After you have filed your claim for Workers’ Compensation benefits for your work injury, you would ordinarily expect to get an offer from your employer’s insurance company. Most cases do settle. But the insurance company does not have to offer you a settlement, and may in fact try to use the prospect of settlement for strategic advantage.
It might appear to the insurance company that they can gain a business advantage by not offering a settlement, or delaying making an offer. After all, they have nothing to lose by not offering you a settlement, because if you hire an attorney to pursue your claim, they should end up paying what you should be paid anyway.
Time is important to you, the employee, though. If you wait too long to bring your claim, you will lose your right to get one. But patience and a great attorney could go a long way to helping you break through that strategy and get the compensation settlement you may be entitled to.
If you are not represented, and are attempting to do it yourself, the insurance company is likely to just pay your medical bills and lost wages, and nothing more. Some may make an offer which is substantially less than you could be entitled to, and may try to cap your right to future medical treatments that may be necessary. Injured workers should be very cautious about settlement.
In fact, we got a call from a nice man looking for a Glenview workers’ compensation lawyer, who had experienced this “treatment.” He was offered a settlement two days before he was supposed to have shoulder surgery. The insurance company knew that it would be cheaper for them to buy him off with a low offer than to pay his medical bills—not really an ethical thing to do. Fortunately he was smart enough to put his long term health over a short term financial gain. The fact is the money will still be there in the end.
That’s where proper representation can be vital. Skilled care and evaluation of all settlement terms is often necessary. And when there is no offer coming, we proceed on and prepare for trial, and get a settlement through proceeding with the process and preparing for trial.
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.
