Plainfield, Illinois has grown tremendously over the past couple decades. With all that residential and commercial development comes construction workers, warehouse employees, delivery drivers, and other workers who are at risk of getting hurt on the job. If you're one of them, you need to know your rights under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act.
One of the most common types of cases we handle from the Plainfield area involves warehouse and distribution center injuries. There are a number of large distribution facilities in the Plainfield-Joliet-Romeoville corridor, and the work is physically demanding. Workers hurt their backs, shoulders, and knees lifting heavy objects, operating forklifts, or making repetitive motions all day long. These are absolutely compensable work injuries under Illinois law.
Another common situation we see is construction injuries. With all the new development in Plainfield, there's always construction going on. Falls from scaffolding, being struck by heavy equipment, and injuries from power tools are all things we handle regularly. What a lot of construction workers don't realize is that in addition to workers' compensation, you may also have a third-party liability claim against someone other than your employer — like a general contractor, a property owner, or an equipment manufacturer. That third-party claim can be worth significantly more than workers' comp alone.
I want to address something I hear from a lot of Plainfield clients: 'My boss told me I can't file for workers' comp.' This is flat-out wrong. Your employer cannot legally prevent you from filing a workers' compensation claim, and they cannot legally retaliate against you for filing one. If they fire you, demote you, or reduce your hours because you filed a claim, that's a separate violation that can result in additional penalties against the employer.
If you've been hurt on the job in Plainfield or the surrounding area, call us at 312-500-4500. We handle everything from the initial filing through settlement, and you don't pay us a penny unless we get you money.
Essentially all Illinois workers are entitled to Workers' Compensation benefits if they are injured on the job. If the company did anything incorrectly, it doesn't matter. Fault or neglect doesn't matter. Benefits include sensible and necessary medical expenses, temporary replacement income, job retraining help, and compensation for permanent special needs.
Because your employer's expenses go up when you collect benefits, your employer might try to limit the quantity of medical care you get. Workers Comp insurance providers make revenue when they pay you as low as possible, which unfortunately is true even if your injuries are severe.
You are not in the strongest position to fight the system when you are dealing with the effects of a significant injury. A Plainfield, IL Workers Comp attorney who is fluent in the laws and system of the Illinois Workers' Compensation system remains in a much better position to fight in favor of your interests and guarantee that you receive the compensation owed to you.
At The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, LLC, we comprehend the pain and monetary difficulty that happens when an individual is seriously hurt and can not work. When you hire us to represent you in your Workers' Comp case in Plainfield, IL or nearby locations, we will ensure that you get all the benefits permitted under the law. Our top priority is helping you and making certain that you recover from your injuries and getting you all of the benefits allowed under the law.
We give excellent legal representation to customers looking for compensation for on-the-job injuries in Plainfield, IL through the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (previously referred to as the Illinois Industrial Commission). We likewise assist individuals in car crashes, fall downs, dog bites, nursing home abuse, or no matter how they have been injured.
We represent individuals who work in every kind of job. We assist people in education, retail workers, construction workers, truck drivers, cab and Uber drivers, and factory workers. If they got hurt at work, we help anybody employed in Illinois. Legal fees are ONLY paid when we win your case. There is no out of pocket payment to the lawyer. The fee is normally set by law at 20% of what we win for you. You need to have an attorney on your side to help you receive the maximum benefits, as fast as possible.
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Employers are required to have Workers Compensation insurance to cover their hurt employees. They are entitled to receive benefits under the Workers Compensation Act if an employee is hurt while working. That is the law that covers Workers Comp and how it works. If you are injured in Plainfield, IL the law states you get payment of all associated medical expenses, required medical care, rehabilitation, and 2/3 of your pay while off work with a doctor's note.
If you can not return to your old job in direct relation to your injuries, Illinois Workers' Comp may, in that case, need them to pay to re-train you to do a different job. Once you have a brand-new job and are getting paid, then benefits are cut off.
If your medical professional decides that you can no longer work carrying out any type of paying job due to your Plainfield, IL work injury, then you would get permanent impairment benefits.
