.
The most recent consolidated state figures cover injuries from 2024 and were published by BLS in February and March 2026. OSHA keeps administrative records of severe injuries through October 2025, but those aren’t a representative total of all Illinois work injuries.
Private industry reported 91,600 nonfatal work injuries and illnesses. State and local government reported another 21,700 cases.
There were 156 workplace deaths during 2024, 7.6% more than the 145 reported in 2023.
Transportation incidents caused 55 deaths, equal to 35% of the state total.
Trade, transportation and utilities recorded 31,600 cases; education and health services 21,700; and manufacturing 15,400.
Within the 100 published cases, the most frequent specific categories were back with 18 cases, shoulder with 15, and falls with 14.
The 80 cases with a known amount averaged $113,238 with a median of $88,000. These figures don’t predict the value of a new claim.
In general, notice must be given to your employer as soon as possible and no later than 45 days. How the rule applies depends on the type of injury and the facts.
No. Every claim depends on its own facts, evidence, diagnosis, wages, treatment, and effect on your ability to work.
We used primary government sources and manually reviewed 100 cases published by Illinois Compensation. The financial calculations use only the 80 cases with an amount. The set isn’t random, it can favor notable results, and some variables are incomplete.
This report analyzes 100 published cases and $9,059,058 in visible amounts — part of the more than $175 million Illinois Compensation has recovered for injured workers across Illinois. You can review more results in our case results.
Past results do not guarantee future results. This page is for general information only and is not legal advice about any specific case.
A legal review can tell you whether your accident is covered, which benefits may apply, and whether an offer accounts for everything the injury is costing you. The consultation is free, and you don’t pay unless we win.
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