When Illinois workers suffer injuries on the job, they are covered by workers’ compensation benefits. However, navigating the complex workers’ compensation system can be overwhelming for an injured worker. This is where a Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer comes in. The Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys in our personal injury law firm have decades of experience handling workers’ compensation cases and can help you get the benefits you deserve.
Why Do I Need a Workers’ Comp Attorney?
Was your illness or injury sustained while you were performing job-related duties?
Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys can pursue compensation for you and help you file a workers’ compensation claim. We can negotiate with the insurance company to maximize your compensation to reimburse medical bills. We can ensure the insurance company pays for on-the-job injuries or occupational illnesses, and we ensure your checks don’t stop without warning. In the case of a fatal injury or illness, we can obtain compensation for certain surviving family members.
Workers’ compensation attorneys can also ensure that any disputes or complications that arise during the workers’ compensation process are handled efficiently.
What Are Illinois Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Managed by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC)—according to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305, et al.)—the Illinois workers’ compensation system requires nearly all employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect workers with work-related injuries or illness with financial support and medical benefits. Union workers and non-union employees are eligible under the no-fault system; workers are not required to prove employer negligence.
These special worker protection laws provide injured workers with a way to recover compensation without needing to prove fault, unlike personal injury claims.
Workers’ compensation covers the disability benefits for work-related illness or injury victims:
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) provides replacement for lost wages and medical care for workers temporarily unable to work.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) assists injured workers returning to work with reduced earnings, based on average weekly wage.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) provides benefits to workers with permanent impairments.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits provide lifetime financial support for permanent disability.
- Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits may help workers retrain and access programs when they can’t return to their old jobs.
- Death benefits offer financial support and cover funeral expenses for dependents of workers who died from workplace injuries or illnesses.
Common Types of Work-Related Accidents in Chicago
Some types of common workplace accidents our work injury lawyers handle include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Burns or chemical exposures
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Machinery injuries
- Overexertion injuries
Most Common Workplace Injuries
Some of the more common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Sprains and strains
- Burns
- Repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
- Back, spine, and neck injuries
- Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries
What Benefits Are Available Through a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Why Can Workers’ Compensation Cases Be Denied?
Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, an Illinois workers’ compensation claim can be denied by the employer’s insurance company when there is:
- A failure to report the injury or illness in a timely manner
- A lack of evidence or documentation supporting the claim for workers’ compensation coverage
- Preexisting conditions that may have contributed to the injury or illness
- An injury that occurred outside of work hours or while engaging in activities not related to work
What to Do After a Workplace Accident in Chicago
If you have been injured in a workplace accident:
- Report the incident promptly to your employer, who must inform their workers’ compensation insurance company.
- Seek medical attention for your injuries and follow the doctor’s medical treatment plan.
- Keep a record of all medical expenses and missed work due to the injury.
- Consult with workers’ comp lawyers who can guide you through your workers’ compensation claim process and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
What Is a Third-Party Lawsuit in a Workers’ Compensation Case?
In some workers’ compensation insurance cases, workers can file personal injury claims against a third party whose negligence contributed to their work injury. These third-party personal injury lawsuits can result in additional compensation not covered by Illinois’s workers’ compensation, such as pain and suffering.
For example, when a construction worker, healthcare worker, or office worker is injured by a faulty piece of equipment, they may have a valid personal injury case.
Contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers
The experienced lawyers in our law firm have successfully represented injured employees with workers’ comp claims when the illness or injury occurred at work (in both non-hazardous and dangerous jobs). We know Illinois law and will work to ensure you receive workers’ compensation benefits you deserve for your serious injuries.
Were you injured on the job? Contact us for a free consultation.
(312) 223-1700