It's Not Over Until You Say It's Over (unless you wait too long)
I had two contacts today that are really telling.
The first was a woman looking for a work injury attorney in Joliet who had herniated two discs in her back in 2007. All of her bills were paid, but she never got a settlement.
The second was a reader who said the following:
I was injured on my job back last year and it was found that I have 2 bulging disks. I was treated with 2 separate courses of physical therapy and medication. I was released from the Dr. in April 2011 and waited patiently for the Insurance Co. to call me with a settlement offer. They never called!! I decided to call in the early part of July and was told that my case was closed and I wasn't due anything because I didn't miss any days of work due to my injury. Is that correct?
One of my favorite movies ever is Animal House. The best quote is from John Belushi, “Over? It’s not over until we say it’s over. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”
Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, the case can not just be unilaterally closed by the insurance company. The reader who e-mailed will see their case magically re-open after they hire us because we will formally file the case with the state and they will get a settlement or a winning verdict after an arbitration.
Injured workers have three years from the injury date or two years from the last payment of compensation related to the claim (whichever is later) to formally file a case. Unfortunately for our first caller, they waited too long as they haven’t treated since 2007 and she told us that all of the bills were paid that year.
So don’t delay as you can lose rights if you do, but also don’t forget the words of Bluto Blutarski. It’s not over until we say it’s over.
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.
