Under the workers’ compensation system in Illinois, you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if you have sustained an injury or illness on the job while performing the duties of your job.
These can include injuries that are directly caused by your work, such as broken bones, burns, and loss of limbs, prior injuries or illnesses that have been made worse by the job, injuries caused by repetitive stress or exposure, like carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing loss, and sometimes serious medical events, such as strokes and heart attacks.
Standard workers’ compensation benefits for eligible work injuries in Illinois typically include the following:
- Payment for reasonable, related medical bills;
- Temporary Total Disability payments, usually equal to two-thirds of a worker’s average weekly wage; and
- Permanent Partial Disability benefits, which are intended to compensate workers for the permanent nature of their injuries.
However, just because you have suffered an injury or illness on the job, it does not necessarily mean that you are automatically eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois. Injuries or illnesses sustained while engaging in activities that do not fall under the list of your standard job duties may not be covered, such as injuries incurred from pranks, games, fighting or wrestling, and other forms of horseplay.
Additionally, injuries that happen away from the workplace will likely not be covered, unless you were ordered by your employer to be there as part of your job. Injuries incurred while traveling or commuting to and from work will also likely not be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits unless by doing so you were engaged in work activities that were part of your job.
If I Am Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits, What Are the Next Steps?
Even if you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits for your work injury or illness in Illinois, it is still important that you take the proper steps to make sure you receive them and to maximize any eventual settlement. Employers and their insurance companies are incentivized to downplay the nature and extent of your injury or illness in order to pay out as little as possible.
To help make sure that you receive the workers’ compensation benefits that you deserve, consider contacting the Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers.
As Illinois’ largest Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury law firm, GWC has recovered over $2 Billion for our clients.
If you have been injured on the job or wish to learn more about your rights under the Illinois workers’ compensation system, contact GWC today to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys. The consultation comes at no cost to you and carries no obligation. Call GWC at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with one of our representatives 24/7.
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