A reader of my blog called in with a good question. He regularly works at a school from Monday to Friday. On a Thursday afternoon, right before he was going to leave for the day, he slipped on a wet floor and hurt his back. He went to the doctor that day and had extreme … Continue Reading
Not every injury that occurs at work or on the clock is considered a work injury under Illinois workers’ compensation law. It might not seem right that that’s the case, but that’s the law. It tends to make sense when you consider individual examples, although there definitely are cases where claims are denied and we … Continue Reading
A work injury should always be addressed sooner rather than later. For your part, this means getting medical attention right away. It can preserve your health, as well as a claim for benefits should you need them. You also need to notify your employer, and you should file a claim. As for your employer’s part, … Continue Reading
We were recently contacted by an over the road truck driver who is based out of Georgia, but hurt in an accident in Illinois. Since it happened downstate we referred him to a lawyer down there that has a great track record and in my opinion gives him the best chance for a good result. … Continue Reading
One of the basic principles of the law is that everyone is entitled to their day in court. That includes insurance companies that take ridiculous and even sometimes dangerous positions when it comes to denying you the medical care that you need for a work related injury. If your doctor says that you need surgery … Continue Reading
In Illinois, workers’ compensation law requires your employer or their insurer to pay for all reasonable medical treatment that is related to your work injury. They’re also required to pay you a portion of your lost wages if you are unable to work as a result of your work injury. Frequently, the worker and the … Continue Reading
You can get workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois even if you get hurt doing something outside of your job description. Don’t let your employer or the insurance company tell you otherwise. There are some exceptions, but for the most part you are covered for any injury that arises out of and in the course of … Continue Reading
We get a lot of calls from people in a frustrating situation: They’ve been injured for months, their doctor says it’s work related and is recommending surgery, but the insurance company’s doctor says they don’t need surgery or that their injury was from a old accident many years ago. These people can’t move forward and … Continue Reading
Dealing with a work injury can be overwhelming. You don’t have to solve everything all at once, but there are a few things you should do right away so that you are in a good position to get workers’ compensation benefits if you need them and to get back to work – and your life … Continue Reading
A reader asks: I’m currently in the settlement process of my case. I have a T8 disc herniation and went to pt, then had an injection, then more pt since September. The Hartford is trying to settle, but I dont have much interest in the money, because it feels like the injection is wearing off. Instead … Continue Reading
You’re in a lot of pain, but the insurance company is arguing that you’re not. They’re basically saying that you’re lying. It’s an argument they sometimes win because proving pain is difficult. We know how frustrating this can be. Your pain is real and it’s preventing you from living your normal life. So how do … Continue Reading
We always tell people to worry about their health first if they have a work accident or are involved in a similar incident that ends in an injury. It’s so important to get medical attention and not ignore the pain. It’s equally important to follow your doctor’s advice and go back to them if things … Continue Reading
There are several reasons why the date of your injury matters in an Illinois workers’ compensation case. One is that the deadline for filing a claim is based on this date. You have three years from the date of your injury to file a claim for benefits, or you lose your chance, which means missing … Continue Reading
There are many reasons to file a claim for Illinois workers’ compensation if you can, one of which is coverage of your medical bills. If your work injury qualifies for benefits, then your treatment, including recommended surgery, should be covered 100%. There should be no co-pays or out-of-pocket expenses for you to worry about. The … Continue Reading
We get a good number of calls from people who have suffered foot and other related injuries from being on their feet all day. This type of injury affects cashiers, machine operators, teachers, construction workers, and pretty much most workers out there. And that’s the problem. If you get hurt doing something that most people … Continue Reading
Let’s say you’ve been injured on the job, and you are unable to work as a result. You are collecting TTD (temporary total disability) payments while you recover. Your doctor believes that you need surgery in order to fully get back to normal, but that you aren’t healthy enough to undergo that surgery due to … Continue Reading
If you are working and get killed in an accident, your family would have a claim for death benefits. But what happens if you have a work related injury and then months later you die of unrelated causes? I thought of this recently when I got a call from someone whose husband had died … Continue Reading
A person can get hurt just about anywhere and at anytime. Nursing home employees, however, are at a higher risk according to some studies. The dangers they face are due in part to the physical nature of the job, the unpredictable behavior of residents and the illnesses commonly found in a group home setting. Overall, … Continue Reading
You suspect that your foot pain is caused by standing while you work day after day. Does that mean that you can file a workers’ compensation claim if it gets so bad that you can no longer work or to cover any necessary treatment? The answer is that it depends whether your job put you … Continue Reading
Two injuries can be exactly the same, yet treated quite differently under the law. Consider a serious injury caused by a fall. In one case, a man falls off his neighbor’s roof while helping the neighbor with repairs over the weekend. In another case, a man falls off the roof of a customer’s home while … Continue Reading
Illinois law provides workers’ compensation for work-related injuries, regardless of whose fault it is. Workers in Illinois often fare better than those in other states because Illinois law tends to be more worker-friendly. However, there are limitations, and the insurance companies deny claims, or try to deny claims, where the injury is not clearly work … Continue Reading
The insurance company will try to deny your claim if they can. It’s their job. Plenty of people don’t have a problem getting benefits, but for those who do, it often comes down to the details of how they got injured and whether it was “in the course of” their employment. In other words, the … Continue Reading
If you have a neck fusion, it’s often the result of a nerve injury in the discs in your neck. If that happens and there is a delay in medical treatment, the nerve damage can be permanent. You can go from injury free to feeling like your life is ruined forever. If you end … Continue Reading
We get a lot of calls about carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), along with questions about finding the “best” attorney for this particular work injury. The answer is that we don’t believe that there is a single “best” attorney for CTS, or for any injury for that matter. It’s a title that doesn’t mean much, given … Continue Reading
