Streamwood, Illinois is a working-class community where a lot of people depend on physically demanding jobs to support their families. When you get hurt on the job and the workers' comp insurance company starts giving you the runaround, it can feel like the system is stacked against you. Honestly? Sometimes it is. But that's exactly why the law gives you the right to hire an attorney to fight for your benefits.
Here's what a typical difficult workers' comp claim looks like in the Streamwood area. You get hurt at work — maybe you threw out your back lifting boxes, or you slipped on a wet floor. You report it to your supervisor. The employer files the claim with their insurance company. And then... nothing. The insurance company delays authorizing your medical treatment. They send you to one of their hand-picked doctors who says there's nothing wrong with you. They cut off your TTD benefits after a few weeks, even though your doctor says you still can't work.
Sound familiar? You're not alone. This is the standard playbook for a lot of workers' comp insurance companies in Illinois. They're counting on the fact that most injured workers don't know their rights and will just give up.
Here's what you should do instead. First, see your own doctor. Don't rely on the company doctor to evaluate your condition. In Illinois, you have the right to choose your own treating physician, and the insurance company has to pay for it. Second, follow your doctor's treatment plan exactly. Go to every appointment. Take every prescribed medication. Complete every course of physical therapy. The insurance company will look for any gaps or non-compliance to argue that you're not really hurt.
Third, and most importantly, call a workers' comp lawyer. The consultation is free, and having a lawyer in your corner changes the entire dynamic. When the insurance company knows you have legal representation, they take your claim more seriously. They authorize treatment faster. They're less likely to play games with your benefits.
If you're a Streamwood worker dealing with a workers' comp claim, call us at 312-500-4500. We'll fight for the benefits you're entitled to.
Employers are obliged to have Workers Compensation insurance to cover their injured employees. If a worker is hurt while working, then they are entitled to get benefits under the Workers Compensation Act.
If you can not return to your old job because of your injuries, Illinois Workers' Comp may, in that case, need them to pay to re-train you to do a different sort of job. As soon as you have a brand-new job and are getting paid, then benefits are discontinued.
If your physicians choose that you can no longer carry out work leading to paid employment due to your Streamwood, IL work injury, then you would get permanent impairment benefits.
When you get hurt at work or have a work-related disease or illness, your healing is made more difficult by worrying about how to pay for rent and how to afford medical care. Working with a Workers Comp lawyer is the finest and fastest way to a smooth process in your work injury case.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
First, you need to know that if you got hurt on the job in Streamwood, IL, you are probably covered under Workers Comp. To fully comprehend your workers' compensation rights, you need to understand that state laws control your claim. In Illinois, employers are obligated to cover their employees with workers' compensation insurance. According to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission ( IWCC), approximately 91% of Illinois employees are covered under the state's Workers' Compensation Act.
Injured workers in Streamwood, IL are generally covered in Illinois. It is important to keep in mind that there are some scenarios where an employee is not qualified for workers' comp benefits, these consist of:
It is quite rare for an employee to not be eligible 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 have 45 days to report the mishap. You must tell your employer via a manager or member of the management group about the accident/injury. Ideally, you do this right when it takes place. Often an employee would rather not make a big deal about it, or they feel ashamed. But you MUST tell your employer. You could lose your case if you do not.
When you hire a Streamwood, IL Workers Comp attorney, he or she will explain what you have to do. Your lawyer will protect all the deadlines and requirements so you can focus on getting better and healing.
You have 3 years to file your case with the Commission. Your lawyer will complete all of the documentation for you. They will make sure it is complete and properly done. After your lawyer submits it correctly, they will make sure that the employer and their insurance company are alerted. And they will deal with speaking to the claims adjuster. Another due date to be aware of is that you have 3 years to file the best documents. Your case might be over if you do not. That suggests no benefits for you.
Then the insurance company will generally work with a lawyer to represent them and fight your case. It is essential for us to wait to know exactly what your injuries are and to see if you are improving. We would not want to settle your case without understanding all of your injuries. We also need to understand just how much medical care you need. That means we have to be a little patient.
If your claim is completely approved, life becomes easier. In lots of cases, the Workers Comp insurance sends you to their doctor. The Company Doctor normally supplies the Workers Comp insurance a reason to discredit your case. The most typical reasons are:
This is the number one reason as to why I tell individuals to hire a Streamwood, IL Workers Comp lawyer early on in the process. A good lawyer will be able to see if they are getting ready to cut off your benefits and reject your claim.
Sensible expectations are essential. Little injuries typically result in smaller sized settlements. Bigger injuries mean more money. If you wait a long period of time before hiring a Workers Comp attorney in Streamwood, IL, that might mean that the insurance company has already harmed your case behind the scenes. It can be some time before the problems within a case get fixed. Good communication and trust between you and your lawyer is essential. Your lawyer should communicate with you. Your lawyer needs to be readily available to address your concerns. She or he needs to be able to tell you how long the case will take. A Workers Comp lawyer in Streamwood, IL can inform you on the strengths and weaknesses within your case.
Your case will probably run more easily and smoothly with a great lawyer. But sometimes, a case can simply take a great deal of time and have problems which limit its worth. This might dissatisfy you, however, it is a fact.
A basic injury at work can start out feeling like a minor injury that you will easily recover 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 worried about whether or not you will run 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 common. But there's great deal of ways to get hurt at work in Streamwood, IL.
Streamwood has significant manufacturing, warehousing, and retail employment. The industrial areas near Schaumburg Road and Irving Park Road house a variety of manufacturing and distribution operations. Healthcare workers, retail employees, and food service workers round out the picture. Back injuries, repetitive stress injuries, and slip and fall injuries at work are the most common types I see from this area.
No — Illinois workers comp cases are filed with the IWCC statewide system. Location doesn't determine where your case is heard. My Oak Brook office handles cases from throughout the Chicago suburbs including Streamwood, and I appear before the Chicago IWCC office regularly. Free consultation by phone, video, or in person — call 312-500-4500 any time.
No. Early settlement pressure from insurance companies is a red flag — it almost always means the insurance company thinks your case is worth more than they're offering. They want to close the file before you reach maximum medical improvement and understand the full extent of your permanent injuries. Never settle a workers comp case without first consulting with an attorney. Call me at 312-500-4500 for a free evaluation before you sign anything.
The same rights as any Illinois worker — medical benefits with no copays, TTD at two-thirds of your average weekly wage tax-free while you can't work, and a settlement based on permanent disability. You have the right to choose your own treating physician. You have the right to legal representation. You have the right to a hearing before the IWCC if your claim is denied. And you have the right to be free from retaliation for filing. Call 312-500-4500 to make sure all of these rights are protected.
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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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