Workplace Injury Lawyers Serving Clients Throughout Illinois

Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible! Ideally, the same day or within 24 hours. It’s also important to make contact with a seasoned attorney when you report your workplace injury. This helps ensure you have the right legal guidance and representation should you need it.

The longer you wait to report your injury, the more difficult it can be to get adequate compensation. Reporting quickly allows you to get medical care, lets a doctor evaluate your injuries, and can go a long way in helping make your case for workers’ compensation.

A medical professional can help evaluate the extent and likely long-term impact of your injury. Seeking medical help immediately following an accident can help document your injuries, preserve evidence of the severity of your injury, and allow your doctor to assess the risk of disability.

Unfortunately, some workers do find themselves unable to work at any job following a serious accident. If this is the case, your attorney can file a claim for Permanent Total Disability benefits. If approved, these benefits can cover a percentage of your previous working wages for the remainder of your life.

The types of disability you may qualify for in Illinois can vary. These include Total Temporary Disability, which allows you to recover fully from an injury before returning to your previous position. Total Temporary Disability covers injury-related medical bills as well as ⅔ of weekly pay until you can return to work.

Temporary Partial Disability helps compensate for income loss due to a temporary light duty-related loss of income, at ⅔ the difference between your regular position’s pay and your new temporary position’s pay.

A Permanent Partial Disability may be awarded if you lose the use of a part of your body due to your workplace injury but can still handle modified work tasks. This compensation may award you damages that account for previous wages, the body part affected, and the extent of the permanent impact on that body part. In other cases, differential wage benefits may be awarded instead.

Finally, Permanent Total Disability can cover ⅔ of lost wages for the remainder of your life. These benefits can be sought in extreme cases where future employment is impossible due to the serious nature of your injuries.

Workers’ compensation in Illinois covers medical expenses related to your injury until you can return to work and a percentage of lost wages. Medical expenses can include the cost of first aid, emergency care, doctor’s visits, hospital care, and surgery or physical therapy.

Unfortunately, Illinois workers’ compensation does not award benefits or damages due to pain and suffering caused by workplace injury.

If your injuries have qualified you for Temporary Partial benefits, you may still work for your current employer if medically and professionally cleared to do so.

Working elsewhere or taking on a second job while collecting benefits can be legally risky, however. Depending on the type of work, this action may disqualify you from benefits or lead to accusations of fraud. Be sure to consult with a knowledgeable and seasoned workers’ compensation attorney before taking on a new or second job while collecting benefits.