If you’ve been hurt on the job and filed for workers compensation, one of the first questions you probably have is: How long does it take for a workers’ compensation settlement? The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some cases move quickly, wrapping up in a matter of months, while others take more than a year, depending on medical treatment, disputes, and court schedules.
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Why Workers’ Comp Settlements Take Time
Workers’ comp is designed to cover your medical bills and lost wages if you’re injured at work. But getting a workers’ compensation settlement isn’t as simple as filing a form and waiting for a check. It takes time due to the unique factors of your case.
You should not seek out or accept a settlement until you are done with your medical care due to the injury and have found work within your restrictions. We have seen too many people settle too quickly only to realize that they need more medical help or that there case could be worth more. This is where an experienced and caring attorney comes in.
How Long Does It Take for a Workers’ Compensation Settlement?
On average, most injured workers in Illinois can expect their workers’ comp settlement to take somewhere between 6 months and 2 years from the date of the accident.
- Some straightforward cases wrap up in as little as 6 months, especially if your employer accepts the claim, you get the medical care you need, and your doctor says you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). These are typically smaller settlements because getting released from a doctor so quickly indicates your injury was not that big. But of course, every case is different.
- More complicated claims—those involving surgeries, disputed injuries, or permanent disability—can take a year or longer. The key is not to settle too soon because once you do, you lose your medical rights as related to that injury forever. In some cases, it can take multiple years before settling makes sense.
The Workers’ Comp Timeline: Step by Step
Here are the steps included in a workers’ comp claim:
Step 1: Injury and Reporting
After your accident, you must notify your employer. In Illinois, you have 45 days to report a work injury, but the sooner you tell your boss or HR, the better. Waiting too long is one of the easiest ways to give the insurance company an excuse to deny your claim.
Step 2: Employer Report and Insurance Notification
Once notified, your employer must file an accident report with their workers’ compensation insurer and the IWCC. This doesn’t mean benefits are automatic—it just starts the process.
Step 3: Medical Evaluation and Treatment
You’ll need to see a doctor for evaluation and ongoing care. Under Illinois law, you can choose from a limited number of doctors (usually two choices, unless referred). Treatment may last weeks or years, depending on your injury.
During this time, you may receive temporary total disability (TTD) payments if you can’t work, or light-duty assignments if possible.
Step 4: Reaching Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
Your doctor will eventually decide when you’ve reached MMI—the point where your condition has stabilized. This doesn’t always mean you’re fully healed; it just means your injury is unlikely to improve further with additional treatment.
You should not discuss a workers’ comp settlement until you reach MMI, because that’s when the long-term impact of your injury becomes clear.
Step 5: Workers’ Comp Settlement or Hearing
- Settlement: If both sides agree on compensation for your injury, you sign paperwork, a judge reviews it, and the workers’ comp settlement is finalized.
- Hearing: If there’s no agreement, your Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer will present evidence before an Arbitrator at the IWCC. After that trial, the Arbitrator will make a ruling as to what you are owed.
Step 6: Payment
In Illinois, once a workers’ comp settlement is approved, insurers usually issue the check within a matter of weeks. Delays happen, but if the insurer drags its feet, penalties may apply. All of these payments are tax free.
What Factors Can Delay a Workers’ Comp Settlement?
Every case is different, but here are the biggest reasons why timelines stretch:
- Severity of injuries: Minor injuries with quick recovery settle faster. Severe injuries requiring surgery, physical therapy, or long-term treatment push cases into the 12–24 month range.
- Medical disputes: If your employer’s insurance company doesn’t agree with your doctor about your condition or work restrictions, they may demand additional exams. This back-and-forth can add months.
- Employer or insurer delays: Some employers don’t file reports promptly, and some insurance adjusters ignore requests. Without the best workers’ compensation lawyer pushing the process, cases often stall.
- Denied claims: If your employer or insurer argues that your injury wasn’t work-related, you’ll likely face hearings. Denied claims can take years to resolve.
- Multiple parties: Cases involving third parties, contractors, or multiple medical providers require more negotiation and paperwork.
So, How Long Does a Workers’ Comp Case Take in Illinois?
Illinois law sets deadlines, but the reality is that workers’ comp cases are slow if you don’t have someone fighting for you. Hearings are pushed back, documents take months, and insurers rarely move quickly unless pressured.
That’s why having an Illinois workers’ compensation attorney matters. A good lawyer knows how to keep your case moving, push back against stalling tactics, and use the IWCC system to your advantage.
Tips for Injured Workers
- Report your injury quickly: Don’t wait—this starts the clock.
- See the right doctor: Follow treatment plans and keep records.
- Don’t accept the first offer: Insurers often start low.
- Track your recovery: Note any pain, work limitations, and treatment progress.
- Get legal help early: A delay in calling an Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer can mean a delay in getting paid or that your case gets wrongly denied.
Why You Need a Lawyer for Workers’ Comp
Many people ask us, Do I need a lawyer for workers’ compensation? Trying to settle a case alone often leads to frustration. Insurers, and employers all have lawyers on their side. You should too.
Here’s how the best workers’ compensation lawyer for your case helps:
- Paperwork: Ensures deadlines and forms are correct.
- Negotiation: Pushes for fair compensation instead of lowball offers.
- Medical disputes: Counters biased medical exams used to cut benefits.
- Court representation: Prepares evidence and fights for you before an arbitrator or judge.
- Faster results: Keeps insurers accountable when they drag their feet.
How IllinoisLawyers.com Can Help You
At IllinoisLawyers.com, we’ve been guiding injured workers through the workers’ comp system since 2001. Our job is simple: connect you with the best workers’ compensation attorney for your case.
Here’s what you get when you call us:
- Free, confidential advice: We’ll listen to your situation and explain your options in plain English.
- A trusted match: We only refer you to an experienced Illinois workers’ compensation attorney who has a proven record of helping workers win.
- No fees upfront: You never pay us to connect with a lawyer. And with workers’ comp cases, you don’t pay legal fees unless you get paid.
- Statewide support: Whether you need a workers’ compensation lawyer Chicago based or anywhere else in Illinois, we’ve got you covered.
If you’ve been injured on the job, don’t wait until your savings run out. Reach out to Illinois Lawyers today at 312-346-5320 or 800-517-1614 for a free, confidential consultation with an Illinois workers’ compensation attorney. There’s no cost to speak to us or get a referral.
