In Illinois, just as everywhere else in the United States, workers compensation is mandated. In Illinois, no matter who is at fault, for a work-related illness or injury, the employee will receive some form of compensation. Since 2011, Illinois State Senate Bill 3287 (SB 3287) ensured that neither a company nor individual could be sued. A workers compensation lawyer understands that but begs to differ on some aspects.
What Can a Workers Compensation Lawyer Seek?
If you hire a lawyer to help ensure you do receive sufficient workers compensation for your injuries, he or she can seek the following:
- Medical Expenses: for your medical treatment, including rehabilitation
- Temporary Total Disability Benefits: to replace lost wages if the individual cannot work
- Temporary Partial Permanent Disability Benefits: to act as an equalizer if the employee works at employment that pays less than the pre-injury job
- Permanent Total Disability Benefits: if you lose the ability to employ a component of your body
- Job Retraining: if it is now necessary go back to school to learn a new skill or trade
These are the benefits a lawyer may help you recover. He or she can also help you understand the steps you have to take in order to receive workers comp.
Listen to Your Lawyer
If you suffer an injury while on the job in Rockford, IL, you need to take certain steps immediately. Ask the advice of a workers compensation lawyer. He or she will tell you the law is as follows:
- Notify as soon as possible the supervisor, management member or employer about the incident
- Make sure you do so within 45 days maximum
- Provide the company with a written statement that includes the date, the time and other specifics
- Provide evidence of the accident – include photographs of the injury as well as where it took place – this will prove it did occur while you were in the employment of the company and on the job
- Have proof you did inform the employer or management, etc, of the incident within the required time and did include the pertinent information
Remember, that in this case, the burden of proof is upon you. You need to provide conclusive evidence that you received the injury while working in Rockford for the company. The company does not have to provide any evidence if it becomes necessary to take the employer to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. This is certainly when you do require the services of a workers compensation lawyer, such as those at Fisk & Monteleone Ltd., to help you win your case.
