My cardinal rule for whether to settle your Workers’ Compensation case or not, is what is my fear about future medical. If you do not think you will have future medical needs regarding your injury, then it is okay to settle. Or if you think you have good insurance to cover future needs, increasingly rare isn’t it, then it is okay to settle. In the event you have any concerns regarding future medical needs you should not settle and you will need to have a trial. This is the only way to preserve future medical rights in Illinois, unless the Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier will agree to give you future medical rights in the settlement contract. It is rare for the insurance company to do this. Here’s what to look for in a workers compensation settlement.