Am I eligible to pursue Illinois work injury benefits?
The law in Illinois is that if you were hurt in Illinois, hired in Illinois or your primary place of business is Illinois then you can file for Illinois workers' compensation benefits. That is important to know because the benefits for injured workers are usually better in Illinois than any other state in the country, especially our neighboring states like Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri.
One thing many people don't know is that if you were physically hired in Illinois that you can pursue Illinois workers compensation benefits. That means if you are only in Illinois one day out of your life, but that was the day the last act to hire you occurred - job offer, signed employment contract, etc. - that you can pursue benefits through the Illinois workers' compensation system. This is true even if you are hurt in another state.
Also, if you your employment is principally located in Illinois you can file your case here. That is a little less clear than the first two examples, but usually means that if your main office is here or the majority of your time is spent in Illinois you can file for Illinois comp benefits no matter where your injury occurred.
Finally, even if you settle your case in another state or have received benefits through another state, you are still eligible to file a claim in Illinois. If that isn't clear please call us at (312) 346-5578 for an explanation.
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.
