I recently talked to a worker at a large delivery company with a terrible back injury. He hurt himself lifting boxes on the job and eventually got a MRI that showed he has a herniated disc. He has pain shooting down his legs, trouble sleeping and generally speaking feels miserable. I would be very surprised if his orthopedic doctor didn’t recommend surgery as he’s been in physical therapy for two months and had steroid injections. None of that has helped.

The reason he called is that he was getting very frustrated with the insurance company for his employer. They were delaying approval of medical care. He discovered his ER bill hasn’t been paid. His TTD checks are constantly late. One TTD check is just missing and they won’t replace it. He’s being sent for an IME and the adjuster keeps saying things like, “you really need to get back to work” even though no doctor has said that.

If any case was in need of an Illinois work comp attorney it’s this one. The caller was reluctant so I asked him what he was worried about. Usually people tell me they are worried about the cost and are relieved to learn that it costs nothing to hire a work comp lawyer and we only get paid if we get you a settlement eventually. That wasn’t his concern.

He told me, “I’ve thought about getting a lawyer, but I was worried that it would seem too aggressive.”

I had to pause for a second to gather my thoughts as I couldn’t believe it at first. Here’s a guy who busts his ass at work in a heavy duty job, has a very serious injury and is being treated like garbage by the insurance company. They are violating the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act and really taking advantage of him.

There is no downside in getting a lawyer on just about any Illinois work comp case. And there definitely isn’t one when you are getting pushed around. Nobody who matters thinks it’s “too aggressive.”

No part of your decision making process should be based on what the insurance company, your employer (especially at a big union company like this one), your friends, co-workers or anyone else thinks. It’s a similar mindset to people who think that if they hire a criminal defense attorney when charged with a crime that it will look bad because they are innocent. Getting a lawyer is what smart people do.

The same day this happened, an insurance adjuster called me. She wasn’t calling about a case, she was calling because her brother had been hurt at work and she wanted my help in looking out for him. This is a call I get at least once a month. Insurance people know that getting a lawyer is what you should do.

What I told this caller is that he has a very serious injury and should be worried about his health which they are threatening with their actions. Any fears or perceptions should be out the window. And that is the same advice I’d give any injured worker. It’s not a sale or me looking out for myself. It’s just the plain truth.

If you have any questions about an Illinois workers compensation case, please call us for free any time at 312-346-5578.