You cannot settle your Workers’ Compensation case in Illinois until you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement “MMI”.
Maximum Medical Improvement is when you are as good as you are going to get.
This may take some time. For example, you may a surgery and need physical therapy. The doctor may then want to do a second surgery. There is no magic time limit in Illinois Work Comp law when you must settle.
Sometimes the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company will stop paying you temporary total disability to force you to settle.
If they stop paying you, then you must go to trial to force the insurance company to turn on your payments again.
Long term medical treatment is stressful. However, the Arbitrator needs to know what your permanent condition and restrictions are before she can rule on the value of your case.
Questions about your medical treatment and how it effects your settlement? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.