Chicago Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
If you were injured at work or developed an occupational-related condition or disease, you most likely are eligible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy.
In some cases, you may be eligible to obtain financial compensation in addition to workers’ comp. The Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys of The Horwitz Law Group can help you obtain all the financial compensation and other benefits you are entitled to receive.
About Workers’ Compensation
Depending on the specific circumstances, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance may pay the following benefits:
- Reasonable medical care
- Vocational rehabilitation expenses
- A portion of your average weekly wages while you are too injured to work at all or are only able to return to light-duty work
- Payments for those who suffer a permanent disability
- Death benefits to survivors
If you are injured while on the job, you must notify your employer within 45 days of the injury. Failure to give proper notice can result in the loss of all benefits.
About Third-Party Personal Injury Claims
In most cases, you cannot bring a personal injury lawsuit against your employer or a co-worker. However, if your on-the-job injury was caused by a third party — someone other than your employer or a co-worker — you may be able to obtain financial compensation for damages in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits.
For example, if you were driving a company truck and were hit by another car, we could help you obtain compensation from the other driver.
You can pursue compensation for your pain and suffering through a third-party claim. Workers’ comp does not pay injured workers for these damages.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Our attorneys can help you at all stages of the workers’ compensation process. Contact our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers for advice and legal assistance in filing your claim, if you have trouble obtaining benefits, or if the insurance company insists that you are capable of going back to work before you are able.
To learn if we can be of assistance, please contact The Horwitz Law Group by email or call our office directly. The initial consultation is free of charge.
FAQs About Workers’ Compensation in Illinois
Your health is the top priority. Seek medical care and inform the doctor that your injury is work-related. You must then report your injury to your employer within 45 days; failing to provide this notice can result in a complete loss of benefits. We recommend contacting our firm after reporting the injury to protect your rights from the very beginning.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that provides coverage of medical care and lost wages, regardless of who caused the accident. A personal injury claim against a third party requires demonstrating negligence on their part, and may allow you to recover additional damages that workers’ comp does not cover. Our firm can determine if you have both types of claims in a workplace injury case.
If your doctor says you cannot work at all while you recover, you are entitled to Temporary Total Disability benefits. These payments are typically two-thirds of your average weekly wage, paid during your recovery time.
It may be, as repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or back problems from years of lifting can be considered work-related. These “wear and tear” injuries are just as valid as injuries from a single accident. We can help you prove the connection between your job duties and your condition.
If your injury prevents you from returning to your old job, you may be entitled to vocational rehabilitation benefits. This can include job search assistance, training for a new career or other services designed to help you find suitable employment.