Workers Compensation Lawyer in Chicago, Illinois Work Injury Attorney

Most of our clients that are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome perform some sort of repetitive activity like typing or use of their hands on an assembly line.  That, however, isn't the only way to get carpal tunnel.

Carpal tunnel can also occur from a specific trauma to the hand or even a neck injury.  It's possible that carpal tunnel problems could essentially be at rest and then you have an incident (like your hand getting slammed into a wall) and all of the sudden you notice numbness and tingling in your fingers and wrists.

If this happens to you then most likely that incident either caused or aggravated your condition.  If it happened to you while working you should receive Illinois workers' compensation benefits.

We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys.  Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.

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The law in Illinois is that if your job causes, aggravates or accelerates a condition it should fall under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (pdf).  That's easy to determine if you lift up a box and feel a pop in your back or slip on a wet floor and hurt your shoulder or knee.  But what happens if you have an injury that you notice away from the job?

Heart attacks quite often don't happen at the moment a triggering event occurs, but rather hours later.  In other words, if you are working a 14 hour shift in extreme cold or doing a lot of heavy lifting, the strain on your heart may be taking place without you knowing it.  You could work a hard day and have a heart attack that night in the privacy of your own home.  Under Illinois law, that may be a work related injury.  If something about your job was unusual (like extreme cold or heat, excessive lifting, very long hours) and it played a role in your heart attack then you should be able to secure work injury benefits.

When we handle these cases we are sure to take a complete look at the life of our client and talk to their cardiologist about the role that the job played in a heart attack.  Even if you have other factors that could contribute to heart disease, if your job is a factor then you will likely win your case.

We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys.  Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.

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In these tough economic times, many workers are worried that if they report a work related injury they will lose your job.  We understand that concern, but think that you have a bigger concern.  What happens if you are hurt on the job, don't report it and then can't work because of your injury.  By the time you report it, it's too late and you lose your job.  Now you have no job, an injury, no pay and bills for medical treatment.

In Illinois you are supposed to report a work related accident within 45 days from when you knew or reasonably should have known that it might be work related.  Whether it's talking to your doctor, your lawyer or your boss, honesty is always the best policy.  If you are fired because you have filed a workers' compensation claim in Illinois it is illegal and there are laws to protect you.

Our best advice is to look out for yourself and don't just think short term, but long term.  How will this injury affect you five or ten years from now, both physically and financially?

We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys.  Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.

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Over the last few years there have been numerous studies about the causes of carpal tunnel syndrome.  Some studies state that ergonomics and repetitive activity can cause carpal tunnel.  Others state that these factors have nothing to do with getting carpal tunnel and that the cause is a genetic pre-disposition to it.

Under Illinois workers' compensation law, if you job causes, aggravates OR accelerates a condition then you should receive work comp benefits.  That means that if you notice that after typing for six hours a day, five days a week for a month that your wrists hurt you should probably get benefits.

Under Illinois law your job does not have to be the only cause of your carpal tunnel, just a contributing factor.  We strongly advise our clients to give their doctors a detailed description of their job activities and how those activities have contributed to your problem.  In other words be honest and tell your doctor what you notice.  If he says your job played any role then you should win your case.

We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys.  Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.

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In a recent Appellate Court decision that may end up in the hands of the Illinois Supreme Court, the law on what happens to fired employees under workers' compensation was changed.  It was decided that if an employee is working a light duty job or is off work and receiving TTD (Temporary Total Disability) benefits and the employee if fired "for cause" then the employer no longer owes benefits.

Previously the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission ruled that if you had any restrictions and were let go from your job you were owed TTD benefits.  In other words, you could have spit in the face of your boss, gotten fired and received benefits.

The big issue for injured Illinois workers is what does "for cause" mean.  In our opinion it has to be a legitimate termination.  In other words, if you are let go for misconduct we probably can't help you.  But if you are let go because of the bad economy, a personality conflict, because you punched in five minutes late or anything else that seems to be about fairness not fault then we believe you are entitled to continued job injury benefits while you still have restrictions.

We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys.  Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.

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