Workers’ compensation insurance is a terrific benefit for Illinois workers. Any worker injured on the job should receive medical care free of charge and might also qualify for wage loss benefits. Unfortunately, the system isn’t set up so that workers easily understand their obligations and rights. Thousands of workers are unfairly denied benefits. Call Tuite Law to speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer. We can get you the benefits you are entitled to. Below, we highlight everything you need to know about the system.
Benefits Are No-Fault
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means your own negligence could have contributed to your injuries, and you will still qualify for benefits. So, you might have carelessly used a power tool and been hurt as a result. That doesn’t matter.
All Work-Related Injuries and Illness Are Covered
To qualify, your injury or illness must be work-related. This means you were injured or contracted an illness while performing job duties.
Workers’ Compensation benefits cover:
- Injuries suffered in traumatic accidents, such as concussions, fractures, or whiplash in a dramatic fall at work.
- Slow-developing repetitive stress injuries, including carpal tunnel or bursitis.
- Occupational illness, including respiratory illness, cancer, or hearing loss.
- Some mental health injuries are caused by extreme stress.
Questions often arise when you have a pre-existing injury. For example, you might have broken your leg when involved in a car accident on the weekend. You still have some lingering pain and disability when you get into an accident at work and wrench your leg.
Your pre-existing injury is not covered. However, any worsening of a pre-existing injury is covered by your employer’s workers’ comp insurance.
You Should Promptly Inform Your Employer
You should let them know as soon as possible that you were injured or contracted an occupational illness. In any event, you should not wait more than 45 days. Prompt reporting helps your employer protect other workers and get the claims process moving.
After being notified, your employer is responsible for contacting their workers’ compensation insurer and completing paperwork.
You Can Typically Choose Your Own Doctor
In some states, workers must meet with a doctor selected by their employer. In Illinois, you can meet with any doctor you want unless your employer has a preferred provider network. Your first priority should be getting medical treatment for any injury, which improves your chances of recovery.
Workers’ Compensation Pays for All Reasonable Medical Care
Your employer’s insurer will pick up the tab for all medical care to treat your injuries. Care can include:
- Surgery
- Pain medication
- Diagnostic tests
- Doctor’s visits
- Specialist visits
- Travel expenses to meet with medical professionals
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
If you receive a bill from a provider, send it to your workers’ compensation lawyer. We will work to get the bill paid because you are not responsible for it.
Workers’ Compensation Pays Disability Payments
The worst thing about being injured is not being able to work and earn income for your family. Helpfully, workers’ compensation does provide certain disability benefits:
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. You can receive these if your injuries make you temporarily unable to work at all. However, you only receive a portion of the wages you earned before getting injured.
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits. You can receive TPD benefits if you are working on light duty as you recover.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. You might suffer a permanent injury that only partially disables you. For example, a worker might lose a hand, finger, arm, foot, or leg. You are entitled to PPD benefits for this permanent loss.
- Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits. You are entitled to PTD benefits if you cannot work at all permanently. Someone who is a quadriplegic is an example of a worker eligible for these benefits.
You Have the Right to An Attorney
A lawyer makes a big difference in workers’ compensation cases. You can hire a lawyer to guide your case through the process. Denied claims are common—but you do have the right to an appeal. Many people are denied because the insurer does not believe they were injured while working.
They might find a pre-existing injury in your medical history and claim this is the source of your disability.
Contact Tuite Law Today
Were you injured on the job? Now is the time to get the benefits you deserve to pay for your medical care and replace some of your wages. Our firm has decades of experience, and we are eager to hear more about how you were injured. Call us at (815) 965-5777 to schedule a free consultation with our firm.
