Downers Grove sits right along the I-88 corridor, which is home to a huge number of employers — from corporate offices and tech companies to warehouses and manufacturing facilities. If you work in Downers Grove and you've been injured on the job, here's what you need to know about protecting your rights under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act.
The types of work injuries we see from the Downers Grove area are varied. Office workers develop repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome from years of typing. Warehouse workers suffer back injuries from lifting and bending. Delivery drivers get hurt in car accidents while making their routes. Maintenance workers fall from ladders or slip on wet surfaces. Every one of these injuries is covered by workers' compensation in Illinois.
What I want Downers Grove workers to understand is that workers' comp covers more than just dramatic, one-time accidents. If your job caused your condition to develop gradually over time — what's called a 'repetitive trauma injury' — that's covered too. I've represented office workers who developed debilitating back problems from sitting in a poorly designed workstation for years. I've represented factory workers whose hearing was damaged by years of noise exposure. These are all valid workers' comp claims.
One thing to watch out for: big corporate employers in the Downers Grove area often have in-house risk management departments that handle workers' comp claims aggressively. They'll try to get you to see their company doctor, who will downplay your injuries and get you back to work as fast as possible. Remember, in Illinois you have the right to see your own doctor. Don't let the company doctor be the only one evaluating your condition.
If you were hurt on the job in Downers Grove, call us at 312-500-4500. Our office is in nearby Oak Brook, so we're right in the neighborhood. We'll review your case for free and help you understand your options.
Practically all Illinois workers are entitled to Workers' Compensation benefits if they are hurt on the job. Benefits include necessary and sensible medical expenses, temporary replacement earnings, job retraining assistance, and compensation for long-term disability.
Nevertheless, because your employer's costs increase when you gather benefits, your employer might try to limit the quantity of medical care you receive. When they pay you as little as possible, which holds true even if your injuries are major, workers Comp insurance companies make revenue.
You are not in the strongest position to fight the system when you are dealing with the effects of a significant injury. A Downers Grove, IL Workers Comp attorney who is well-versed in the laws and ways of the Illinois Workers' Compensation system remains in a much better position to fight for your interests and guarantee that you receive the compensation owed to you.
At The Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, LLC, we understand the pain and financial difficulty that is experienced when an individual is seriously hurt and can not work. When you hire us to represent you in your Workers' Comp case in Downers Grove, IL or nearby areas, we will help to make sure that you get all the benefits allowed under the law. Our number one priority is helping you and making sure you recover from your injuries and getting you all of the benefits enabled under the law.
We give top notch legal representation to customers seeking compensation for on-the-job injuries in Downers Grove, IL through the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (previously known as the Illinois Industrial Commission). We likewise assist people in car crashes, fall downs, dog bites, nursing home abuse, or no matter how they got hurt.
We represent individuals who work in every kind of job. We assist people in education, retail workers, building and construction workers, truck drivers, cab and Uber drivers, and factory workers. We help anybody employed in Illinois if they got hurt at work.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
Just because an employer offers Workers' Compensation Insurance, it does not imply that you automatically get benefits. Workers Comp insurers want to delay and deny claims to save money. This gives them larger earnings. That's why I inform individuals who got hurt at work to talk with a skilled Workers Comp lawyer after any work injury.
There are lots of strategies an employer can use to attempt to eliminate a Workers Comp Case in Downers Grove, IL. If an employer attempts to deny a Workers' Compensation claim then the injured worker ought to speak with a lawyer right now. If there is no valid defense, then a lawyer can get your benefits and costs paid quickly. On your own, you will probably be at their mercy.
Often, an employee is "On the Clock" and gets harmed by another person. Examples include a delivery driver whose truck is hit by another driver, or a worker who is hurt by someone who is not employed by that very same company. In these situations, you would have a 2nd case. It is called a "Third Party Case" and you still get Workers Comp benefits. Keep in mind that you can also make a claim against the person and or company who injured you. This can get complicated, so having a Downers Grove, IL Workers Comp lawyer there to help you is a wise choice.
You ought to know that if you got hurt on the job in Downers Grove, IL, you are most likely covered under Workers Comp. To understand your workers' compensation rights, you must know that state laws manage your claim.
Injured workers in Downers Grove, IL are usually covered in Illinois. It is important to note that there are some scenarios where an employee is NOT eligible for workers' comp advantages, consisting of:
In many circumstances, benefits must be available in case of an injury. It is quite uncommon for an employee to not be qualified for Workers Comp benefits. The law also sets out the roles and obligations of an injured worker and the employer. These include the "45 Day Rule" which requires that injured worker to report their injuries within 45 days after its occurrence There are a great deal of these rules, so having a lawyer on your side is the right move.
You have 45 days to report the accident. You should tell your employer via a supervisor or member of the management group about the accident and or injury. Ideally, you do this right when it happens. In some cases, an employee does not wish to make a big deal about it, or they feel embarrassed. You MUST tell your employer. You could lose your case if you do not.
When you employ a Downers Grove, IL Workers Comp attorney, she or he will discuss what you need to do. Your lawyer will safeguard all the due dates and requirements so you can focus on getting better and recovering.
Practical expectations are important. Small injuries result in smaller settlements, normally. Bigger injuries mean more money. If you wait a long period of time prior to hiring a Workers Comp attorney in Downers Grove, IL, the insurance company might be currently harming your case behind the scenes. It can be some time before issues within a case are fixed. Great interaction and trust with your lawyer is key. Your lawyer ought to communicate with you. Your lawyer ought to offer to address your concerns. She or he ought to be able to inform you on roughly how long the case will take. A Workers Comp lawyer in Downers Grove, IL can tell you the strong and weak points of your case.
Your case will probably run simpler and smoother with a great lawyer. However in some cases, a case can simply take a great deal of time and have issues which restrict its value. This might disappoint you, but it is a fact.
A basic injury at work can start out feeling like a minor injury that you will easily recuperate from. How you heal in the weeks and months after the injury reveals just how bad your injuries are.
If you make a claim, you might be stressed about whether you will get into trouble at work. Or you might even question whether your injury is one that will be covered under Workers Comp.
Here are the most typical workplace injuries:
These are the most typical. However there's great deal of ways to get hurt at work in Downers Grove, IL.
Downers Grove is a major commercial and corporate hub in DuPage County - it's home to Fortune 500 company headquarters, major hospitals, and significant retail and distribution employment. Midwestern workers from Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, corporate offices along Butterfield Road, and warehousing operations along I-88 all generate workers comp exposure. It's one of the most economically active suburbs in the Chicago area, which translates to significant work injury volume.
With the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission - the same statewide system used for all Illinois workers comp cases. Downers Grove workers typically use the Chicago IWCC office, which I appear before regularly. My Oak Brook office is just minutes from Downers Grove on I-88, making in-person meetings easy when needed. Free consultation anytime - call 312-500-4500.
The same benefits as any Illinois worker - medical benefits covering all reasonable and necessary treatment with no copays, TTD at two-thirds of your average weekly wage tax-free while you cannot work, and a settlement based on your permanent disability rating at case closure. If you cannot return to your prior job, vocational rehabilitation may also be available. I make sure every benefit is fully pursued - not just what the insurance company volunteers.
Employer reputation has no bearing on how the insurance company handles your workers comp claim. The employer doesn't control the claims process - their insurance carrier does, and insurers are financially motivated to minimize payouts regardless of the employer's reputation or your relationship with them. I have seen workers get blindsided by claims handling from employers they trusted completely. Don't assume your claim will be handled fairly. Call 312-500-4500 for a free evaluation.
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 Downers Grove, 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.
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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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