If you were injured on the job in Chicago, IL, you may have multiple options for recovering compensation. An experienced Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers can help you understand your rights under Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury laws. Call us at (312) 635-5400.
Between our team, we have over 35 years of experience in personal injury law. We’ve put our skills to good work over the years and recovered over $250 million in settlements and verdicts.
You may deserve compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Contact our law offices in Chicago, Illinois, to learn how we can help you maximize your financial award. As always, your case review is completely free of charge.
How Can Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers Help After an Accident in Chicago
If you were injured at work in Chicago, you likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy to get fair benefits. Employers deny legitimate claims all the time. Insurance companies are known for challenging workers’ right to benefits.
Our experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys are prepared to fight for you at every turn. When you hire Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers to handle your case, you can count on an attorney who will:
- Answer any questions and provide personal attention and support
- Determine all legal options for recovering compensation
- Assess your damages
- Determine the proper level of benefits you should be receiving
- Protect you if you’re pushed to return to work before you’re ready
- Represent you at all hearings if your claim for benefits is denied
- Handle the paperwork and insurance communications
- Negotiate on your behalf for the maximum compensation possible
It’s important to seek legal guidance sooner rather than later. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers are always ready to discuss your case, so contact us today for your free case review.
Overview of Illinois Workers’ Compensation Laws
Under Illinois law, most employers are legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. You are likely entitled to benefits if:
- You were an employee in Illinois (not an independent contractor)
- You were injured or developed an illness “in the course of employment”
So, if you were injured or developed a medical condition because of something work-related, you likely qualify for benefits.
How Common Are Accidents in Illinois?
112,500 workplace injuries were reported by private employers across the state of Illinois in 2022, the last year data was available. At least 73,500 work-related injuries were serious enough to require either days away from work, job transfers or restrictions.
What is My Chicago Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?
The value of your case depends on your own individual circumstances. The most important issues that we’ll consider include:
- Your average wages prior to your disability
- Your earning capacity while you’re recovering
- Whether your injuries are temporary or permanent
- Your earning capacity after you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI)
- The length of your recovery
- Your medical treatment costs
Workers’ compensation benefit rates are capped by state law. The current maximum that you can receive is $1,907.79 per week (the rates are adjusted every six months).
What Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available to Injured Workers in Chicago?
Workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois are limited to certain economic losses. They’re designed to cover your medical bills and make up for some of your lost wages while you recover.
What Types of Medical Expenses Does Workers’ Comp Cover?
Workers’ comp covers any reasonable and necessary medical expense that’s related to the injury or illness.
That includes:
- Emergency room care or first aid care
- Hospitalization
- Doctor’s follow-up visits
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Pharmaceuticals
- Prosthetics
Failure to see an approved doctor can jeopardize your right to have medical bills paid.
What Types of Income Replacement Benefits Are Available in Illinois?
Workers’ compensation also provides wage replacement benefits while you’re recovering. The nature of these disability benefits will depend on the extent of your injuries and how they impact your ability to work.
The following types of benefits may be available:
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits while you’re unable to work due to the injury
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) if you’re restricted to light-duty work and earning less compensation as a result
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits provide you with training to enter a new line of work
- Permanent total disability (PTD) if your injury renders you entirely unable to return to work in any capacity
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) if you suffer a permanent disability that impacts your earnings, but you can perform some types of work
- Death benefits for survivors of fatal workplace accidents
TTD benefits begin if you are unable to work for at least three days because of an injury or medical condition. If your employer (or their insurance company) doesn’t begin paying your benefits after three days of missed work, they must give you a written statement explaining why your benefits aren’t being paid.
What is a Third-Party Claim?
In exchange for your workers’ compensation benefits, you give up the right to sue your employer for your injuries. That’s valuable for an injured worker because you won’t have to prove that someone else caused your injuries to recover compensation. That said, workers’ compensation doesn’t cover all of your losses.
Your employer is protected from lawsuits, but third parties don’t receive similar protection. If a negligent third party caused your injuries, you retain the right to sue for damages.
In personal injury cases, you can seek compensation for all of your economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
You will, however, have to prove that someone else was negligent to recover compensation. For example, if you were injured because a negligent driver caused a car crash while you were on the job, you can pursue compensation from that driver.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Chicago?
Our Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. The amount of your attorneys’ fees depends entirely on how much compensation we can recover in your case. At Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers, you never pay attorneys’ fees unless we’re able to recover compensation for your injuries.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Workplace Accident in Illinois?
Illinois has a modified comparative negligence law with a 51% bar to recovery. That means you can recover partial compensation if you were less than 51% responsible for your own injuries. The comparative negligence law only applies in personal injury cases. Your workers’ compensation benefits are available even if you share blame for your injuries.
Our Attorneys in Chicago Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Accident Injuries
Our team at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers handles all types of workers’ compensation claims, including those involving:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Back injuries
- Burns
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Eye injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Hearing loss
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you or a family member were injured on the job, reach out to our lawyers in Chicago today. We offer free case reviews, so there’s never any charge for getting the legal advice you deserve.
What Causes Most Workplace Accidents in Chicago?
Many workplace injuries occur because someone is careless. However, some types of injuries are unavoidable. Some of the most common causes of work-related accidents include:
- Lack of safety protection, including fall protection
- Lifting heavy objects
- Failure to follow state and OSHA safety regulations
- Scaffolding accidents and collapses
- Roof and ladder falls
- Slip and fall accidents
- Accidents involving heavy machinery, cranes, and forklifts
- Unsafe work conditions
- Dangerous or defective work equipment
- Construction site accidents
- Electrocutions and electric shock
- Fires and explosions
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Repetitive motions
It’s important to understand the cause of your injuries. The identity of the responsible party will determine whether you have rights under state personal injury laws.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits After a Workplace Accident in Illinois?
Under Illinois workers’ compensation laws, you must notify your employer within 45 days of an injury or diagnosis. Delays can put your workers’ compensation benefits at risk.
In personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Again, if you wait longer, you lose your right to seek compensation for your losses.
Contact a Skilled Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal rights and options after a workplace injury in Chicago, Illinois? Contact Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation today. An experienced Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer can review your case and help you understand the best way to pursue compensation.