One of the problems injured workers have when they are hurt on the job in Illinois is that they usually have no idea what their case is worth and have no experience with the formula used to calculate what cases are worth. That’s OK as you shouldn’t be expected to know that. The problem comes … Continue Reading
A couple of years ago a potential client called me with a major injury case. It was in central Illinois and you don’t want a Chicago attorney for a downstate case, so I referred him to a great workers comp attorney out of Decatur to handle the matter. This is exactly why we have created … Continue Reading
We write all of the time about the gross and often illegal ways that insurance companies try to deny Illinois workers’ compensation claims. Every now and then though we get calls from employees who tell us what their company is doing that also breaks the law. The most recent one I heard of was from … Continue Reading
A caller to my office injured his back a few months ago in central Illinois. As we’ve created a state wide network of experienced work comp attorneys, I referred him to a downstate lawyer to discuss taking the case over from his current attorney. It looks like it’s going to work out. The crazy part … Continue Reading
A functional capacity evaluation or FCE is an often day long process where an occupational therapist puts you through a series of tests to determine what your work capabilities are and if you need any physical restrictions. So if you ever hear about someone having permanent restrictions of no lifting more than 20 pounds (or … Continue Reading
We are Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers who give direct, honest advice, for free. We’ve helped over 10,000 people in the last 20 years and would be happy to help you. Fill out our contact form, start a chat or give us a call in order to speak with an experienced lawyer. The shoulder consists of … Continue Reading
A caller to my office was a driver for a major shipping company and got injured in two accidents, resulting in a severe neck and back injury. He was a high wage earner and it’s doubtful that he will ever get back to that job again. With a 30 year work life expectancy he stands … Continue Reading
One of the worst thing that Illinois workers’ compensation insurance companies do is take advantage of “go along” people. By that I mean there are a lot of people who will just go along with whatever someone else says as they assume they are being told the truth and don’t want to make waves. This … Continue Reading
A recent caller had a story that I hear all to often. She had hurt her back at work in Chicago and reported the injury right away. She went to the doctor and talked to the work comp insurance adjuster who told her, without any good reason, that her case was going to be denied. … Continue Reading
One of the most unfair things about the law that you can’t do anything about is the bad luck of the draw. If you are sitting at a stop light and get rear-ended by a person with $20,000 in insurance and become paralyzed, you are likely only going to recover that $20,000. On the other … Continue Reading
There is an infamous doctor in the Chicago area who does not believe that most job duties, including typing, can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. If a client calls me who is a secretary or in another job that types all day and I know that they are being sent to this doctor by an insurance … Continue Reading
When I started off my legal career over 20 years ago, I worked as an insurance defense attorney. It’s the best training for learning how to handle cases for injured workers because you learn how insurance companies really think. As I’m pro-worker, I hated the job, but I learned a lot that has helped me … Continue Reading
A reader asked us the following: My husband was injured on the job about seven weeks ago. We filed the claim right away, but still do not have an answer from the insurance company as to whether or not they are going to approve his case. How long does this normally take? We get questions … Continue Reading
When you get hurt at work in Illinois, sometimes you are so disabled that you can’t do anything. Other times you are injured and maybe can’t do your normal job, but can do some work. When you can’t work at all you receive workers’ compensation benefits. One caller to my office wanted to know if … Continue Reading
Lyme disease is no joke. It can take an otherwise healthy and active person and make them lethargic. Most start with a simple rash, but some suffer from severe headaches, neck stiffness, muscle pain, facial palsy, heart palpitations, dizziness and shortness of breath. In the worst cases you can have a brain injury that could … Continue Reading
We are experienced Illinois work injury attorneys who give direct, honest advice. If you have any questions please call us at 312-346-5578 or fill out our contact form. Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, your employer or their insurance company has a right to medical records related to your injury. As a result, it’s very common … Continue Reading
Happy 4th! Hopefully you don’t have to work today. We are open via our answering service or contact form if you want to talk to an attorney. In the meantime, here are the top 10 4th of July injuries I’ve seen in my 20+ years as a work comp lawyer. Fireworks accidents. You’d expect this. … Continue Reading