Plainfield has grown rapidly as a residential and commercial suburb of Chicago, with significant construction, warehousing, retail, and healthcare employment. The warehousing and distribution facilities near I-55 and Route 30 generate substantial workers comp exposure. Construction work throughout Plainfield's ongoing development is a major source of serious work injuries. Healthcare workers at Plainfield's medical facilities face patient handling and other occupational risks. All of these are covered by Illinois workers comp.
No - Illinois workers comp cases are handled by the IWCC statewide. What matters is experience with Illinois workers comp law. My Oak Brook office is located along the I-88 corridor and handles cases from Will County including Plainfield regularly. Most client work is done by phone and video, with in-person meetings when needed. Free consultation - call 312-500-4500 any time.
Construction and job site injuries involving multiple contractors are among the most legally complex workers comp situations. Your workers comp claim is against your direct employer. But if a general contractor, subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer contributed to the accident, you may have a civil lawsuit against that third party for pain and suffering - damages workers comp doesn't cover. I evaluate third-party liability in every construction injury case as a matter of course.
Same timeline as throughout Illinois - one to three years for most cases. The primary variable is when you reach maximum medical improvement, which determines when settlement negotiations can begin in earnest. I don't push for early settlement before MMI because that almost always means leaving money on the table. I give you a realistic timeline based on your specific injury and medical trajectory. Call 312-500-4500.
Illinois law requires you to notify your employer of a work injury within 45 days of the date of the accident. Missing this deadline is one of the most common ways injured workers lose their claims before they even get started. Notice should be in writing whenever possible, signed, and dated. Verbal notice can be enough but it is much harder to prove later. There is a separate three-year deadline to file the case at the IWCC, but the 45-day notice is the early trap. Report the injury the day it happens if you can.
Illinois workers' comp pays temporary total disability (TTD) at two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you are unable to work, and TTD is tax-free. Average weekly wage is calculated from your earnings in the 52 weeks before the injury, including mandatory overtime and bonuses in most cases. The tax-free status is significant - two-thirds tax-free often approaches or equals your full take-home pay. TTD continues until you can return to work or reach maximum medical improvement. If the insurance company calculates your AWW too low, I fix it.
Yes. Section 8(a) of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act gives you the right to choose your own physician - you are not stuck with the doctor your employer or the insurance company picks. The Act gives you two choices of physician, and your chosen doctor can refer you to specialists as needed. The insurance company sometimes pushes you toward their preferred providers because those doctors clear workers for return to work too soon. You do not have to use them. Call me at 312-500-4500 if you are being pressured.
Three years from the date of the injury to file a workers' compensation claim with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. But you have to notify your employer within 45 days - that is a much shorter and stricter deadline. Failing to give 45-day notice can end your claim before it starts. If you were hurt at work in Plainfield, report it to your supervisor in writing the same day if possible. Call me at 312-500-4500 to make sure you do not miss any deadlines.
You should know that if you got hurt on the job in Plainfield, IL, you are most likely covered under Workers Comp. To understand your workers' compensation rights, you must know that state laws manage your claim.
Hurt workers in Plainfield, IL are generally covered in Illinois. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that there are some scenarios where an employee is not qualified for workers' comp benefits, consisting of:
It is quite rare for an employee to not be qualified for Workers Comp benefits. These include the "45 Day Rule" which requires an injured worker to report his injuries within 45 days after the injury.
You should inform your employer by means of a supervisor or member of the management group about the mishap and/or injury. Often an employee does not want to make a huge deal about it, or they feel ashamed. If you do not say anything about it, you could lose your case.
When you hire a Plainfield, IL Workers Comp attorney, he or she will explain what you have to do. For the most part, your lawyer will safeguard all the deadlines and requirements so you can focus on improving and recovery.
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If you or a loved one is dealing with a situation like this, give us a call any time, day or night. We are here to help. 312-500-4500
Scott DeSalvo founded DeSalvo Law to help injured people throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1998, IARDC #6244452, Scott has represented over 3,000 clients in personal injury, workers compensation, and accident cases.
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