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Worker Suffers Serious Head Injury After Bus Hit

In Chicago, road construction is an activity that goes on 24/7 during most of the year. When a road is being repaired, the lanes may close down from five to three or four, and the traffic backs up. This construction-made traffic jam is filled with motorists and truck drivers as well as buses. A road construction accident that occurred in the Detroit area could easily have happened in Chicago. A road worker was nicked by a bus, but the pole...

Does Illinois Workers Compensation System Function Well?

It is easy to form an opinion about something when someone hasn't had a personal experience with the matter. Being injured on the job and then losing the ability to work and support one's family is a significant loss. Having to fight for workers' compensation claims is rarely something that an injured worker wants to do; it is something they have to do and have the right to do. Employers are required to have insurance in case a worker is...

DA Reviewing Roadside Worker Death In Kansas

Everyone in Illinois, and in other states, knows how dangerous construction zones can be. Both workers and drivers must be observant at all times. One moment of inattentiveness could lead to a serious, or sometimes even fatal, accident. Such is the case for a 22-year-old man who was killed earlier this month in Kansas. An employee representative for Construction Inc. explained that this was the first reported construction zone death for one particular county this year. This doesn't take away...

Types Of Wages Earned From Workers Compensation

Determining proper wages is an essential issue in every worker's compensation claim. It has been written by legal experts in this field that the Illinois Worker's Compensation Act is a "wage driven system." Why is this so? The short answer is that all benefits received under the act are derived from the Average Weekly Wage of the injured worker. Wage driven workers' compensation benefits in Illinois include: Temporary Total Disability (TTD) - weekly benefits paid for periods of disability from...

Steps To Take When Dealing With Insurance Companies

It's a bright sunny Chicago day and you are driving with your friend, enjoying a day on the town. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, another car runs a stop sign and whacks your side door, knocking your car across another lane. You are lucky to not hit any other cars following the car accident. You get out to speak with the other driver and to inspect the damage, which is considerable to both cars. All passengers appear to be okay....

Caterpillar Plant Explosion In Southern Illinois Burns

A workplace explosion in Southern Illinois is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal. One worker was critically injured in the blast, having suffered burn injuries that required his being airlifted to a St. Louis hospital. He was said to be in critical condition as of Feb. 11.The explosion occurred at a Caterpillar manufacturing plant that straddles the county line between Williamson and Saline counties. At the time of the blast, the worker was in a paint booth. According to...

Workers Compensation For Heart Attack Victims?

Those of us in Chicago, who have an adult work history, have probably worked at one time or another in a toxic environment. Perhaps there is the constant fear of a layoff. Maybe your managers never communicate except to scold or blame. It is possible that office politics lead to promotions rather than skill and experience. It is enough to make a person sick -- literally. It was recently reported that the poor working conditions caused a man to suffer...

Why The Reputation Of Your Attorney Is Important

The practice of Workers' Compensation in Illinois is best described as a "niche" practice because of the small number of attorneys who represent people injured at work. Unfortunately, not every lawyer who represents people in workers' compensation cases is competent to do so. It is essential when seeking legal representation for a workers' compensation claim to hire an attorney with an excellent reputation. A good attorney must have a thorough knowledge of the law, be diligent in protecting their client's...

Scaffolding Fall In Corn Sweetener Plant Kills Worker

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is investigating the tragic death of a worker in Decatur. The man reportedly fell from a collapsing scaffold while cleaning the inside of a tank at the Archer Daniels Midland Company plant, which is a corn sweetening facility. Rescuers were sent to the plant at about 2:30 p.m., and the 31-year-old contractor was found to be in a confined space. He wasn't removed from the space until 5 p.m., and shortly afterward he was...