Employees working for private companies under U.S. government contracts overseas are entitled to their own form of workers’ compensation. Most employees in the U.S. fall under an individual state’s laws, but it’s different for those working in Iraq, Afghanistan and other foreign countries where the U.S. has a presence. These employees, although working for private … Continue Reading
Communicating with the insurance company is arguably one of the worst parts of a workers’ compensation case. Your job caused your injury, and Illinois law specifically says that you get benefits to help you get healthy and back to work, but the insurance company seems to be working against you. Why is it so hard? … Continue Reading
Under Illinois workers’ compensation law, there is no set answer to this question, but I can tell you that it doesn’t or rather shouldn’t take a year and a half. That’s how long it had been for a recent caller to my office and there was no indication that she’d be going to trial any … Continue Reading
Some injured workers hesitate to tell their employers about their job injuries; others willingly tell their employer but are uncomfortable asking about workers’ compensation. We understand that it might be an awkward conversation, but we think this comes from some misunderstandings about the way workers’ compensation works and why it’s there in the first place. … Continue Reading
There’s a good post on this at our sister site at http://www.findgreatlawyers.com/10-facts-illinois-workers-compensation-law/ that I would encourage you to read. It’s a real good starting point for someone that simply wants to educate themselves on Illinois work comp law. What I would add to this list is: The law is always changing, so it’s really important … Continue Reading
If your workers’ compensation case goes to trial, and the arbitrator rules against you, then you can appeal. If you’ve gotten to this point in your case, then you probably know that workers’ compensation cases are different from lawsuits. An arbitrator, who is similar to a judge, oversees the trials of injured workers and makes … Continue Reading
Your attorney should take the time to explain the process and timeline of a typical Illinois workers’ compensation claim. While no two claims are exactly the same, there are deadlines and rules that apply in most cases. Typically, workers’ compensation cases settle without going to trial. But that’s not to say you and your attorney … Continue Reading
A hearing site is basically a courthouse for workers’ compensation cases. Work injuries are resolved through a claims process rather than an injury lawsuit, so you won’t be appearing in court. The hearing site is where any disputes will be heard, where your attorney will go for periodic status hearings, and where your trial will … Continue Reading
Illinois workers’ compensation law is a “no-fault” law. That means you don’t have to prove that anyone was negligent in order to get benefits. You can’t win a case if you were goofing off, but you can even if you were partially at fault for an injury (e.g. you fell asleep at the wheel while … Continue Reading
Today is Halloween. If you are an injured worker, you shouldn’t be scared of ghosts, goblins, witches or even an over-abundance of trick-or-treaters coming to your door. No, the scariest thing to you or any other injured worker in Illinois should be a nurse case manager. Their title sounds innocent enough and they aren’t all … Continue Reading
Fair or not, sometimes Illinois workers’ compensation law is a game. You are looking at your case based on how it affects your life because, after all, it’s your life and health that is being messed with when you get hurt while working. But from the insurance company standpoint, specifically the adjuster who usually is … Continue Reading
I have a good friend that is a workers’ compensation lawyer in Florida. I have referred him cases and the ones that he’s able to take on he does a great job with them. The problem is that he has to turn down a lot of clients because in many cases he can only get … Continue Reading
A reader contacted us and wanted to know if she needed an attorney. The insurance company assigned her a nurse case manager to her claim. That person told her a lawyer isn’t needed. Her co-workers are telling her she’s crazy if she tries to go at this alone and that the nurse case manager is … Continue Reading
Illinois law requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. It’s estimated that more than 90% of Illinois employees are covered. When a worker gets hurt on the job, the employer’s insurance company pays out benefits to that worker. The law specifically says that employers must insure all employees who work in Illinois, as well … Continue Reading
In Illinois, employees are entitled to certain benefits if they get injured on the job. For any injury that arises out of your employment you should be eligible for payment of 100% of your medical expenses and payment of a portion of your lost wages if you are unable to work while you recover. In … Continue Reading
One of the more frustrating situations we see in workers’ compensation law is when someone has a legitimate injury but is told they’re completely fine. The worker might be hearing this from their boss, or their employer’s insurance company, or even from a doctor affiliated with their employer. Why would they do this? Because injured … Continue Reading
A recent caller to my office was somewhat freaking out. She had hurt herself while working on a Saturday, but as of the following Tuesday she hadn’t gone to a doctor or the emergency room. She was hoping that her foot would start to feel better and like many of the people that we talk … Continue Reading
A serious work injury is impossible to predict, and if it happens to you, it can seem like there are a million unknowns. What happens from the time of your injury, legally speaking, can differ based on your particular circumstances, but there is a general timeline of a typical workers’ compensation claim. Work injury. A … Continue Reading
Not only should you be a partner with your lawyer, but you should be the most active participant in your case. Consider this e-mail that I got from an outstanding workers’ compensation lawyer in Chicago. I filed a case for this guy in June. It was a low rate case, but he claimed to … Continue Reading
When I was young, I was taught never to ask a woman how old she is or how much do you weigh. I teach those lessons to my children now. But while I’m working, I ask those types of questions all of the time. I’m not trying to be rude, but rather it’s very … Continue Reading
We have four new Arbitrators and we lost one as Arbitrator Brandon Zanotti resigned in order to become a State’s Attorney. Below are the biographies of the new Arbitrators per the IWCC. Somewhat odd in that three of the four are more insurance company oriented per their background. But until we see them in … Continue Reading
Illinois law says that workers who suffer a job-related injury or illness are entitled to benefits. Sometimes, workers have to go after these benefits themselves (ideally, with an attorney), and other times benefits are awarded fairly routinely. A denial of benefits is not the final word – an arbitrator will make the decision in a … Continue Reading
Delay, in the legal system, is an unfortunate reality in some cases. But there should always be a reason for it, not just the fact that your lawyer is lazy or the insurance company is waiting to see if you’ll just go away. If there’s been a delay in your case, find out why. If … Continue Reading
If you are feeling hesitant about hiring a lawyer, you aren’t the first. We talk to people all the time who are unsure of whether they really need legal help. The thing is, hiring a lawyer isn’t that big of a deal, and it can make a world of difference if you’ve been injured at … Continue Reading
