Joliet Workers’ Compensation Claims

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If you were hurt on the job in or near Joliet, Illinois, you should to file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). Many injured workers hesitate because they think filing a claim means they are suing their employer. That is not true. A workers’ compensation claim is a claim for benefits. It is not a lawsuit against your company. You are simply asking for the medical care and wage benefits the law provides when someone is injured while doing their job. If you file a workers comp claim, it will be heard by an arbitrator at the IWCC’s Joliet hearing site.

Real-World Examples Of Work Injuries In Will County

Consider a manager at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Romeoville. Even though he is a manager, he still spends long hours on the warehouse floor, walking, climbing stairs, and occasionally helping with lifting. After he develops serious knee and back pain, his doctor takes him off work. If the insurance company questions whether his condition is really work-related, filing a formal workers’ compensation claim is necessary to protect his benefits.

Or think about a teacher in the Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 who slips on a wet hallway floor and fractures her wrist. If surgery is required, and she cannot return to the classroom right away, workers’ comp will cover her medical care and part of her lost wages.

Another example is an equipment operator at the Ulta Beauty Distribution Center in Bolingbrook. After years of repetitive lifting and operating machinery, he develops significant shoulder problems. The insurance company argues it is “wear and tear” and not job-related. In repetitive trauma cases like this, filing a claim with the Commission is critical to proving the injury is connected to the work duties.

These situations are common throughout Will County and surrounding communities. Injuries happen in warehouses, schools, distribution centers, offices, and construction sites every day.

Why You Should Speak With a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Some Illinois work comp claims move smoothly. Many do not. Insurance companies may delay treatment, deny benefits, or argue that you can return to work before you are medically ready. It is also very likely that even if it seems like the insurance company and your employer is doing the right thing, they are working to end your benefits. Some things they do to be aware of include:

• Taking a recorded statement of you
• Trying to access your medical records for treatment that has nothing to do with your injury
• Assigning a nurse case manager to your claim
• Sending you to an IME
• Conducting surveillance on you

An experienced Illinois workers’ compensation attorney can help you properly file your claim, make sure your medical records clearly connect your injury to your job, and represent you if your case needs to be heard before an arbitrator. A lawyer also makes sure you do not miss deadlines or accept less than you are entitled to under the law. Most importantly, a good attorney will protect you from dirty insurance company tricks.

Beyond that, it costs nothing up front to hire an Illinois work comp attorney and they only get paid if they win.

We know experienced attorneys who represent injured workers day in and day out at the Joliet location of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. They understand how the system works locally and how to fight for the full medical and wage benefits their clients deserve.

Start a chat, call us at 312-346-5320, or fill out a contact form. This is a free and confidential service. We will do whatever we can to help you and give you the same advice we’d give to a family member or friend.

7 Key Things To Know About Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law

 It’s a no fault law – That means you do not have to prove negligence to get benefits.

1. You don’t need to have health insurance – Workers’ comp pays for 100% of your medical expenses that are related to your injury. And usually you get to choose your own doctor.
2. Work comp benefits are tax free – Time off payments are 2/3 of your average weekly wage, but you do not pay any state or federal taxes on that.
3. In almost every case, an attorney can get you a settlement – This money is also tax free and you get it even if you feel fully recovered. Some cases are worth a few thousand dollars, others are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
4. It is illegal to fire an employee for filing for work comp – And if that happens we can likely help with that too. Our experience is that if you have a lawyer, it deters an employer usually from illegally terminating you.
5. There is no time limit for how long you can be on work comp – The goal is to get healthy. In some cases, like major neck or back surgery claims, that takes longer than others. Work comp will never run out.
6. If you hired the wrong attorney, it is free to switch firms – Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but it is smart to switch lawyers before it is too late.