Illinois Workers’ Compensation settlements can be mysterious.
How do you determine whether you are getting a fair settlement?
Illinois law requires the settlement to be based on your average weekly wage times 60 percent.
For instance, if you earn $600 a week then 60 percent of that is $360 for a week.
Next the injury is given a total number of weeks.
This depends of the nature of the injury, the type of treatment required and any permanent restrictions that result.
For example, if you have surgery on your knee and it is determined to be worth 20 percent of the leg the result is 43 weeks (215 weeks times .20=43). Each body part is given a total number of weeks by law.
In this example, 43 weeks times 360 weeks equals $15,480.
As you can see someone who has the same injury but with a lower weekly wage will have a lower settlement than the higher wage individual.
Questions about your work comp case? Feel free to call Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.