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Schaumburg Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
No matter where you work in the Schaumburg area, one accident on the job is all it takes to put your future at risk. If you find yourself buried under a mountain of claim forms or struggling to pay your bills because your benefits have stopped, reach out to the Schaumburg workers’ compensation attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers.
Our lawyers have been getting results on some of the toughest Schaumburg workers’ compensation cases for more than 40 years, and we invite you to take advantage of our experience.
To arrange a free, no-obligation consultation with one of the firm’s Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyers, please call us at (312) 999-9999 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
How Our Schaumburg Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Can Help
Once you retain GWC as your Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyers, we will launch an exhaustive investigation into your workplace accident and identify every avenue of financial recovery, taking pains to satisfy all regulations and deadlines so that a careless oversight will not hinder your Schaumburg workers’ compensation claim.
GWC’s Schaumburg workers’ compensation attorneys will represent you at each hearing, court appearance, and trial, conveying the full scope of your damages so you can obtain the resources you need to become whole again.
We imagine that you may be worried about spending more money at a time when you can least afford it. Fortunately, our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so it will cost you nothing up front to hire us. Only when our Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyers favorably resolve your case will we seek payment for our services and reimbursement for our expenses.
At GWC Injury Lawyers, you will not owe us anything unless we win your case.
Benefits You May Be Eligible For
After you have notified your employer about your work injury and your Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyer has established your claim, there are a variety of benefits you may be able to access. The most common benefits utilized by Schaumburg workers’ compensation claimants include:
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Medical Benefits:
Medical treatment for your work injury or illness that has been deemed reasonable and necessary should be covered.
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TTD (Temporary Total Disability) Benefits:
If your doctor orders you off work while you recuperate, you can receive payments equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage throughout your absence.
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PPD (Permanent Partial Disability) Benefits:
If you experience permanent impairment because of your work accident, a PPD settlement could be available either as a lump sum or paid out in structured installments, with the value of that settlement calculated based on the part of the body impaired and the extent of its impairment.
These are the core benefits for Schaumburg workers’ compensation claims, but they are not necessarily the only ones that you could receive. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for group health insurance, unemployment compensation, or Social Security and disability benefits, as well as Vocational Training (if your post-injury physical limitations force you to change careers).
Additionally, the surviving spouse and/or dependents of a worker killed on the job could petition for benefits detailed in the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. To get educated about the benefits you might be able to obtain and what you need to do to obtain them, sit down with one of our seasoned Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyers at your earliest convenience.
When Do You Need to Report Your Work Injury?
The Schaumburg workers’ compensation claims process can’t begin until you report your work injury or illness to your employer. You may give notice either verbally or in writing, and you have the option of filing a formal claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), too.
You should know that you have a narrow window in which to take action. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act requires you to notify your boss, foreman, or someone serving in a supervisory capacity about a work injury or illness within 45 days of its occurrence. Failure to do so could create an opening for your employer or its insurance provider to dispute or deny your Schaumburg workers’ compensation claim, which may bar you from ever receiving your benefits.
Please note that there may be some exceptions to this 45-day time limit, usually when your work injury is not one that would be immediately obvious, like a fractured limb, but rather a condition that develops gradually through repetitive trauma, like carpal tunnel syndrome, or exposure to dangerous substances, like mesothelioma. In these situations, the date of injury would be the point at which you should have realized that your employment had caused you harm, and you would then have 45 days from that date in which to report it.
But as any worthy Schaumburg workers’ compensation attorney will tell you, do not take 45 days to report your injury just because you have 45 days to report it. Act swiftly because excessive delays can make it easier to contest or dismiss your Schaumburg workers’ compensation claim.
Reasons for Denying a Schaumburg Workers’ Compensation Claim
Illinois’ no-fault workers’ compensation system clearly gives wide latitude to claimants seeking benefits, but that does not mean that your claim will automatically be accepted. There are a number of reasons for denying a Schaumburg workers’ compensation claim, especially if you were hurt while you were:
- Away from your place of work, unless your employer ordered you to be somewhere else for your job.
- Commuting to or from your job, unless you were traveling for the benefit of your employer.
- Engaging in activities that were not part of your job, such as playing games, pulling pranks, fighting, wrestling, and other kinds of horseplay.
- Working as an independent contractor rather than a traditional employee, unless your Schaumburg workers’ compensation attorney can show that you were an employee in all but name only. An arbitrator or commissioner may reverse a denial and award benefits in light of persuasive evidence of misclassification by an unscrupulous employer.
Schaumburg Workers Compensation FAQ
Do I Have to Prove Fault for My Claim?
No. Illinois uses a no-fault system. You do not need to prove your employer was negligent. In fact, you are generally eligible for benefits even if the accident was your own fault, provided the injury occurred during the course and scope of your employment.
Do My Benefits Cost Me Anything?
No. Under Illinois law, you should never pay a dime for approved benefits; the cost is covered entirely by your employer or their insurance. If your employer tries to withhold payments or forces you to pay out-of-pocket, GWC will fight to ensure they follow the law.
When Should I Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
Ideally, immediately after your injury. While you are allowed to represent yourself, insurance companies often exploit a lack of legal knowledge to deny or minimize payouts. Hiring GWC from day one prevents “rookie mistakes” and ensures you are on equal footing with your employer’s insurance carrier.
When Do I Need to File a Claim with the IWCC?
While you don’t strictly need to file with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) to receive benefits, we highly recommend it to legally protect your claim. You technically have three years from the date of injury to file, but waiting can jeopardize your case. We advise filing immediately to secure your rights.
Talk to Our Schaumburg Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Now
You may have just been hurt, you may have already had your claim denied, or you may have only begun to suspect that your job has caused you harm. No matter where you are in the workers’ compensation claims process, talk to our Schaumburg workers’ compensation lawyers now to learn what we can do for you.
Pick up the phone and dial (312) 999-9999 or click here to schedule a no-cost case evaluation with the Schaumburg workers’ compensation attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers, who are ready to get you and your family the justice you deserve.
