Illinois Workers' Compensation Claims Assistance
Workers' compensation provides benefits for employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses.
These may include:
- Medical Expenses: Workers' compensation benefits can cover necessary medical treatment, including doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.
- Lost Wages: Should a job-related injury or illness prevent you from working temporarily, you could receive some of the lost wages as temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. If your injuries result in a disability that affects your capacity to work, then you could receive permanent benefits.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Workers' compensation could cover educational or vocational training expenses that are necessary for you to get future employment.
- Death Benefits: Unfortunately, sometimes workplace accidents cause deaths. In these cases, workers’ compensation can cover funeral costs and provide ongoing support to surviving family members.
Who Qualifies for Workers’ Compensation?
Workers' compensation insurance covers most Illinois employees. This includes full-time and part-time employees, seasonal workers, and even certain independent contractors. To qualify for benefits, you must prove that you suffered a job-related injury or illness. You can still make a claim even if you were responsible for an accident that caused your injuries.
Your Rights After a Work Injury in Illinois
Being injured on the job can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, but it's important to know that you have rights as an injured worker. Our experienced workers' compensation attorneys at Jeep, Hauck and Associates are dedicated to helping you understand and protect your rights throughout the claims process.
Some important rights to be aware of include:
- The right to seek medical treatment for your work-related injury
- The right to file a workers' compensation claim for lost wages and medical expenses
- The right to appeal a denied claim or inadequate settlement offer
- The right to legal representation to ensure your rights are protected
Our team is here to guide you through the complexities of workers' compensation law and fight for the benefits you deserve. Don't hesitate to reach out to us for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Immediate Actions After a Workplace Injury in Illinois
If you have been hurt at work, you ought to take immediate action to protect your rights and ensure you can seek workers’ compensation benefits. The same is true if you come down with a work-related illness.
Below are five important steps:
- Notify your employer of the injury or illness. Do this as soon as possible. Failing to report your injury or illness within 45 days could disqualify you from benefits. Reporting your injury only requires a simple notice that you were injured on the job. You are NOT required to provide a detailed written statement. NEVER give a recorded statement. It will almost certainly come back to haunt you. We’ve seen recorded statements cost clients thousands of dollars and long delays in obtaining medical treatment and weekly benefits.
- Seek medical treatment for your injury or illness. Inform your employer of the medical provider you saw. Also, let the provider know they are treating you for a job-related injury or illness. You are entitled to see a doctor of your choosing and are NOT required to see the company doctor. You are entitled to go to an emergency room for your first treatment. The employer MUST PAY for any medical treatment for workplace injuries.
- Record relevant information. This can include the date you sustained your injury or became ill, who might have witnessed the accident that caused your injury, and the type of medical treatment you have received. These things may all be crucial for your claim.
- File a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). It is critical to file an Application for Adjustment of Claim in the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Strict time limits apply. This paperwork is a formal legal document and every word on it is important. Filing should not be attempted without the assistance of an experienced lawyer.
- Contact Our Workers' Comp Lawyers for Immediate Help Our Waukegan and McHenry County lawyers will fight for your rights. “Going it alone” will delay independent medical treatment from doctors who are working for you, not the employer or the insurance company. “Going it alone” will likely delay or bar weekly financial aid (called “TTD”) to keep your family afloat during the healing process. Having an experienced lawyer on your side will give you peace of mind during this difficult time.
Illinois Line of Duty Pension Benefits
In Illinois, firefighters and police officers can receive tax-free pension benefits if they sustain injuries while in the line of duty that cause disabilities and leave them unable to perform their jobs. While the amount varies, these benefits can be as much as 75% of a salary. Similarly, firefighters and police officers can receive up to 50% of their salary should they be involved in an accident that results in a disability.
These pension benefits are crucial for providing financial stability to those hurt while serving and protecting their communities. However, the legal processes for securing them are complex. Do not risk missing out on the money you need to support yourself and your family during recovery. Turn to our team at Jeep, Hauck and Associates for help getting what you deserve.
Can I Receive Workers’ Comp Benefits If I Can No Longer Perform My Job Duties Due To My Injury?
Yes, you are eligible for workers' compensation benefits if your injury prevents you from performing your job duties. In Illinois, the workers' compensation system aims to offer financial assistance and medical benefits to employees who experience work-related injuries or illnesses, irrespective of fault.
Should your injury lead to temporary total disability (TTD), you might qualify for TTD benefits. These benefits compensate for lost wages during the period you are unable to work. Generally, TTD benefits are equivalent to two-thirds of your average weekly wage and continue until you can either resume work or attain maximum medical improvement (MMI).
For those whose injuries result in permanent partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability (PTD), additional benefits are available. PPD benefits are awarded if you can still work but have sustained some level of permanent impairment, whereas PTD benefits are provided if you are completely unable to work in any capacity due to your injury.
What Is the Average Workers’ Compensation Settlement?
There is no average workers' compensation settlement because every case is unique. If you receive a settlement, its amount will depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of your injury, the cost of your medical treatment, and the amount of time you missed from work.
What Sets Us Apart
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High Success Rate
As your trusted legal advocates, we take winning seriously – and we have large settlements to show for it.
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A Team Behind You
Our attorneys work together to provide dedicated, compassionate, and personalized service.
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Trial-Tested Lawyers
As experienced trial lawyers, we successfully try our own cases; we don't farm them out to other firms.
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Rooted in the Community
Like you, we're locals; we'll see you in the grocery store and at high school football games and are committed to serving our neighbors.
Turn to Jeep, Hauck and Associates Today
We know the people who call on our firm are hardworking and only want to be treated fairly. They are looking to heal from the trauma of an injury and get back to making an honest living to pay bills and provide for their families. Unfortunately, Illinois’s workers’ compensation system can make this difficult to do. In certain cases, it takes months of negotiation and litigation to get fair benefits.
Whatever you are facing, let us shoulder some of the burden. To get started, simply submit our online contact form or give us a call. A team member will gladly set up a convenient time for you to speak with one of our Waukegan workers’ compensation lawyers.
You can reach us at (847) 264-9806. We proudly represent cases in Lake and McHenry Counties.
