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Chicago Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Have You Or Somebody You Love Been Injured While At Work In Chicago?
If you have been hurt performing the duties of your job in the Chicago area, you may be unable to work, you may find yourself overwhelmed with workers’ compensation forms, and you may not be able to make ends meet because your benefits have stopped. No matter what your situation is, reach out to GWC Injury Lawyers LLC. For more than forty years, GWC has been aggressively defending the rights of hardworking Illinois residents who have been hurt on the job by helping them navigate the complicated workers’ compensation claims process.
At GWC, our Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys are the preferred representatives for many unions and trade organizations throughout the Chicago area and work quickly to obtain the MAXIMUM amount of compensation for every case we handle.As one of the leading Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury law firms in Chicago, our work injury lawyers are in a unique position to serve the needs of injured workers in Illinois.
What Should You Do If You Get Hurt on the Job?
Types Of Work Injuries That Are Covered By Illinois Workers' Comp
The Illinois Department of Public Health collects data from employers across the state to review and determine the kinds of injuries that employees experience each year.
They also detail the severity of the injury and the industry in which the accident occurred.
We know from the Department’s reports that employees each year experience a range of injuries, from minor to fatal.
A list of these types of injuries includes:
- Fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Sprains
- Concussions
- Amputations
- Bruises
- Chemical and electrical burns
- Lacerations
Additionally, injured workers experience trauma to all areas of the body. In Illinois, employees have been injured from the top of their heads to their toes and everywhere in between. The industries with the greatest percentage of employee injuries included transportation, warehousing, agriculture, and construction.
Surprisingly, many injuries also occur in office settings, such as repetitive stress injuries or toxic chemical exposure. These types of injuries are also covered by the workers’ compensation laws in Illinois. Additionally, when employees experience fatal injuries, their families are allowed to recover financial compensation through the Illinois workers’ compensation system.
What Kinds of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Can I Receive?
There are a variety of benefits that are available to workers who have been injured in Chicago or while working throughout Cook County.
In Illinois, injured workers who qualify for workers’ compensation benefits might be eligible to receive:
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
- Medical Benefits
- Vocational Retraining
- Death Benefits
Depending upon the severity and the nature of the injuries that an employee experiences, workers’ compensation benefits may cover two-thirds of an employee’s average weekly wages, medical benefits, and vocational retraining needs.
For employees who may never be able to return to work after severe injuries, Permanent Partial Disability benefits can ensure that they receive compensation. The exact amount of the benefits will all depend on how successfully an injured employee is able to demonstrate his or her injuries and the financial costs of those injuries.
If you need help reviewing a compensation claim, our team of Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers and legal professionals are available and ready to explain your options.
Workers’ Compensation Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How Much Is My Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?
A: It can be difficult to know in advance how much a workers’ compensation case is worth because each one is different, though the types of benefits for which you are eligible can heavily influence the value of your claim.
Q: What is an Independent Medical Examination and How Can It Affect My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
A: An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a means by which your employer and/or its insurer may try to evaluate your treatment for a work injury, and it can have a significant impact on your workers’ compensation claim.
Q: How Long Does It Take to Get an IME Report Back?
A: While there is no set timeframe for when you might get an IME report back, your attorney may be able to speed up the process by sending a subpoena to the doctor.
Q: When Do I Start Receiving TTD Benefits?
A: TTD benefits should be available once you have been off of work or on restricted duty for a certain period of time because of a doctor’s orders for a qualifying injury.
Q: What Is Utilization Review?
A: Utilization review is a means through which insurance companies can create significant obstacles for injured workers who desperately need medical treatment.
Q: What Happens If My Workers’ Compensation Check Is Late?
A: If your workers’ compensation checks are not arriving on time, or even not arriving at all, your attorney could assist you by filing a petition for penalties and fees.
Q: How Long Do I Have to Report a Work Injury in Illinois?
A: Illinois law allows you to notify a boss or supervisor within 45 days of your work injury, but you should generally report it as close to the date of injury as possible.
Q: Will I Get Fired If I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Illinois?
A: It is illegal for employers to terminate employees for filing workers’ compensation claims, and those who do could be subject to lawsuits for retaliatory discharge.
Q: How Long Can I Collect Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Illinois?
A: The answer depends on the type of workers’ compensation benefits you mean, as there are a variety that could be available to injured workers in Illinois.
Q: Am I Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Illinois?
A: You are typically eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if you have sustained an injury or illness arising out of and in the course and scope of your employment.
Q: Can I Sue My Employer for Negligence in Illinois?
A: The Illinois workers’ compensation system provides limited liability protection for employers, so workers are not able to sue them for negligence in most cases.
Q: What If I Die Before My Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Over?
A: The answer to this question depends on many factors, the most important being whether or not the cause of death was related to your work injuries.
Q: Does Workers’ Compensation Pay for Pain and Suffering?
A: The Illinois workers’ compensation system offers a number of potential benefits to injured workers, but it will not compensate you for pain and suffering.
Q: What Do I Do If I Get Injured While Working From Home?
A: If you are required to work from home, the benefits extended to you as a worker injured during the course and scope of employment might be available.
