Illinois Work Comp law continues to be in a state of change.
The new Governor has appointed new arbitrators and commissioners and reappointed arbitrators and commissioners and he continues to stump for dramatic changes to the workers’ compensation law.
This has caused a chill in decisions from arbitrators and commissioners and their view of the value of cases.
You must take this into account when deciding whether to settle your case or go to trial.
If you receive a decent settlement offer you should most likely settle your case rather than risk receiving a low award from an arbitrator.
The arbitrator does not know the offers and demands made during the settlement negotiations.
The arbitrator’s decision will be the amount you receive unless there is an appeal of the case, and the appeal can take over one year.
You should discuss your case and your settlement offer with an experienced Illinois Workers’ Compensation lawyer to make sure that you understand all the details and to help you make an informed decision regarding whether to settle or go to trial.
It does not cost you any upfront fees to seek the help of a lawyer. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorneys are only paid 20 percent of what you recover at the end of a case.
It makes sense to use a lawyer because the insurance company uses many lawyers against you in its case.
Questions about your work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.