In Illinois Workers’ Compensation cases are based on 60 percent of your average weekly wage the year before you were injured times a certain number of weeks.
The law provides each body part is worth a total number of weeks. Such as the back is worth a total of 500 weeks. A leg is worth 215 weeks. The arm is worth 253 weeks.
If you settle for, or are awarded 10 percent of the back you are entitled to 50 weeks at 60 percent of your average weekly wage.
In some states you receive a certain percentage or number of weeks for a specific injury. Illinois does not have anything like this.
Usually injuries that result in surgery will have a higher value.
Injuries that result in permanent restrictions also have higher value.
No one can tell you the value of your case if you are still treating. You will not be allowed to settle your case until your treatment is completed or you reach maximum medical improvement ( this means that you are as good as you are going to get).
Some cases should be settled when you receive a fair settlement and you will not need extensive future medical treatment.
Some cases should be taken to trial. This may be because the offer is too low, or future medical may be needed, or the other side will make no offer.
It does not cost anything to have an experienced Workers’ Compensation lawyer talk to you about your case. This certainly makes sense before settling your case.
A word to the wise: do not listen to friends, neighbors or co-workers who tell you that your case is worth vast amounts of money. Million dollar verdicts do not happen in Workers’ Compensation cases in Illinois, and you do not get a $100,000 for carpal tunnel surgeries.
Questions about your Work Comp case? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.