Category: Workers’ Compensation

Millions of American workers rely on the security offered by workers’ compensation laws. According to National Public Radio, these statutes require workers to forego the right to sue. In return, employers must pay medical expenses and wages for injured workers until they recover. This long-held system, however, is now under attack in many states. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission explains that workers’ compensation reform legislation has been in place since 2011. As any Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer would know, this has proven disastrous for employees.

Applying for workers’ compensation can be a long and difficult process. According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, approximately 5,000 claims in the state are unsuccessful each year. Some claims may go through several levels of discussion and debate before a final verdict is reached. Voluntary binding arbitration is a popular way to expedite a compensation case. When it is used wisely, it can save time and money for everyone involved.

After a traumatic injury in the workplace, a Chicago workers’ compensation attorney knows that employees are often looking for answers. The injured worker may ask whether benefits are going to “run out” before the healing process is complete. It is important for injured employees to know how Illinois law provides for compensation in different cases.

A man who was seriously injured in a boat explosion in Alton in 2009 was recently awarded a settlement of more than seven million dollars. This settlement is the largest amount ever awarded under the provisions of the Jones Act in Illinois, according to a report in the Alton Telegraph. The Jones Act is an important piece of legislation that safeguards the rights of sailors and other people who work on and around the water.

The human body is held together by a powerful and complex network of muscles and ligaments. When this network is damaged through improper use, a person can become unable to continue with work duties, as Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys are aware. Learning about musculoskeletal injuries can help workers decrease their risk of physical damage on the job.