According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), about 200,000 work-related accidents are reported in Illinois each year. Getting hurt at work can flip your life upside down. One day you’re fine, and the next you’re dealing with medical bills, time off work, and a lot of questions about your future. That’s where finding the right Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer makes all the difference.
At IllinoisLawyers.com, we’ve been connecting injured workers with trusted work injury attorneys since 2001. We are experienced attorneys who will provide you with a free case review and offer honest, direct advice. Contact Illinois Lawyers any time at 800-517-1614 to speak with a lawyer in confidence.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a government-regulated insurance program that provides benefits and services to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work. It is a “no-fault” system, meaning it doesn’t matter whose fault the work-related accident or illness was; benefits are still available.
To qualify, you must be an employee (not an independent contractor) and the injury or illness must have occurred during your employment.
How Does Workers’ Compensation Work?
In Illinois, employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover job-related injuries.
Here are the key steps to filing a claim in Illinois:
- Notify Your Employer: Report your injury within 45 days, although the sooner the better.
- Seek Medical Treatment: Get care for your work-related injury.
- File a Case: Your workers’ compensation lawyer can file with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC).
- Comply with Waiting Periods: There’s a three-day wait for lost-time benefits, but if you’re out more than 14 days, you’ll get paid for those first three days too.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ comp offers several types of benefits for injured employees:
- Medical Benefits: Covers all necessary treatment, hospital care, and rehab for your injury.
- Wage Replacement
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): 66.6% of your average weekly wage if you can’t work.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): 66.6% of the difference if you’re working light duty at reduced pay.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): 66.6% of your average weekly wage if you can’t work.
- Permanent Disability: Compensation for permanent total or partial disability based on the impact of your injury.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Financial help for retraining, education, or new certifications if you can’t return to your old job.
- Survivor Benefits: Payments to family members if a worker dies from a job-related injury or illness.
Key Considerations
Here are some key rules and terms in Illinois workers’ compensation benefits
- Waiting Period: While medical benefits start right away, lost time benefits begin after three days; however, if you miss more than two weeks, you’ll also receive payment for the first three days.
- Tax-Free: Workers’ comp benefits are not taxed in Illinois.
- Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI): Once your condition stabilizes
- Payment: It costs nothing to hire a lawyer, and when they get you a settlement, their fee is limited to 20% of what they recover for you.
- Settlements: Common in these cases and can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and the impact the injury has had on your life.
Statute of Limitations for Workers’ Comp
In Illinois, you generally have three years from the injury—or two years from your last benefits payment—to file a workers’ compensation claim. For conditions that develop over time, the clock starts when you knew or should have known the injury was work-related. Filing quickly is key to protecting your right to benefits.
Why You Need an Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
You should consult a workers’ compensation lawyer Illinois workers trust, as the process is complex. A workers’ compensation claim lawyer can explain your rights, handle insurers, fight denials, and make sure you get the medical and wage benefits you deserve. Even when it appears the insurance company is doing the right thing, they are usually trying to end your benefits.
What a Lawyer for Workers’ Compensation Does
The lawyers for workers’ compensation we recommend will:
- File your claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
- Fight back if your benefits are unfairly delayed, reduced, or stopped.
- Represent you in hearings before an arbitrator.
- Explain your options for settlement versus trial.
- Ensure your benefits cover medical bills, lost wages, and more.
- Push back on dirty insurance company tactics such as hiring a nurse case manager to interfere with your care or sending you to an IME.
In Illinois, an attorney for workers’ compensation cases works on a contingency basis. Fees are capped at 20% of your recovery, and you pay nothing unless you win.
How to Find the Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
At Illinois Lawyers, our Illinois lawyer referral service connects you with the right attorney for your situation. We never accept payment from lawyers to recommend them, and we only suggest attorneys we trust for our own families.
When you call us, you’ll get:
- A free, confidential consultation with an experienced Illinois workers’ compensation attorney.
- Straightforward advice on your case.
- A referral to a proven attorney for workers’ compensation who focuses on these cases every day.
Start With a Free Consultation Today
If you’ve been injured at work, don’t try to handle it alone. Call IllinoisLawyers.com today at 312-346-5320 or 800-517-1614 for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and connect you with the best workers’ compensation lawyer for your case.
No appointment needed. No charge to call. Just honest answers when you need them.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation:
Do I need a lawyer for workers’ compensation?
Not always, but if your injury is going to last more than a couple of weeks, they can protect you and fight back on delays or denials as well as get you the maximum settlement possible.
How much does a workers’ compensation lawyer cost?
By law, fees are capped at 20% of what you recover—nothing upfront.
Can I be fired for filing a workers’ comp claim?
No. Retaliating against you for filing is illegal in Illinois.
What injuries are covered under workers’ comp in Illinois?
Most job-related injuries and illnesses, from accidents to repetitive stress or occupational diseases.