Illinois Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is a specialized set of laws which deal with injuries suffered by employees during the course of their employment. If you were injured at work and are having trouble recovering compensation for your losses, contact a Belleville workers comp lawyer at The Cates Law Firm, LLC at 618-277-3644. We will investigate your claim and help you recover the maximum compensation possible.

Compensation After a Work Injury

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system of recovery. This means that by being injured at work, you are entitled to compensation. This compensation will vary depending on your injury. Compensation levels are often based on a pre-set determination of value, depending on the part of the body injured.

Typically, you will receive payments to compensate for the following:

• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Lost income
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Vocational rehabilitation

If your loved one was fatally injured at work, you may be able to recover permanent total disability, or death benefits on an ongoing basis for a period of time or in a lump sum amount.

Who Is Covered by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act?

Employees who are hired or injured in the State of Illinois may benefit from the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. If you are working out-of-state, but were hired in Illinois by an Illinois company, you are also likely eligible for benefits under the Act.

Your employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to provide you with benefits should you be injured at work. Private employers may provide benefits directly or through an insurance company. If your employer does not offer workers’ compensation to employees who are injured, you may be able to assert a personal injury claim against the company.

Common Workplace Injuries

Each year about 200,000 work-related injuries are reported in Illinois, according to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Injuries in the workplace can be devastating. You may need significant medical treatment and be unable to work for a significant period of time.

Common injuries experienced by Illinois workers include:

• Being struck by an object
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Overexertion
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Workplace violence

Making a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Your employer should provide you with a claim form immediately upon informing your supervisor that you were injured on the job. This will get your claim process started, but does not ensure you a recovery. Insurance companies may deny your claim by stating that your injury did not actually occur at work, that you are not injured, or that you are not injured to the extent you claim. In order to receive the highest possible amount of compensation, it is important that you file the necessary claims paperwork and provide all necessary medical information and documentation.

Your claim may be resolved by your employer if it agrees to pay everything fairly. However, if your claim is denied you may appeal to an arbitrator, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, or a court of law. If your claim is denied, you will have to present medical evidence, expert opinions, and legal rationale about why your claim should be approved. The Cates Law Firm, LLC has the knowledge and experience to represent you at the administrative level, in arbitration, and court, if necessary.

How Our Belleville Work Injury Lawyers of The Cates Law Firm, LLC Can Help You

If you were injured and need to assert a workers’ compensation claim, or if your claim was wrongfully denied, we will represent your rights against those who owe you compensation. Our Illinois work injury lawyers at The Cates Law Firm, LLC strive to ensure that every victim receive compensation for injuries and other losses associated with a workplace accident.

If you have experienced a serious work injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. We are here to help you through the claims process. Give us a call today at 618-277-3644 for a no cost, no obligation consultation, or contact us online and let us know how we can help you.