I was recently talking to top car accident attorney at another law firm about a case I sent him. It was a driver of a Lyft who had been broadsided and injured. He hurt his leg and went to the hospital. He had told the attorney I recommended that he wanted to sign up, but … Continue Reading
Imagine this scenario: You’ve worked the same heavy duty job for 20 years, but have never missed a day of work. You’ve had aches and pains, but don’t complain and take Tylenol when you are feeling especially sore. You get promotions and raises and the owner of the company says he loves you. One day … Continue Reading
I’m a fairly casual NFL fan. I know most of the Bears players and many of the “star” players on other teams, but certainly don’t know of most of the role players. I’d never heard of Michael Roberts before the other day. Last year he was a tight end with the Detroit Lions. I became … Continue Reading
A very nice woman contacted our office via chat and shared that she had severely fractured her arm and is scheduled for an MRI. Depending on what the MRI says, she might need surgery. This had all happened in the six weeks before she reached out to us. What happened next is a really shady … Continue Reading
One of the rights employers and insurance companies have under Illinois workers’ compensation law is requiring that you see a doctor of your choosing. You might get a letter asking you to go to a Section 12 exam or independent medical examination (“IME”). It’s a one time exam with a doctor who is supposed to … Continue Reading
The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) employees over 4,800 workers and while some of them are paper pushers, most are working to make sure that our bridges and roads are safe. Their work can be as simple as removing roadway debris to as serious as making repairs. Because these are often heavy labor jobs there … Continue Reading
Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, you are entitled to reasonable medical care related to your injury and 100% of it is to be paid for by the employer or their insurance company. Seems pretty straight forward, right? You get hurt at work, they pay for your care and if you don’t have health insurance it … Continue Reading
A caller to my office was a driver for a major shipping company and got injured in two accidents, resulting in a severe neck and back injury. He was a high wage earner and it’s doubtful that he will ever get back to that job again. With a 30 year work life expectancy he stands … Continue Reading
When you get hurt at work in Illinois, sometimes you are so disabled that you can’t do anything. Other times you are injured and maybe can’t do your normal job, but can do some work. When you can’t work at all you receive workers’ compensation benefits. One caller to my office wanted to know if … Continue Reading
Lyme disease is no joke. It can take an otherwise healthy and active person and make them lethargic. Most start with a simple rash, but some suffer from severe headaches, neck stiffness, muscle pain, facial palsy, heart palpitations, dizziness and shortness of breath. In the worst cases you can have a brain injury that could … Continue Reading
We are experienced Illinois work injury attorneys who give direct, honest advice. If you have any questions please call us at 312-346-5578 or fill out our contact form. Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, your employer or their insurance company has a right to medical records related to your injury. As a result, it’s very common … Continue Reading
Imagine this scenario: You’ve worked the same heavy duty job for 20 years, but have never missed a day of work. You’ve had aches and pains, but don’t complain and take Tylenol when you are feeling especially sore. You get promotions and raises and the owner of the company says he loves you. One day … Continue Reading
A very nice woman contacted our office via chat and shared that she had severely fractured her arm and is scheduled for an MRI. Depending on what the MRI says, she might need surgery. This had all happened in the six weeks before she reached out to us. What happened next is a really shady … Continue Reading
One of the rights employers and insurance companies have under Illinois workers’ compensation law is requiring that you see a doctor of your choosing. You might get a letter asking you to go to a Section 12 exam or independent medical examination (“IME”). It’s a one time exam with a doctor who is supposed to … Continue Reading
The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) employees over 4,800 workers and while some of them are paper pushers, most are working to make sure that our bridges and roads are safe. Their work can be as simple as removing roadway debris to as serious as making repairs. Because these are often heavy labor jobs there … Continue Reading
Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, you are entitled to reasonable medical care related to your injury and 100% of it is to be paid for by the employer or their insurance company. Seems pretty straight forward, right? You get hurt at work, they pay for your care and if you don’t have health insurance it … Continue Reading
