Workers injured on the job are entitled to benefits under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act, which is a “no fault” system designed to pay injured workers both medical benefits and lost wages for the time that the injured worker is unable to work.
An injured worker may also be eligible to receive permanent partial disability benefits after finishing all medical treatment. While the injured employee does not have to show fault to receive compensation, the employer’s liability for the compensation is specifically limited to the benefits provided in the Workers Compensation Act.
There are also a few situations when an injured employee may not be covered under the Workers Compensation Act and may go to the civil court system and sue the employer. It is very important for any injured worker to contact Staver & Gainsberg, to determine the worker’s rights and available benefits.
INJURED WORKERS
Any worker injured on the job should demand immediate medical attention. The injured worker is not required to be treated by the company doctor but has the right to receive treatment from a doctor of the worker’s choosing and even referred to a specialist that the worker’s doctor deems necessary. If the worker is disabled and cannot return to work, he or she is entitled to weekly benefits under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act or TTD (Temporary Total Disability).
TTD benefits are paid at the rate of 2/3 of the worker’s weekly wage based on an average of the worker’s wages for the year before the accident. An employer that fails to pay TTD within a specific time frame may be subject to penalties.
Workers who reside in states outside of Illinois but work for an Illinois Company or are injured in Illinois may be able to recover benefits under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act.
WORKER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
While the Workers Compensation Act may be viewed as a fair process to provide compensation and benefits to the injured worker, disputes often arise between the employee, employer, and the employer’s insurance company.
The amount of benefits the worker receives can directly depend on a number of factors, including the type of injury, the medical treatment, and the employee’s wages. These disputes demonstrate that the Workers Compensation Act provides for a complex and often difficult to understand legal resolution of worker injury claims.
STAVER & GAINSBERG
That is exactly why every injured worker needs to contact a dedicated law firm that can assist the injured worker in receiving all the benefits the worker is entitled to under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act. We at Staver & Gainsberg have the experience and knowledge to secure the maximum benefits for the injured worker.
If you, a family member, friend, or co-worker has been injured on the job, please call Staver & Gainsberg at 312-422-1130 immediately.
The initial consultation is free. Additionally, the attorney’s fee for a worker’s compensation case is a contingency fee, which means we do not get paid until we recover funds or obtain a monetary award.
In Illinois, the amount that can be charged by an attorney representing an injured worker is set by the Workers Compensation Act and is limited to 20% of the injured worker’s recovery.
