Do I have an Illinois workers compensation case? How to file for workmans comp in Chicago. Tips if injured on the job in Illinois. Speak to an attorney for free.
To have a workers’ compensation claim for stress, you need to have something shocking and unusual happen to you. Here’s an e-mail from a reader that would qualify: I work at a video store. We were robbed by a robber who has been sticking us up for the last few years. I was working by … Continue Reading
Some falls at work are what we call “compensable,” meaning they count as a work injury and you can get compensation. The compensation in Illinois includes coverage of all your related medical bills and disability checks if you’re too injured to work. Some falls at work are not compensable. The difference is whether the fall … Continue Reading
What should happen is often quite different from what does happen. There are a couple of things to consider if you get fired after a job injury in Illinois. First of all, it shouldn’t affect the benefits you are receiving through workers’ compensation. Second, your employer can’t fire you based on the fact that you … Continue Reading
One of the main requirements for getting workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois is that the injury must occur “out of and in the course of the employment.” It’s the law’s way of saying that your injury must be caused by your job. If it’s not, then you aren’t entitled to benefits, which include payment for … Continue Reading
As long as you meet the main requirement of getting a work-related injury, then you should be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois, even if you only work part time. In Illinois, injured workers are entitled to payment of 2/3 of lost wages, meaning that if you are unable to work, you will get … Continue Reading
We know work comp attorneys throughout the country and often refer cases to attorneys in other worker friendly states like Oregon, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and New Jersey. That said, we often get e-mails like this: I am writing out of Arizona. I have been scheduled for an IME. The first one was sent to the disability group, and they sent it … Continue Reading
The owner of a Skokie-based maid service was ordered to pay approximately $500,000 after it was discovered that she was classifying her employees as “independent contractors” in order to avoid paying minimum wage and overtime to the maids who worked for her. Many people, including employers, use the term “independent contractor” without knowing what it … Continue Reading
A reader came to us for help and raised many interesting issues: I have been working for the same company in the Chicago area for 20 years, I injured my left shoulder doing work in January 2011. I notified my manager on monday in 2011 that I hurt my shoulder Saturday while working it wasn’t … Continue Reading
A reader asks: I have a work comp case currently ongoing for two years now. I was in a car accident while on duty for work. I just finally had my Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion on May 21 2013. That is 2 yrs and 36 days after the accident. Now my company is telling … Continue Reading
These two e-mails came in to our office within 15 minutes of each other. Both of these guys are workers in the Chicago area. First we got this: I started work as an assembler but they started moving me around to different jobs so they moved me to a machine operator with no raise, … Continue Reading
An employer can call you whatever they want, for their purposes, but it doesn’t carry much weight when it comes to what you’re entitled to under employment laws. If you are incorrectly labeled an independent contractor, you may be missing out on significant pay, protection and benefits. Hiring independent contractors is relatively easy for an … Continue Reading
One of the more important benefits available to an injured worker under Illinois workers’ compensation law is payment of lost wages. If your work injury prevents you from being able to do your job, you can continue receive a portion (2/3) of your pay. It’s important to understand how this 2/3 calculated so you can … Continue Reading
I received a call the other day from a very panicked injured worker. He had hired a Peoria workers’ compensation attorney who does a lot of TV advertising. That’s what got him in the door to sign up with them. Unfortunately, a somewhat inexperienced attorney handled this caller’s case and they went to trial. … Continue Reading
It’s a legitimate question, and we get it all the time. But our answer is that we just don’t think there is one. Every attorney-client match is unique and the best attorney for one person may not be the best attorney for the next person. So, we don’t believe there is a single best workers’ … Continue Reading
The theme of the blog lately has been emphasizing how we always tell the truth, even if that means telling you what you don’t want to hear. Usually that means letting you know that we don’t think you have a case. Here are seven calls we’ve received lately that aren’t compensable cases. That didn’t make … Continue Reading
A lot of our callers and clients are thankfully in a good situation with their job. Yes they sustained a work related injury, but they also enjoy where they work and don’t want to ruffle any feathers. The common statement I hear is that “I don’t want to sue my employer.” The good … Continue Reading
When an insurance company downplays your injury – or denies it altogether – it can be incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately, it’s not surprising. Insurance companies don’t want to pay you. That’s how they work. If they can deny your claim or make it worth less, they’ll do it. In some cases, they look to prove that … Continue Reading
There are a lot of misconceptions about how workers’ compensation works, and unfortunately it can lead to unreported injuries. If your employer tells you that you shouldn’t report a work injury, or that you should lie to your doctor about how you got hurt, you don’t have to go along with it. Filing a claim … Continue Reading
Workers’ compensation isn’t just for people who do physical labor or work with dangerous equipment. In fact, office workers are at risk for one of the most common types of workplace injuries – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Typical office tasks, such as dialing the phone, typing and other repetitive motions can lead to this type of … Continue Reading
Hostess Brands Inc. went out of business after more than 70 years. They left behind three shuttered plants in Illinois and many laid off workers. Many of those employees suffered work injuries. It’s common for line workers to have repetitive trauma cases for back or joint problems. Many others hurt their back, arm or legs … Continue Reading
I try not to talk overly legal on this blog because it makes my head hurt and certainly doesn’t meet my goal of educating the public on their rights. But every now and then I see a legal memo of document that I think does a good job and I pass it on. Here’s a … Continue Reading
A reader asks: I was walking in the nursing home dining room where I work. Something in my knee area popped, & I lost control of my left leg. Went to clinic for treatment & x-rays. Submitted Workmen’s Comp claim. Nursing home’s insurance denied claim, saying this could have happened at home or anywhere … Continue Reading
A woman called me and asked that I take over her workers’ compensation case which involves what appears to be a serious back injury, but also appears to be a huge mess. It’s a huge mess because she’s been putting all of her medical bills through her group insurance carrier. It’s a huge mess because … Continue Reading
There is an e-mail making the rounds from a personal injury lawsuit. It is a copy of a deposition transcript for the plaintiff. The defense attorney asks him the standard first question that is required for every deposition which is, “What is your name?” Since depositions aren’t videotaped, this is a way of identifying who … Continue Reading
