An Illinois court of appeals recently confirmed a decision by the Workers’ Compensation Commission that a truck driver was an employee, despite the trucking company’s argument that he was an independent contractor who was not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Under Illinois law, only employees are entitled to benefits, such as payment for medical bills … Continue Reading
Attorneys are in the customer service business. It’s not taught in law school, but if you don’t treat a client well, the case isn’t going to go well. And if you have an unhappy client they will probably fire you and certainly won’t recommend you to friends, which is the best compliment you can receive. … Continue Reading
An attorney I’m friends with related a story about a case he was working on. The injured worker was getting injections in to his back for a chronic injury. He went to his doctor and said, “If this doesn’t work I’m going to come back and kill you” and apparently he didn’t say it in … Continue Reading
A reader asks: I fell on a tarp that was covering carpet at my office. It was there for construction and as I fell I grabbed the railing and felt a terrible pain in my shoulder. My doctor thinks that I tore my rotator cuff and wants me to get a MRI. The insurance adjuster … Continue Reading
An Independent Medical Exam, or IME, is an exam performed by a doctor who is not your regular doctor. An injured worker can request an IME, but more often the employer or insurance company requests it when there is a dispute about your condition or the amount of benefits you are receiving, or in preparation … Continue Reading
There are literally hundreds of reasons that you can win or lose your claim for benefits. Here are some reasons you’ll win: 1. Witnesses saw the accident. 2. Your doctor is respected and in your corner. 3. The accident was reported in a timely manner. Here are some big reasons why you’ll lose: 1. Surveillance … Continue Reading
There are a lot of doctors and workers comp attorneys in Illinois that are desperate for business. They are so desperate (or unethical) that they strike deals with each other. “You send me your clients, I’ll send you my patients” and vice versa. We get approached all of the time from physicians who want to … Continue Reading
Many different types of employees are on their feet for the majority of their shift or workday. From cashiers and others in retail or hospitality, to those doing physical labor, workers who stand a lot are susceptible to foot pain as a result. However, many of these cases are not considered workers’ compensation cases. When … Continue Reading
When you sign a settlement agreement with the insurance company, you almost always waive your right to future medical coverage. This is the risk you take. If your pain comes back or if you need surgery later in life, you can’t go back and ask for more money. This is one reason why it’s important … Continue Reading
There are things you should do, and things you really shouldn’t do. Unfortunately, some people don’t stop to think about this after they get hurt at work. Here are some basic things to keep in mind when deciding how to handle your workers’ compensation case. Notify your employer. If you get hurt at work, tell … Continue Reading
A Functional Capacity Evaluation, or FCE, is a test that is performed at the end of treatment to determine what, if any, restrictions a worker has in terms of the ability to perform his or her job. These tests usually require a prescription from a doctor, although the initial recommendation may come from your attorney, … Continue Reading
Workers’ compensation law in Illinois is considered fairly favorable to injured workers, especially when compared to the laws in other states. However, your right to benefits under our state’s system does not remain open indefinitely. The statute of limitations on filing a claim for workers’ comp is three years from the date you were injured. … Continue Reading
Workers’ compensation in Illinois provides benefits, such as coverage of medical expenses and payment for lost wages, for workers who are injured on the job. You do not have to file a lawsuit and go to court or prove anything against your employer to get these benefits – they are yours according to Illinois law. … Continue Reading
We get too many calls from people who get a denial letter from the insurance company and assume they can’t do anything and just give up. Then, they call us years later because a friend urges them to or they start realizing they got tricked, but by then it’s too late. A denial letter that … Continue Reading
Back injuries are among the most common type of work injury and perhaps some of the most serious. Handling your claim carefully from the beginning can mean the difference between a successful outcome and one that fails to make up for your financial loss and physical suffering. First of all, get the right kind of … Continue Reading
After a work injury, you might be unable to do the same job you had been doing for years. This could be a temporary situation or it could be permanent. Some employers are able to accommodate your restrictions by finding you light duty work. You may have to take a different job, which results in … Continue Reading