Q: What Is a Wage Differential in the Illinois Workers’ Compensation System?
A: A wage differential offsets a worker’s reduction in wages earned at a new position that can accommodate post-work-injury medical restrictions.
Q: What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Can I Receive in Illinois?
A: You could be eligible for a number of benefits, including payment of medical bills, Temporary Total Disability, and Permanent Partial Disability, if applicable.
Q: Do I Have to Prove Somebody Else Is at Fault to Receive Workers’ Compensation in Illinois?
A: With some minor exceptions, you do not have to prove somebody else is at fault because of the no-fault nature of workers’ compensation in Illinois.
Q: Can I Choose My Own Doctor for My Workers’ Compensation Treatment?
A: Under the Illinois workers’ compensation system, you are allowed to choose your own doctor for your treatment, though there are certain restrictions.
Q: Should You Sign a Work Comp Insurance Company Release?
A: Never sign a release from a workers’ compensation insurer without consulting your attorney first because you may be at risk of “releasing” too much.
Q: Can a Positive Drug Test Hurt My Illinois Workers’ Compensation Claim?
A: A positive drug test following a work injury will likely hurt your chances of receiving workers’ compensation benefits, but it is not impossible to make a successful claim.
Who Pays For My Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Either your employer directly or your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company should pay for your benefits.
How Long Do I Have To Report A Work Injury?
You must notify your employer of your work injury as soon as possible. Any delay in notification may put your ability to receive benefits in jeopardy. This notice may be given orally or in writing. You may also file a formal claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
In Illinois, you are required to inform a boss, a foreman, or some other person acting in a supervisory capacity within 45 days of your work injury. Failure to properly report your injury within this 45-day window can result in your case being disputed or denied by your employer, and any benefits to which you may otherwise have been entitled could be lost forever.
How Do Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Get Paid?
Our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers represent clients on a contingency fee basis. This means that legal fees and other case-related expenses will only be due if we win your case. When you contact GWC and request a free case evaluation, there is truly no obligation and you will pay us nothing unless you win.
Do I Need to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
People who get hurt on the job in Illinois could be eligible for a variety of workers’ compensation benefits. If you are thinking about pursuing a claim for a work injury or illness, you may be asking yourself “Do I need to hire a workers’ compensation attorney?”
Illinois has a no-fault workers’ compensation system. Assuming that you were injured in the course and scope of your employment, you typically do not have to prove that somebody else was responsible in order to qualify for benefits. Nevertheless, a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer can be indispensable in maximizing the value of your case.
A skilled attorney can help you establish a valid claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, ensure that you collect all the benefits to which you are legally entitled, and petition for an immediate hearing if you do not receive those benefits in a timely manner.
A capable workers’ compensation lawyer will also gather the evidence necessary to strengthen your case, respond to any obstacles or challenges that may arise, and fiercely advocate on your behalf in all negotiations and proceedings so that you can secure the largest settlement or award possible.
Getting You the Justice You Deserve
Remember, it is not in your employer’s financial interest to provide you with comprehensive advice about your rights under Illinois workers’ compensation law or guarantee that you obtain the benefits you are owed. For this reason, it is vital that you retain experienced legal counsel to fight for you, such as the dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers LLC.
With more than $2.5 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, GWC is one of the leading Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury law firms in Illinois. Our highly accomplished workers’ compensation attorneys will stop at nothing to get you and your family the justice you deserve.
Contact GWC today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer. You may call our office at (312) 999-9999 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
Contact The Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyers At GWC
Clients who are injured on the job hire the Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers at GWC Injury Lawyers because they want comprehensive workers’ compensation representation.
From the moment that clients contact us regarding their injury or a denied claim, our attorneys begin to conduct an intense overview of all of the information that is available.
In many cases, this will mean obtaining and reviewing all of the records related to your job, your wages, your injuries, and the kind of recovery that is expected for your injuries. Depending on the severity of your injuries, our experienced Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys will work to ensure that the true cost of your disability is accurately and ultimately reflected in any settlement that you receive.
For more than four decades, our team of personal injury attorneys has been helping to defend the rights of injured workers in Chicago, and we offer our services to injured workers throughout Illinois, including in:
- Chicago
- Burr Ridge
- Libertyville
- Rockford
- Oak Park
- Forest Park
- Summit
- Maywood
- Cicero
- Bridgeview
- River Grove
To schedule a complimentary consultation to review the facts of your work-related injury, call 1-312-464-1234 or contact us online 24 hours a day.
Further Information
At GWC, our knowledgeable attorneys have handled a wide variety of workers’ compensation claims, and we are dedicated to sharing the fruits of our experience with our clients and the general public. The following are some links to informational pages on a number of workers’ compensation topics:
- Burn Injuries
- Defective Safety Equipment Injuries
- Eye Injuries
- IL Workers Compensation Act
- Machinery Accidents
- OSHA Violation Lawsuits
- Peoria Workers’ Compensation Claims
- Road Construction Injuries
- Third Party Claims
- Union Worker Representation
GWC’s FREE Guide To Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Download your free copy of GWC’s guide to Illinois workers’ compensation benefits.