Workplace injuries are, unfortunately, a very common occurrence. Injured workers are often left with financial burdens because of their injuries such as lost wages and medical bills. For this reason workers’ compensation exists to help an injured worker successfully recover from their injuries.
If you have been injured at work, you may want to seek help from a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. Missing time from work due to an injury can place undue hardship on you and your family and you may be entitled to benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
Our workers’ compensation attorneys can help you navigate the legal process and assist with any challenges or denials to your claim.
What Benefits Are Available Through a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Workers’ compensation essentially works like a no-fault insurance system. This means that you can seek a number of benefits if you were injured at work. Most importantly, you don’t have to prove that someone else was at fault for your injuries in order to do so.
A workers’ compensation lawyer can help explain all the benefits you may be able to claim if you are injured at work. Some of these benefits can make all the difference to your recovery.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
A number of Illinois workers’ compensation benefits for a workplace injury may be available, depending on the extent of your injuries, the time you’ll need to miss at work, and other factors.
Medical Care
Under the law, employees are entitled to seek benefits for medical expenses and medical treatment. Medical treatment is considered reasonable and necessary care related to their work injury. This could include compensation for the following:
Emergency room care
Diagnostic testing
Visits to a doctor or a specialist
Medications
Surgeries
Physical therapy
Assistive medical devices
Out-of-pocket medical costs
And more
Unfortunately, some injuries experienced at work could be severe enough that a worker would end up with a long term or permanent disability. As part of workers’ compensation insurance a worker could seek permanent partial disability benefits to assist with the long term changes they will have endure as a result of their work related injury.
Replacement Income
In addition, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides for temporary total disability (TTD) benefits equal to two-thirds (66%) of your normal weekly income. This benefit is critical if an injury leaves you unable to work until you are recovered enough to do so.
Permanent Disability
If your injuries go on to be permanent, you may qualify to seek benefits via permanent partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability (PTD), according to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Again, these benefits as stated by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission can be so critical to an injured worker that is left with a permanent disability that prevents them from working like they used to be able to or even at all.
The Act also entitles an injured employee to:
Vocational rehabilitation, if you have to train to work a new job after your injury
Death benefits to surviving family members, if they lost a loved one to a work accident
A permanency settlement based on the injuries sustained
Have you been injured in a work accident? Contact us today and get help from the experienced lawyers at The Kryder Law Group.
Take Action Quickly to Protect Your Right to Claim Benefits
To preserve your rights under the Act, it is important to move quickly. There is a limited about of time for you to start the process of filing a claim in the Illinois workers’ compensation system. There are several important deadlines to be aware of throughout the workers’ compensation claims process.
With workers’ compensation cases you should report your work injury to your employer as soon as you can. Be aware of the following deadlines for reporting your initial injury:
General injuries should be reported within 45 days of the accident.
Radiological exposure injuries should be reported within 90 days.
Occupational diseases should be reported as soon as you discover the injury.
Talk to Our Chicago Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Discuss the circumstances of your injury with someone from our team. Our law firm is very familiar with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Our knowledge and experience could be a huge boon to your personal injury lawsuit. We can work to ensure that your case is on track to meet important deadlines and that you seek all benefits to which you are entitled.
What Can Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Do for You?
While you don’t have to work with a lawyer to seek workers’ compensation benefits, we recommend that you consider the value of working with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from our team.
We Will Work While You Recover
Especially if you are still recovering from your injuries, you may not want to spend your time and energy deciphering your legal rights, appealing a denied workers compensation claim, and filing paperwork. We can do all of these things in Chicago, IL workers’ compensation cases, including:
Protecting your right to seek all benefits available in your workers’ compensation claim
Gathering evidence to prove your injuries
Assisting you with appealing denied workers’ compensation claims
Working to challenge any problems that you run into with insurance companies, such as an early end to your benefits
Settlement negotiations with the insurance company
Representing you through the legal process
We Will Help Even If Your Claim is Denied
While we would like to be able to say that you will not face any complications with your workers’ compensation case, unfortunately, many claims are initially denied. You don’t have to let this be a concern for moving forward, however. You can get legal help from experienced Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys through every step.
Why Choose The Kryder Law Group, LLC for Your Workers’ Compensation Case?
At our law firm, our Chicago, IL workers’ compensation lawyers fight aggressively for the best outcomes for injured employees, and we prioritize communication throughout every case. Our goal is to make sure you are able to successfully recover from your workplace injuries. That means getting you the benefits you need to cover your medical bills and other medical expenses. It also means getting you benefits to help make up for the lost wages you may experienced because of work time lost because of your injury.
What We Also Offer You
In addition to the above, our workers’ compensation attorneys also offer our clients:
A free case review: Get a free consultation to learn your options and ask any questions you may have about your case.
A face-to-face meeting with a lawyer within 48 hours: We understand you may need help immediately. Our founder, Andrew S. Kryder, or another attorney on our team can meet with you very soon after you request a conversation with a lawyer.
Representation with no upfront costs involved: At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, we don’t want the cost of legal services to hold you back from getting help. We can start your case with no upfront fees We only get paid if you do.
Can You Sue Your Employer for Additional Compensation?
In short, no—injured workers will not be able to sue their employer if you accept workers’ compensation benefits. By receiving workers’ compensation benefits, you forfeit your ability to take legal action against an employer.
Only under rare circumstances, such as especially egregious behavior on the part of an employer, could you be able to take legal action. Our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers can advise you on your right to file suit.
Third-Party Claims
However, the potential to file a third-party claim or lawsuit is a different story. If a third party’s negligence was the cause of your work injuries (and this party is not your employer), you may be able to seek compensation through an insurance company claim or lawsuit.
Third parties could include the following:
Subcontractors
Parts or equipment manufacturers
Vehicle drivers
Cargo loading companies
We can help you understand your options if someone’s negligence caused your accident and personal injury. Do not hesitate to contact us so we can discuss your specific situation and see what benefits and options may be available to you.
Call Our Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
It can be difficult to understand your rights under the Workers’ Compensation Act. To be sure that you understand what compensation you deserve, it’s important to work with a lawyer experienced with workers’ compensation laws.
Working with an experienced lawyer is even more beneficial when you are still recovering from your injuries. Working through physical recovery and trying to understand the workers’ compensation insurance system can be particularly challenging.
Get Started With a Free Consultation
Let us help you by taking some of the legal burden off your hands. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC may be able to help. Call our team for a no-obligation, free consultation to help determine your rights.
(312) 223-1700